Oakland University Faculty Handbook

1. Submit textbook order.
   As of Summer 2023, OU uses eCampus as its book provider. See eCampus’ FAST training. Consider also 5 things you can do to reduce textbook cost.
2. Create the syllabus.
   The recommended OU syllabus template is updated regularly to include new information, links, and guidance. This template should be used in conjunction with department samples and requirements. Within the syllabus template you’ll find prompts to attend to these essential items:
   1. Check understanding for course formats, accurate catalog descriptions and learning outcomes, and plan accordingly.
   2. If listed as a general education course, check your understanding on what that means and what you may need to assign accordingly, especially if it is a writing intensive course.
   3. Clearly define "academic integrity," or how to accurately and ethically complete course work based on university policies and your coursework.
   4. Plot out schedule and due dates based on the Academic Calendar.
      1. Registration status (last days to drop, withdraw, apply for graduation)
      2. Class recess dates (breaks, holidays)
      3. Exam-free periods, Final exam schedule
3. Set up a course hub on Moodle.
   You automatically receive a Moodle course page regardless of course format, which is available to faculty a month before classes start. Students can view the course one week before the semester. Before that point, provide basic information to students along with anything else you are ready to share. See top starting points in Moodle Course Page Starter Guide.
4. Map out your trek on campus and online.
   
   1. Plan plenty of time to park, as parking is free with no reserved lots.
   2. Check the OU Map. Check out your office (or wherever you'll meet with students) and your classrooms to ensure technology and software is working. See Getting Technology in Order.
   3. If you teach online, practice accessing Moodle, video-conferencing sessions, and any other online sites needed in teaching and other work.
5. Plan for the unexpected

1. 1. Save OUPD number in an easy-to-find spot in your phone contacts: (248) 370-3331
   2. Confirm your emergency contact information for Emergency Notifications. 
   3. Review classroom’s red books (hanging on the wall) for emergency protocol.
   4. Discuss as a class what to do in an emergency (evacuation, lockdown, snow emergency). The OUPD also has a Run Hide Fight 7-minute video on what to do in an active shooter situation on campus.
   5. Check your knowledge and preparedness with What Would You Do? How to Be Prepared. Includes two case studies, related services, and a planning sheet.

• How do I find my class list?
• What are class overrides and how do I give them?
• Do I need to take attendance?

Find answers to these questions and additional resources located on the Office of the Registrar webpage in the Employee Resource Network (ERN).

• Discuss policies on faculty overrides with your department.
• Check your class to see if it has a waitlist. If a class has a waitlist, students should not be given overrides to join the class prior to the end of open registration.
• By logging into MySAIL, under Faculty and Advisers you can access your class list, class schedule, final grades, registration overrides, and faculty feedback.
• Students who receive an “F” grade require a last date of attendance to be entered into the system at the end of term. Accuracy of the last date of attendance is very important, as it may impact the students federal financial aid. Consider some method of taking attendance early in the semester.

• When is my final exam?
• When are my grades due?

Calendar information is found in the Important Dates Calendar, Academic Calendars, and Final Exams calendars. If your class meetings are not listed on the final exam schedule, please coordinate with your department to make a time and/or classroom request. Final exam questions or scheduling should be sent to [email protected]

• Does my class have an online component? Can I hold some classes online?
• What’s the difference between a “Hybrid” and “HyFlex” course?
• Can I require students to meet with me in an online course?

The six schedule types that relate to online learning are as follows. For more information on these class formats, visit the Online Course Types page.

• Online-Async: Courses are 100% online. There are no in-person meetings, no scheduled days and times.
• Online-Sync: Courses are 100% online at scheduled days and times.
• Primarily Online: Classes are online except for up to 3 required in-person meetings, All required meetings will be listed in the schedule of classes.
• HyFlex: Course combines in-person and online learning; Students can choose their mode of participation.
• Flex: Students can choose if they want to attend in-person or online for most class sessions. There may be some required in-person meetings.
• Hybrid: Courses have a mix of online and in-person class sessions.

• What is the General Education Program at OU?
• What responsibilities do I have if I am assigned to teach a Gen Ed course?
• How do I find out more about making my course part of the Gen Ed Program?

The Program of General Education guides students through opportunities to cultivate competencies and dispositions associated with humanistic inquiry, including communication, analytical, and intellectual skills and agility that are transferable across disciplines, departments, institutions, and career paths, and that are required to navigate a variety of perspectives and participate effectively in democracy.

Courses in the General Education Program are assessed on a regular basis. For information about the Program, visit the section of the catalog that lists requirements and approved courses or the General Education website. Contact [email protected] for information or support with teaching a course in the Gen Ed Program or with a course proposal.

• What is the official OU grading scale, and how is GPA calculated?
• What should a student do if they have a question about their final grade?
• When can we give students an “incomplete grade” and how does this work?

Check with your department as to specifics on grading as there is no university-wide standard to how grade values are determined. Some courses and majors require that students earn a particular grade (e.g. “C” or above) to meet prerequisite or major requirements. You may want to be aware of whether this is true for your course.

How Can I Best Make Grades Available for Students?

How Do I Submit Final Grades?

Course Workload Expectations

• Whatever your standard, communicate this expectation to students directly in the syllabus and during class sessions.
• Check your estimation with Wake Forest’s Course Workload Estimator.
• Balance of what work is required to meet the course learning outcomes and what respects the time of your students (and yourself!).

• Include academic integrity expectations in the syllabus. This could include putting the whole Academic Conduct Policy (below and on the Dean of Students website) in the syllabus, or by including a condensed version that touches on the main points and links out to the full policy. Find examples of both on the OU Syllabus Resources page.
• Talk with students about expectations. When is it okay for students to work with resources (e.g., study notes, other students, AI bots like ChatGPT), and when should they refrain from them?
• Require students to complete Academic Integrity in Research & Writing micro-course (also called the Plagiarism Tutorial). This self-paced online 1- to 2-hour module walks students through the basics of citing sources and actively engages students in how to appropriately use sources in research and writing.
• If there is solid evidence of academic misconduct, submit a report.

To work on assignment design and class dynamics that promote academic integrity, reach out to the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. For more guidance on navigating potential academic misconduct, reach out to the Dean of Students Office.

Disruptive behaviors are frequent interferences with the classroom environment, disrespectful, intimidating or harassing behavior, excessive and unreasonable demands. Frequent disruptive behaviors should be reported via the pertinent form at Report an Incident - Faculty and Staff Resources - Dean of Students - Oakland University. Depending on the described behaviors, the report(s) may also be reviewed by the Assessment and Care Team. When extreme issues arise that pose a physical threat, call the OU Police Department immediately at (248) 370-3331.

• Attempt to speak with the student in private - address the behavior and never the student
• Outline and discuss what is acceptable behavior and what is not
• Limit the topic of discussion to matters that are relevant to the class

Dean of Students

How can faculty partner with the Dean of Students for student support and success?

We look forward to engaging in conversation that leads to understanding the disciplinary process, thresholds of behaviors reviewed by the Assessment and Care Team (ACT team)  within the classroom environment, intervention tools, and what constitutes Academic Misconduct versus Student Code of Conduct violations. 

• We encourage you to attend trainings provided by our team. We are available to attend department meetings, and strongly recommend that you attend CETL trainings, and review past trainings and teaching tips. 

What policies in addition to Academic Misconduct and Student Code of Conduct does the DOS oversee?

Navigating university life often leads to many discoveries, achieving milestones, and at-times overcoming challenges during the journey. 

• Become familiar with policies and procedures that help students overcome challenges that impact students’ ability to succeed. The Medical and Non-Medical Withdrawal procedure, the Bereavement Leave Request process, and the Student Emergency Fund are policies that we can employ to support and guide students experiencing hardship.
• Connect with our team and familiarize yourself with our redesigned Dean of Students website including our new content for student resources and faculty and staff resources. 
• Stop by our upcoming Deans and Dogs events to spend time with therapy dogs and get to meet our team, look for dates, times, and locations on the university’s events calendar page.

First Year Advising Center

The First Year Advising Center (FYAC) supports all first-year students through New Student Orientation, required academic advising and embedded major/career exploration.  Faculty can collaborate with the FYAC in the following ways:

• Encourage first-year students to complete their required advising appointment each semester
• Participate in the OU Early Alert System, which notifies the student’s adviser of a course concern
• Connect with Sara Webb, Senior Director, at [email protected] to discuss course planning, curriculum, and student success practices that impact first-year students
• Apply to be an Orientation Faculty Adviser (application link sent in March from Provost’s Office)

Office For Student Involvement

Encourage students to join a student organization (over 270 to select from), leadership development and service/volunteer opportunities, and attend programs, events, and activities to connect them to Oakland University’s community, resources, and services. OU faculty serve as advisors to many of the registered student organizations. If interested in serving as an advisor, contact OSI at [email protected].

• Remind students that they have free access to the Recreation Center as long as they are taking one paid credit hour. This access includes Health & Wellness Programs & Workshops (offered by certified peer health educators) and online resources through Uwill. Examples of the programs and workshops students have access to include the Green Bandana Project, iPause stress relief workshop, Pet Therapy, and Wellness Coaching, which they can access at the Rec Well Portal. 

Graham Health Center

Graham Health Center (GHC) is staffed by Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistant who  provide high quality, on campus healthcare services to all students of Oakland University.  Faculty are encouraged to remind students GHC is available to them for illness, injury, chronic disease management and wellness/preventative services.  Services are billed to insurance or reduced fees are available.  Students are not turned away for services.

• Students who report missing class due to illness can be referred to GHC for care
• Same day appointments are often available or within 24 hours. 
• Mental Health services for medication management/refills
• GHC provides services for many program requirement
• Excuse notes are only provided when an individual is seen in the clinic at the time of illness, and the illness requires sitting out of class or work.. 
• Common over the counter medications are available for very low prices. 

The Oakland University Counseling Center

The OUCC provides a broad range of mental health services: 

• Personal Counseling  
• Consultation and Outreach  
• Crisis Intervention
• Group Therapy with a wide array of support groups
• Substance Abuse Evaluation and Prevention

During the 2024-2025 academic year, the Counseling Center will be offering confidential teletherapy via in person, video, or phone sessions. Counseling is provided by Licensed Psychologists and Interns. Staff that are not fully licensed are supervised by Licensed Psychologists. All OU students receive their first 4 sessions free and all sessions are private and confidential.

Supplementing the OUCC’s services is UWill, a FREE 24/7 mental health crisis response for students that offers additional on-demand wellness options such as yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and more.

UMatch is a new service (through UWill) that will be offering supplemental teletherapy to students this coming year. The OUCC also offers “Grizz Recovery'', a Collegiate Recovery Program, free for students who are at any point in their recovery journey.

The School of Education and Health Services Counseling Center

The SEHS Counseling Center provides a range of services for individuals and groups, including:

• Anxiety
• Assertiveness training
• Career counseling
• Communication skills
• Grief and loss
• Life transitions 
• Relationship problems
• Separation from loved ones
• Situational depression 
• Stress management
• Test anxiety
• Time management
• Many other issues

Counseling is provided by graduate students in their practicum field experience. They are closely supervised by fully licensed professional counselors and faculty. As the SEHS Counseling Center is a teaching facility all sessions are recorded both visually and audibly, but are destroyed at the end of the semester. They are only able to be reviewed by the respective counselor and their supervisor for feedback purposes.

Veteran Support Services is your partner in educating our military-connected students. Please reach out for any support.

• Acknowledge and celebrate the unique experiences a Veteran brings to the classroom (e.g., non-traditional student, experience with diverse cultures around the world).
• Be mindful of the many ways military-connected students are part of our population, such as children and spouses of military members and the many ways active-duty military members serve (serving in our Armed Forces, National Guard member, Reservist).
• If a National Guard member or Reservist is activated, consider the following needs:
  • How much time is remaining in the semester?
    • Will you be able to provide an “I” grade so the student can complete the work at a later time?
    • Students cannot pick when they are activated, they are told when to report
      • Stressful for students
  • Can the work be completed online?
  • How long will the student be gone?
    • Sometimes it’s just a long weekend - but is the midterm scheduled the following week?
      • How can you accommodate this student?
  • How long will the student be gone?
    • Sometimes it’s just a long weekend - but is the midterm scheduled the following week?
      • How can you accommodate this student?
  • If a student needs to withdraw due to activation, OU has refund policies in place
    • Extended orders where internet is not reliable
    • ctivation is too stressful for student to concentrate on school

OU employs over 60 professional academic advisers across eight advising units.  All undergraduate students are assigned an academic adviser whose name can be found in MySAIL or DegreeWorks.  Students should be encouraged and may be required to see their academic adviser at least once per year to review their academic progress.

Honors College Faculty Course Proposals

Honors Senior Thesis/Project: Student Research with Faculty Mentor:  The Honors Thesis/Project is a comprehensive research or creative effort that offers students an opportunity to work closely with faculty members on advanced research topics or creative endeavors. In the year before graduation, the student and mentor are asked to sign an agreement that indicates they will continue to work on the project collaboratively as needed until it is completed. The role of the faculty mentor includes:

• Suggesting relevant sources pertaining to the agreed upon project
• Providing guidance, support and feedback as needed
• Promptly communicating with students throughout the thesis project period
• Providing the student with advance notice (1-2 weeks) of an extended period of absence
• Reaching out to the Honors College staff and faculty with any problems or concerns
• Working with thesis faculty and staff to facilitate tracking student progress
• Writing an evaluative paragraph at the completion of the project that assists in determining “thesis with distinction” and other thesis awards

The student, supported by their faculty mentor and the HC teaching team, bases their thesis/project on a proposal developed during the HC 3900 thesis/project proposal class, which is most often taken in the year before graduation. Mentors will be invited to be a guest at the student’s thesis/project poster presentation at an Honors College Research Day in fall or winter. This takes place in the month before submission of the final Honors College thesis. Then The Honors College students submit their senior honors thesis/project in the month of graduation, showing their skills, abilities and interests, which have been developed with the support of their faculty mentor.

The Academic Success Center is central to student success at OU. We provide students with free, personalized academic support to help them become independent learners and develop effective study skills. For questions, please contact: Jessica Harrell, Director @ 248-370-4460 or e-mail [email protected].

• Add information on your Moodle page or link to our ASC website.
• Schedule an academic success visit or have a team member be a guest speaker on a variety of study strategy topics.
• Donate an old exam or study guides to be used as a study resource.
• Describe our services as beneficial to all students and as a great investment of their time. 

• Provides Moodle Support
• Facilitates workshops on online learning and teaching with technology
• Instructional design team helps build online course activities
• Assists with Program Development, and other e-Learning Services

• Use the GrizzNet Secure WiFi for 3 years at wifi.oakland.edu. Login with your NetID and password.
• Browse general technology offered for email, documents, video conferencing, and other approved software and hardware.
• Get general tech support for computers and email accounts at (248) 370-4357 (HELP).
• VPN access to campus resources at grizzvpn.oakland.edu
• Set up DUO 2-factor authentication for webmail and MySAIL (see DUO FAQ)

• Download Microsoft Office 365, Free for OU Community. Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, OneDrive and more.

Through a campus-wide AI task force established in 2023, Oakland University is working to determine learning opportunities, policies, guidance, and resources for intentionally responding to how AI affects our educational environment and how to teach accordingly.

In the 2023-24 academic year, the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) organized discussions and resources, which are curated in their Syllabus: Generative AI in Teaching, which also provides a variety of ways to learn about and implement AI use guidelines in your classroom. CETL and e-Learning and Instructional Support (e-LIS) will continue to offer learning opportunities and guidance in the 2024-25 academic year. To stay in the loop about upcoming opportunities, sign up to receive CETL updates and receive e-LIS updates.

Does Oakland have an official AI policy as it relates to academic integrity?

The Dean of Students office has determined that the current academic conduct policies apply to defining appropriate use of chatbots and AI technologies and therefore have not developed a separate university-wide policy. Uses of AI tech may vary from course to course, and reviewing the learning materials below will help determine an appropriate practice for you and your students.

OU Resources for AI Literacy and Use

• Syllabus: Generative AI in Teaching
• CETL Teaching Tips on Generative AI
• Artificial Intelligence: OU Libraries Guide
• Copyleaks and AI Detection: FAQs (e-LIS)