Faculty Handbook - version 8/12
Handbook for contracts dated prior to 7/1/03 (PDF)
Index | Faculty Senate | UNCA

5.0 ACADEMIC POLICIES AND SERVICES

5.1 Bookstore

The UNCA Bookstore is located in the Highsmith Center and is open to University faculty, staff, and students. In addition to textbooks, the store stocks a wide variety of trade titles and welcomes suggestions regarding specific trade titles we should keep in stock. The Bookstore also has a "Books by UNCA Faculty" section which carries books written by UNCA faculty.

The store has a variety of merchandise and services such as faculty academic regalia rental and purchase, book special ordering, discounted Biltmore Estate tickets, and daily newspapers and academic oriented periodicals available for sale. Faculty are encouraged to make suggestions to the manager about the Bookstore. More information is available at http://www.unca.edu/bookstore/.

5.2 Classroom Policies

5.2.1 Evaluating Students

Evaluation Prior to Official Drop Date

Faculty must provide students with an evaluation of their performance prior to the official drop date each semester; this may be through test grades or other appropriate evaluation technique.

5.2.1.1 Reporting Grades

Faculty must complete grade forms received from the Registrar's Office near the end of the semester and return these forms in person to the Registrar's Office by the published deadlines. Spring semester senior grades must be turned in earlier than other grades to accommodate printing the graduation program. Contact the Registrar's Office for more information or link to http://www.unca.edu/enroll/grading.html.

Posting of Grades (VCAA, 1987)

Because of the Buckley Amendment the public posting of grades may place a faculty member and the University in legal jeopardy. According to the "Legal Guide," prepared by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars in conjunction with the National Association of College and University Attorneys, faculty members should not post grades in a public location (including a faculty member's office door) "unless identification of students is impossible and the grades are listed in random order." Grades cannot be posted using names or social security numbers. The only safe method of posting grades would be to have students submit a code word which only the student and instructor would know. A better method would be to ask students to provide instructors with self-addressed stamped envelopes.

5.2.1.2 Final Examinations Policy (SD3782)

The final exam schedule for each semester is available at http://www.unca.edu/enroll/index.html#schedules.

  1. Exams are scheduled the last week of each semester in the same place and at the same beginning time as the courses themselves.
  2. Courses in the MWF mode have exams scheduled on M, W, or F. Courses in the T, Th mode have exams on T or Th.
  3. Exams for courses at 6:00 p.m. or on Saturday are held in the usual class period.
  4. Term I courses have their exams during the last class period.
  5. A student may petition an instructor for an individual exam at a time and place to be arranged by the instructor.
  6. The assigning of a comprehensive final examination is optional. However, each member of the faculty is expected to use the assigned period for appropriate educational activities.
  7. Faculty members may excuse graduating seniors from taking final exams during the last semester of their program.
  8. Infrequent evaluation is considered detrimental to learning. Hence, the final exam should not be the only criterion for a student's final grade.

5.2.2 Instructional Space

The Office of Enrollment Services schedules use of instructional space. Specific requests are to be made through that office. Each department has specific classrooms over which it has priority use but not exclusive use. (see UNCA PPM #20 for additional information.)

5.2.3 Material written by faculty

UNCA encourages faculty to engage in scholarship which may lead to published articles, monographs, texts, workbooks, etc. To avoid economic conflict of interest when students are required to purchase material published or produced by UNCA faculty, UNCA requires:

  1. Any material faculty require students to purchase must be sold through the UNCA bookstore.
  2. Any material authored by UNCA faculty, administrators or staff which is sold through the UNCA bookstore is priced such that:
    1. The bookstore receives all profit from such sales, and;
    2. The author(s) are reimbursed for their explicit out of pocket costs associated with production of the material.
    3. Any net publishing royalties accruing to UNCA Faculty, Administration, or Staff due to sale of their material to UNCA students is to be placed in a general scholarship fund administered by the UNCA foundation.

5.2.4 Photocopying Materials

All faculty are expected to comply with federal laws relating to the photocopying of materials. Plastic cards are available through Printing Services to use in making photocopies. Departments may purchase these cards for faculty for university related use. Faculty, staff, and students may also purchase these cards for personal use. These cards reduce the cost of photocopying over putting coins in machines; these cards may be used in any photocopy machine on campus.

5.2.5 Syllabus and Class Policies

Distribution of Information at the Beginning at Each Semester (VCAA, 8-12-85)

To assist students in deciding on the nature of the course in which they have enrolled, to help students understand what will be expected of them, and to help students plan their work in the course, it is strongly suggested each faculty member provide the following in writing to each student in every course at one of the first class sessions of each semester:

  1. A course syllabus describing the course as it will be presented by the individual faculty members;
  2. A statement of class policies which the faculty member will follow.

This request to inform students does not in any way impose on a faculty member any policies or any particular approaches to teaching that he or she does not now subscribe to. It is sound teaching practice to inform students in writing about the course (as he or she conceives it) and the policies that govern students in that class (whatever those policies might be).

Experience shows that students are interested in your responses to the following questions:

  1. Course Syllabus
    1. Is the course required for the major?
    2. Does it have prerequisites?
    3. What are the course objectives? What is it supposed to do? What in general are the students expected to get out of it?
    4. What is the text? Any required readings? Any suggested readings?
    5. What are the main topics that will be covered? Can you give a kind of timetable of when we might expect to be dealing with each of these?
    6. How will we be evaluated? About how many exams or quizzes? Can we know the dates of these? How are grades in these exams and quizzes weighted to yield the final grade?
  2. Class Policies
    1. Must we attend each class session? Do you have a policy on "cuts"?
    2. Can we make up missed quizzes or exams? If so, how? How does a missed class effect the final grade (if it does)?
    3. What happens if snow or other severe weather makes it impossible to get to class, especially if an exam or a special assignment is scheduled?
    4. Will you accept late homework or papers? Will lateness affect the grade?
    5. Does "class participation" count toward the final grade? Can you tell us how much?
    6. Can you tell us what must be done to pass, to get an "A", etc.? Is 60 a passing grade; is 90 an A, etc?
    7. Do you have a specific format for papers? Must they be typed?
    8. Any other policies that affect behavior or performance in this class?

Written statements need not touch on each of these items and may actually mention a few more. The lack of a written statement of an actual policy, however, gives the clear assumption that policy does not exist or is not important. Problems with student grievances are most easily resolved by getting policy in writing and making sure that each student has a copy.

5.2.6 Working with Students with Disabilities (SD5096S)

Each student brings unique abilities, experiences, and learning styles to your classroom.  Students with disabilities who are accepted at UNCA are capable of college work and should have course requirements consistent with those for other students.  However, some accommodation or modification may be needed.

Whether or not a student has a disability which requires accommodation is decided by a relevant health professional rather than a faculty member in order to take advantage of the protections offered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

 Students with disabilities are required to file documentation of the disability with the Disabilities Services Office (DSO) no later than the withdrawal date for the semester/term in which the accommodation is being requested or as soon as the student discovers need.  That documentation should include suggestions for needed accommodations.  Once a faculty member has been notified by the DSO that some accommodations are needed, the faculty member should meet with either the DSO or the student or both to discuss course expectations and what accommodations might be appropriate.  The office can be accessed directly at http://www.unca.edu/sdev/disability.htm.

As faculty, you may encounter students with a variety of disabilities. For example, students may have mobility problems, hearing or vision problems, learning disabilities, or emotional disorders. University of North Carolina at Asheville has developed mechanisms to (1) identify students with disabilities and (2) link those students with services designed to foster their educational progress. Faculty can help disabled students to succeed. While there is little clarification on what the ADA may require, a special task force developed a list of general guidelines. Talk with the disabilities coordinator to clarify how individual cases fit into these guidelines:

a. Students cannot be excluded from a course or from a course of study solely on the basis of a disability unless the student is unable to meet the licensing, certification, or physical requirements of that course or career. Such exclusion should be approached cautiously.
b. Modifications or waivers in degree or course requirements may be necessary to meet the requirements of some students with disabilities.
c. Auxiliary aids must be permitted in the classroom if they are required to ensure full participation of disabled students. For example, this may include a tape recorder, a reader, a writer, a computer, or a sign language translator.
d. Prohibitive rules, such as banning tape recorders from the classroom, must be waived for some students with disabilities.
e. Modified or alternative testing and evaluation methods for measuring student achievement may be necessary for students with attention deficit disorder; impaired sensory, manual, or speaking skills (except where those skills are being measured); or learning disabilities.
f. Classes may have to be rescheduled or moved to permit access for students with mobility impairments.
g. Special equipment or devices used in the classroom and, in some cases, teaching techniques that rely upon sight, hearing, or mobility of students, may require adaptation in individual cases.

Many students first become aware of their learning disabilities because of the observation of our faculty who then contact the counseling center or suggest that the student do so.

5.2.6.1 Working with Students who have Learning Disabilities

To be diagnosed as learning disabled, a person must experience learning problems that are not the result of either a sensory impairment (like blindness or deafness), mental retardation, or being culturally disadvantaged. That means that an individual cannot be diagnosed as learning disabled without also being of at least average intelligence. If a learning disabled student has been accepted at UNCA, he or she has demonstrated the capability to study at the college level, assuming some consideration of his/her disability.

A learning disability is real, although it is not as obvious as paralysis, blindness, or deafness. Learning disabled students are likely to have difficulty concentrating on a lecture while taking notes or in the presence of background noise, reading, organizing, or memorizing information, taking timed tests, and speaking or reading in front of groups.  Some suggestions which seem to help those students with learning disabilities are listed below.

Syllabus: Provide a detailed syllabus. Don't change the syllabus unless it can't be helped; then, provide a revised syllabus or assignment sheet.

Instructional suggestions:
a. Organize instructional information in a logical sequence.
b. Keep oral instructions logical and concise. Reinforce oral instructions with a brief cue word.
c. Repeat or re-word complicated directions.
d. Provide visual reinforcement of oral instructions or lectures, using the blackboard, overheads, handouts.
e. Present important points more than once.
f. For a laboratory class, provide an individual orientation to the laboratory and its equipment and allow extra practice with tasks and equipment to minimize student anxiety. Clearly and legibly label equipment, tools, and materials. Color code for enhanced visual recognition. Make available cue cards or labels designating the steps of procedure to help the student master the sequence. If needed, use specialized adaptive equipment to help with exact measurements.
g. If a student lacks social skills or has difficulty sustaining focused attention, either talk with the student privately or talk with the disabilities coordinator for suggestions. Sometimes the student is best served by sitting in the center of the front row as close to the instructor as possible.

Testing suggestions:
a. The disabilities coordinator may suggest that some students may need a separate room, oral testing, scribes, or readers. If it is difficult to transfer answers to another sheet, either allow the student to write on the exam sheet or even dictate their responses to a scribe.
b. They may also benefit from shorter and more frequent tests, extended time for tests, or certain formats of a written test. Sometimes it may be recommended that a student be allowed a dictionary or thesaurus or a computer spell-checking program or, when appropriate, a calculator.
c. Clearly separate items on an exam sheet. Students usually need time to assimilate information, so tests that cover recently presented material may cause difficulty.

Out-of-class activities:
a. Additional time may be needed to assist students with understanding projects, reading drafts of papers, or reviewing instructions.
b. Sometimes alternative or supplementary assignments may be needed to evaluate the student's abilities. Taped interviews, slide presentations, photographic essays, or hand-made models may lead to more accurate evaluations.

Overall: The disabilities coordinator should have specific suggestions for each student from the health professional who provided the documentation. Before making changes to your course/exam material, talk with the coordinator and the student to be certain the changes are needed. If there is a question about testing, ask if there are other ways to test the mastery of your course. Naturally, some tasks are deemed essential functions of the course and may not be readily modified. When in doubt, talk with the coordinator.

Students with disabilities have the right of confidentiality about the nature of the disability. Not every student will choose to have a disability revealed to the instructor. However, if the student wants accommodations, the student must provide to the coordinator documentation as well as permission to talk to the instructor prior to the withdraw date of that semester/term

If there's a problem: Mechanisms for student complaints should begin with talking to you, the instructor. If resolution is not reached, the student should be referred to the Faculty Conciliator in a timely fashion. The student has only 10 days from the date of the incident to talk with the Faculty Conciliator, so your response should come in time to allow for that next discussion. If the Faculty Conciliator is not able to resolve the problem, the issue is referred to the Academic Grievance Committee.

5.2.6.2 Working with Students who have Emotional Disorders

If the disabilities coordinator advises you that a student with an emotional disorder is/will be in one of your classes, the coordinator will also advise you of appropriate accommodations. If you observe a change in a student's behavior or if you become concerned about a student, send the student to the Counseling Center.

5.2.7 Textbooks

In the Spring and Fall the UNCA bookstore manager requests textbook orders be submitted for the subsequent semester. Faculty complete book order requests and submit them to the Department Chair/Program Director. In the case where textbook selection is a committee or department decision the Chair/Program Director completes the book order form. All book order forms are signed by and submitted to the bookstore by the Department Chair/Program Director who has the final authority in text selection. Care should be taken that excessive costs for any course be minimized.

5.2.8 Videotaping Policy

The following policy for the regulation for the use of copyrighted video tapes at UNCA has been developed in accordance with pertinent Federal Law. The fair use of copyrighted video tapes on campus allows for two general purposes.

  1. Home Use. This includes usage by individuals in the dormitories.
  2. Educational Use. Under this purpose an instructor may use a copyrighted video tape for his or her class. Similar usage can be made by a student organization that is affiliated with an academic program in the pursuit of its education objectives. Private rooms in Highsmith Center may be used by such student groups for this purpose.

In neither of these two types of usage can there be any charge or payment requested. The Media Center is forbidden by law from duplicating any copyrighted video tape.

Off-Air Recording Guidelines
A committee composed of producers and users have finally come to an agreement on guidelines for off-air recording of television broadcast for use in instructional activities. Even though the guidelines may never become part of the law, their acceptance by the Congressional Subcommittee and their inclusion as an official document of that Subcommittee will provide support in cases of suit for misuse. The guidelines are as follows:

  1. Off-air recording guidelines apply only to non-profit educational institutions.
  2. A broadcast may be recorded simultaneously with the broadcast transmission and retained for a period of 45 calendar days after the date of recording. Upon conclusion of the retention period, all off-air recordings must be erased or destroyed.
  3. Off-air recordings may be used once by individual teachers in the course of relevant teaching activities. It may be repeated once and only once when instructional reinforcement is necessary in the classrooms and similar places devoted to instruction within a single building, cluster or campus as well as in the homes of students during the first 10 school days of the retention period.
  4. Off-air recordings may be made only at the request of and used by individual teachers, and may not be regularly recorded in anticipation of requests. No program may be recorded more than one time regardless of the number of times it is broadcast.
  5. A limited number of copies may be reproduced from each recording to meet the legitimate needs of teachers under these guidelines. Each such copy shall be subject to all provisions governing the original off-air recording.
  6. After the first ten consecutive school days the only recording allowed is for teacher evaluation. This evaluation is to be used to determine the likelihood of using the program in the series or in purchasing a copy of the program.
  7. Off-air recordings need not be used in their entirety. The sequence of use must follow the order of the program and the recording may not be altered.
  8. All copies of off-air recordings must include the copyright notice on the broadcast program as recorded.
  9. Educational institutions are expected to establish procedures to maintain the integrity of these guidelines.

5.2.9 Visual aids, etc.

Available office supplies include transparencies. Faculty may also use the Printing Services to make slides.

5.2.10 Student Travel for Class (SD2994S)

Students who will be traveling as part of a course or department sponsored activity should complete a Travel/Medical Authorization Form (available at the Weizenblatt Health Center).  Students should complete the forms and return them to the faculty member in charge of the outing.   After all forms have been received by the sponsoring faculty member, he or she should bring the forms to the Health Center where they will be placed in the student's medical file. Please contact the Health Center for more information. 

5.3 Computer Center and Computing

The Computer Center provides the primary support for members of the faculty who use computing and networking in their curricular applications and their research.  In addition, it manages all the student computer classrooms and labs, and all of the university’s  “smart classrooms” (classrooms with Internet-connected computers, data projectors, and other a/v equipment).

The Computer Center staff offices, along with its central computing and networking facilities, are located on the ground floor of Robinson Hall. Information about computer use policies, account set-up and operation, labs and classrooms, and workshops is available at http://www.unca.edu/compcenter/.

5.3.1 Computer Center Services

The Computer Center provides a complete suite of computing and networking services to the university:

System Procurement and Installation
The Computer Center helps campus users configure and buy personal computer systems (Windows computers, Apple Macintoshes). Staff members meet on an appointment basis with prospective personal computer purchasers to assess needs and recommend hardware and software configurations. Using their knowledge about the best purchasing arrangements and sources for systems and software, staff members provide complete information for purchase requisitions for standard hardware and software configurations. Upon delivery of an ordered system, they unpack it, set it up, test it, and inventory it. They then install the software, deliver the system to the user's office, and connect it to the network.

Additionally, staff members help faculty with tools to access central campus servers and databases, including particularly the popular Web for Faculty software that allows easy faculty access to student and course records contained in the Student Information System. SAS and SPSSX are also accessible on the central systems, and SAS is available as well in a personal computer configuration.

Hardware Repair
 The Computer Center repairs all UNCA-owned computers and peripherals, at no charge to the user department.

Workshops
Computer Center staff members give regular workshops on a variety of computing and networking topics. Most workshops are hands-on and are given in computing labs. Typical workshops for Windows computer users include Windows concepts and techniques, the Microsoft Office suite and Pegasus electronic mail. Frequent Macintosh topics are Macintosh Basics, Microsoft Word, Macintosh multimedia tools, Eudora electronic mail, and Excel. Sessions on web page creation and maintenance have also been popular.  Workshop schedules are announced at the beginning of each semester in a mailing to all campus offices. They are open to UNCA faculty and staff, and are free of charge.

Computer Labs and “Smart Classrooms” 
 The computer center manages UNCA’s computing classroom/labs (facilities with 12-20 computers in which hands-on classes may be taught); and its “smart classrooms” (classrooms with an instructor’s station containing an Internet-connected computer, data projector, and other a/v equipment.)

UNCA has both PC and Mac classroom/labs and smart classrooms (see the Computer Center web page for a comprehensive list). All facilities are connected to the network and have a base of personal productivity and Internet access software. As necessary, faculty may make arrangements for the installation of course-specific software.

Enrollment Services is responsible for assigning smart classrooms and classroom/labs for regularly scheduled classes. The Computer Center schedules one-time sessions and other limited-use activities.

5.3.2 Policy on Misuse of Computers and Software (1-10-85)

In order to regularize the use of computers on this campus in accord with North Carolina criminal statutes and in conformity with accepted professional and ethical standards, the following policy is now in effect.

Possession of a computer account entitles an individual to use UNCA's computing equipment and resources for official activities of the university. Misuse of the computer account is strictly forbidden. "Misuse" includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the following activities:

1. Unauthorized attempts to modify computer equipment, including terminals or other peripherals, or to deny access to such equipment to other users.
2. Use of an account for a purpose for which it is not intended, i.e., personal or commercial enterprises not consistent with the mission of the university; or allowing such use by other individuals.
3. An individual's unauthorized use of an account not belonging to him or her.
4. Unauthorized attempts to read, alter, change, execute, or delete files belonging to other users.
5. An individual's use of computer operating system privileges not expressly authorized for him or her by computer center or other appropriate university personnel.
6. Violations of property rights and copyrights in data and computer programs.
7. Any other action which interferes with the proper functioning of the system or impinges on another user's rights.

The Computer Center and other appropriate personnel will investigate cases of suspected misuse. As the first step of the investigation, the suspected misuser's account will be locked, and the misuser will be informed that he/she is under investigation. Computer Center personnel will request permission from the suspected misuser to examine the account with his/her present. If permission is denied, the Computer Center will keep the account locked, will inform appropriate campus bodies of its intent to investigate, and will then examine the account. During an examination, the Computer Center reserves the right to look at all of the information in a user's account. The account will remain locked until the investigation is complete and a determination as to misuse has been made.

In cases of computer misuse, the university may take appropriate disciplinary action against the user. All disciplinary actions instituted for computer misuse shall be consistent with current personnel policies for the state employees and student judicial codes for students. Irrespective of internal disciplinary proceedings the university reserves the right to proceed criminally or civilly against the accused misuser for alleged violations of current applicable state, federal or local laws. (see UNCA PPM #31)

5.3.3 Microcomputer Software Policy (2-3-86)

Unauthorized copying or use of computer software is a violation of Federal law and often a breach of a licensing agreement. The UNCA Computer Center will create copies of microcomputer software for archival purposes only. Furthermore, the Center will not provide support for users of unauthorized copies of software packages.

Since the University does not condone the unauthorized copying or use of computer software, such action is not considered to be taken in the course of employment. Consequently, the University will not provide legal defense for individuals who may be accused of making unauthorized copies of software, even if these individuals maintain that such action was taken in the course of their employment.

5.4 Curricular Change

Requests for curriculum changes or implementation of new curriculum originate at the department/program level or with a planning committee in the case of new programs. All requests are forwarded to the Academic Policies Committee (APC) of the Faculty Senate. All requests must relate to a program's learning objectives for students. The APC forwards its recommendation to the Faculty Senate which in turn forwards its recommendation to the Chancellor. The Chancellor's approval is required before a requested curriculum change may become part of an existing program. Curriculum for a new program requires approval of the President of the University and the Board of Governors.

5.4.1 Curriculum/Catalog Changes

Curricular changes to existing programs must be approved by the Faculty Senate and inserted into the University Catalog. The procedure is to submit proposals to the Academic Policies Committee (APC) of the Faculty Senate, which in turn forwards approved proposals to the full Senate. Each fall, APC distributes a memo to all Department Chairs and Program Directors that specifies the procedures and formats for this process. Key points from this memo are abstracted below.

Procedures
1. Proposals must be accompanied by a cover letter and follow  a required format.
2. Proposals must be submitted both to APC and to the Registrar's Office. Review by the Registrar must be completed one week before the proposal is considered by APC.
3. Proposals must be submitted on high density floppy disks and in hard copy format.
4. Proposals that may affect operations in other departments must include memos indicating consultation with affected departments.  These memos also must follow a required format.
5. Departments should send representatives to APC on the date that the proposal is discussed and to Senate on the date that the approved proposal is sent forward for discussion.
6. Proposals approved by Senate also must be approved by the VCAA and, in some cases, the Chancellor before they take effect.

Proposal Format
1. "APC Document #_________": The number will be supplied by APC.
2. "Effective Date": Semester and year proposed changes would begin.
3. "Delete XXX" (where relevant): should include current course number, title and description where appropriate, or statement heading, page number, and affected paragraph.
4. "Add XXX" (where relevant): should replace the above material or reference a specific insertion page and paragraph number in the 200__-200__ Catalog.
5. "Impact Statement": A brief statement describing how the proposal will affect major, minor, and University requirements. This statement must also include:

  • memos from departments that will be affected by the proposed changes describing how the changes will affect them; and
  • a statement explaining how the proposed change is likely to affect the submitting department or program's future staffing needs and course offerings. (Proposals without these inclusions will be returned possibly delaying consideration.)

6. "Rationale": A brief statement justifying the change(s). If a rationale is intended to become a policy in its own right, it should be a separate submission.

Deadline
Because the annual Catalog deadline typically is in March, and because Senate rules require two readings for each document, proposed catalog changes must be received by mid-November to ensure publication in the next year's Catalog.

5.4.2 Program Changes

UNC System Procedures
Information on required UNC procedures for developing academic degree programs (Office of the President, Administrative Memorandum 406) is available at http://www.northcarolina.edu/aa/reports/plan_intent/doc_index.cfm.

Information on required UNC procedures for planning and conducting degree-related distance education (Office of the President, Administrative Memorandum 407) is available at http://www.northcarolina.edu/aa/reports/mem407/doc_index.cfm.

UNCA Internal procedures (SD0281)
New degree programs are to receive approval from the Faculty Senate prior to submission to the Board of Trustees and the UNC General Administration. As described below this approval process requires a minimum of two considerations by the Faculty Senate.

1. At the time of submitting a request to plan a degree program such request should receive approval of IDC and the Faculty Senate. This review is to consider the concept, purpose, feasibility, and appropriateness of the request.

2. If the institution is granted approval to plan a new degree program the curriculum details are to be reviewed by the APC and their recommendation is sent to the Faculty Senate. The plan should then receive approval of the Faculty Senate prior to submission to the UNC General Administration. This second review is to consider program structure, catalog description, number of required hours in the major, correlate requirements, resource requirements and impact on other departments. Resource requirements include faculty positions, course offerings, library, computer, laboratory, budget and those matters pertaining directly to the academic program. This review of resource requirements is to guarantee consideration has been given to these matters.

Should the proposed program be returned by the UNC General Administration for substantive revision, these revisions are to be considered by APC and the Faculty Senate prior to resubmission of the proposal. The Chair of APC will monitor a proposal from the time it is first approved for planning by the UNC General Administration.

Statement of IDC's Role in the Development of Academic Programs (SD3982)

1. IDC reaffirms its responsibility established by 1982 Senate Document #2 (revision three), to give a first review to new academic programs.
2. IDC represents the UPC in its academic program review function.
3. IDC will review proposals with the UPC for advice and comment. The recommendations of the IDC will be sent to the Senate.

5.5 Enrollment Services

The Office of Enrollment Services includes the Registrar's Office, the Academic Advising Office and the Financial Aid Office.  Personnel in Enrollment Services coordinate the construction of department/program class schedules, the scheduling of classrooms and the maintenance of class and advisee records on the Web for Faculty system (see Section 3.1.4.6).

Information about Enrollment Services activities, as well as the course schedule for each semester, the final exam schedule and the schedule for late start of classes, is available at http://www.unca.edu/enroll/.

5.6 Intellectual Property (see Section 9.4)

5.7 Media Center (formerly Learning Resources Center)

The Media Center provides media services, equipment, and facilities to faculty, students, and staff in support of UNCA's academic and co-curricular programs. Located on the lower floor in Ramsey Library, it is composed of a circulation desk and workroom, video production facilities, a smart classroom, and listening and viewing stations. The Media Center also is responsible for use of Lipinsky Auditorium.

Web access to the Media Center is available via the Library's home page (http://bullpup.lib.unca.edu/library).  The Media Center may be contacted by phone (251-6996 or 251-6540) and services may be requested by email (media_request@unca.edu). Please provide at least 24 hours notice when requesting services.

Distance Learning Services, once part of the Media Center, is now part of the Computer Center. Located in Robinson Hall, it maintains an additional teleclassroom in the Media Center (RL 011).  See Section 5.9 for more information.

A lab for the Center for Teaching and Learning also is located in the Media Center (RL 009). Contact Kathy Whatley (whatley@unca.edu, 251-6269) for more information. Technical and computer support for the CTL lab is provided by the Computer Center.

5.7.1 Media Materials and Equipment

The following types of media materials and equipment are available from the Media Circulation Desk:

CDs 35 mm slide projectors
audiotapes overhead transparency projectors
videotapes CD/audio cassette recorder/players
laser discs laptops (MAC and PC)
DVDs  video/data projectors
computer discs portable lecterns with sound
CD-ROMs camcorders and tripods
media kits laser disc and DVD player
media reserves VCRs
LPs (33 1/3 vinyl discs) record (LP) player

Faculty and staff are permitted to check out materials and equipment. Students may use them in-house or check them out with a faculty member's authorization. Equipment checks out for one day only. Due date alterations are available for special needs.

5.7.2 Media Services and Classroom Support

The Media Center provides equipment for classrooms.  Currently all classrooms have an overhead projects and most also have a TV/VCR unit. With the current establishment of smart classrooms around campus, much of this equipment will become unnecessary.  For information about the location of smart classrooms, contact Mike Honeycutt in the Computer Center (honeycutt@unca.edu). For classroom media needs, contact the Media Center by phone (251-6996 or 251-6540) or email (media_request@unca.edu).

5.7.3 Production Services

The Media Center also provides audio and video production services in its TV studio, in classrooms and in the field.  Program transfer and duplication, satellite downlink services and video editing services also are available. For production information and scheduling, contact Kent Thompson by phone (215-6425) or email (kthompson@unca.edu).

5.7.4 Media Center Facilities

A smart classroom, the Whitman Room (RL 101) is available for academic and campus functions.  First-time users must schedule an equipment orientation session prior to use. RL 101 can accommodate 50 people and houses a video/data projector, sound system, an overhead graphic camera (the Elmo), a VCR, a DVD player, PC computer, slide projector and an overhead transparency projector. Other facilities include small video viewing rooms and a number of listening.viewing carrels. For information and scheduling, contact the Media Center by phone (251-6996 or 251-6540) or email (media_request@unca.edu).

5.7.5 Lipinsky Auditorium and Lobby

Lipinsky Auditorium, a 615-person facility, is available for classes, lectures, cultural events and other campus and community programs. For information and scheduling, contact Leigh Svenson by phone (251-6630) or email (lsvenson@unca.edu).

5.7.6 Hours of Operation

Monday-Thursday, 8 AM - 9 PM
Friday, 8 AM - 6 PM
Saturday, 10 AM - 6 PM
Sunday, 1 PM - 9 PM
(Hours during summer and vacation periods will vary.)

5.8 Library 

Ramsey Library seeks to support and promote instructional programs on the UNCA campus and to respond to the diverse information needs of students, faculty, and administration in addition to enriching the intellectual climate of the campus by affording all members of the academic community an avenue for independent learning. Library faculty contribute to the teaching-learning process through individual and group instruction, and, along with the library assistants, carry on administrative, technical and public services activities directed toward providing information resources in fields pertinent to the programs of the University. Library faculty and staff actively seek the advice and suggestions of UNCA faculty in improving the quality of the collections and services as well as expanding their range.

Be sure to visit the Library’s web site at http://bullpup.lib.unca.edu/library/ for further information the catalog, electronic resources, and assistance.

5.8.1 Assignment Alert

If an entire class is requesting a particular kind of non-reserve material, or material on a particular subject, the Public Services staff can provide much better service when they know about this in advance. Faculty is encouraged to notify the reference department about pending assignments involving library usage. An Assignment Alert form is conveniently located on the library’s web site at http://bullpup.lib.unca.edu/library/forms/assign_alert.html, or you may e-mail the reference staff at libref@unca.edu.

5.8.2 Circulation 

Books checked out to faculty are due at semester’s end. It is necessary that books be returned or renewed (this can be done via the library’s web site PRIOR to the due date – the web site does not permit self-renewal once a book is overdue) for purposes of inventory and circulation-file maintenance. In the interests of students, staff, and other faculty, and due to the limited size of the collection, the library requests that all books charged to faculty be returned when not being used in order to make them available to others.

Books not returned or renewed by the due date are assumed to be lost. Faculty are liable for the cost of the book and a processing fee.

Government Documents. Ramsey Library has been a selective depository for United States government publications since 1965, and for North Carolina state government documents since 1989. The Library receives approximately 1/3 of all available federal and state documents, and provides convenient access to electronic government resources on CD-ROM and the World Wide Web in the Library’s reference area. Most federal and state print documents may be checked out.

Recall. All books needed by another borrower may be recalled three weeks from the check-out date. If not returned within one week of recall, faculty are liable for the cost of the book and a processing fee.

Reference Books generally do not circulate. In unusual circumstances arrangements may be made by a reference librarian for a faculty member to borrow a reference work for a very short period.

Search and Notify. If you cannot locate a book, please ask the circulation staff to search for it and notify you of the results. UNCA ID cards are required at the time of check-out.

Video Cassettes circulate to faculty for one week. Other use is limited to the library.

5.8.3 Electronic Resources

The  Library provides access to hundreds of online resources in the sciences, humanities, social sciences, business, and education available from the Library’s home page: http://bullpup.lib.unca.edu/library.  These include an increasing number of full-text periodical indexes and online journals. A reference librarian will be happy to assist you in accessing these resources in the library, from your office, or from home. Just call the Reference Desk at 251-6111 or e-mail us at libref@unca.edu.

5.8.4 Faculty Research Carrel Policy

The Library has a limited number of locked research carrels available for faculty use. Any regular (non-adjunct) member of the faculty actively engaged in research, a writing project, or curriculum-related projects requiring ready access to library resources is eligible to apply for a carrel. Applications for carrels should be made in writing or via the web to the University Librarian. Carrel Request Forms are available on the Library’s web site and in the Library’s Administrative Office (RL200). Applicants provide a brief description of their research project and explain their need for a locked carrel.

Guidelines

5.8.5 Instructional Services

The library offers a wide variety of instructional programs designed to instill knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will enable the undergraduate to make effective use of library and information resources. Library staff teach the required LR 102 course. They also provide course-related lectures in the bibliography of subject disciplines, suggest appropriate search strategies and library resources, prepare written search strategies on chosen subjects, and do comprehensive annotated bibliographies.

To arrange for any of these services contact the Reference Department. Please try to allow at least two weeks for the preparation of a class lecture and at least a month for the preparation of written guides.

5.8.6 Library Displays

Faculty members are invited to suggest and participate in displays in the Malcolm Blowers Gallery (main floor) or Special Collections Gallery (upper floor).  Displays may encourage interest in cultural events, or they may have an academic focus.  Please contact a member of the Library Exhibit Committee (251-6436).

5.8.7 Order Procedures

The library's acquisition budget is allocated by broad subject areas for the purchase of retrospective and current books, periodicals, and non-print materials needed to support the curricular offerings of the academic departments. A member of the library faculty is assigned to each academic department as a subject bibliographer and liaison.  Your bibliographer is eager to work with you to identify gaps in our collections and to ensure we meet the information needs of you and your students.  Contact information for your bibliographer can be found on the Library’s web site at http://bullpup.lib.unca.edu/library/libdir/bibliographers.html. The Technical Services staff is responsible for the ordering, receipt and processing of all library materials.

5.8.7.1 Audiovisual Materials and Computer Software

Procedures for requesting audiovisual materials and computer software are as follows:
* Phonodiscs, CD’s, and audiocassette tapes: follow standard book order procedures.
* Other sound and visual media (including videocassette tapes, video discs, DVD’s, filmstrips, etc.)--all requests should be submitted to the subject bibliographer using the Recommendation For Purchase of Audiovisual Materials form, available from the library. Purchase decisions will be made by the Collection Development Committee based on the merits of
each request.

5.8.7.2 Books

Department chairs or a designated faculty representative are encouraged to work with the department's faculty to ensure that sufficient book requests are submitted to spend allocated funds. Book request cards are available from the departmental secretaries or from the Technical Services Department in the library. The following information must be typed or written legibly on these cards:

Author's name:  Should be complete.
Title
Publisher:  If obscure or a small publisher, include the address on the back of the card or attach to the card the brochure from which you took the information.
Date:  Should be noted on the card as well as desired edition.
ISBN: If available.
Priority: (see Section 5.8.7.4)
Department:  Yours.
Requested by: Type, rubber-stamp or legibly write your surname.

A book request card should be submitted or a catalog marked for each title to be ordered. The Library sends Choice book review cards and Yankee Book Peddler slips (yellow) to each department monthly as selection aids. Faculty members sign, indicate department and priority (see Section 5.8.7.4), and return cards for those titles that they wish to acquire.

MARCH 1st of each year is the cut-off date for receiving requests that will be paid from the current book allocation. Since the library attempts to slightly over-encumber each subject budget (inevitably some books will never come and we typically receive a small discount), requests should be submitted continually throughout the year to maintain a backlog of cards for ordering. Money not spent or encumbered by any subject area before April 15th will be used for the over-encumbered subject areas.

Requests for the purchase of books should be sent to the librarian assigned as bibliographer for your subject (see http://bullpup.lib.unca.edu/library/libdir/bibliographers.html). Inquiries about acquisition procedures, book order problems, or cataloging procedures should be directed to the Technical Services Librarian.

5.8.7.3 Periodicals

Requests for current periodical subscriptions and microfilm back files, as well as for deletion of titles currently received, should be directed to your subject bibliographer. All requests should be made on the standard Periodical Request Form, available from the library. If the title falls within the scope of the requester's academic department, it will be charged to the department budget allocation. If it is outside the requester's academic area, consideration will be given to purchasing it with library general funds. Requests must be submitted by 1 September in order to have receipt or deletion of the title beginning with the following calendar year.

5.8.7.4 Priority Codes

All requests for library materials should be coded as priority 1+, priority 1, or priority 2.  Priority 1+ indicates that the materials are to be ordered immediately, or as soon as funds are available, even if already owned by WCU or ASU libraries. Priority 1 indicates that the book should be ordered only if the book is NOT held by one of the WNCLN libraries.  Priority 2 indicates that requests are to be held until March 1, and then ordered if funds have not been expended on priority 1 items. Priority 2 items that cannot be ordered in a given fiscal year will be returned to the department for re-coding or discard.

5.8.8 Photocopying

Coin-operated and copicard photocopying is available. For charges to departmental accounts: (1) a by-pass key is available at the Circulation Desk; (2) a record of the copy transaction must be recorded in the copy logbook at the Circulation Desk. Each time a department's student assistant is sent to do copying, he/she must bring an authorization form filled in by the faculty or staff member. Copies of these forms are available from the department secretaries. The library staff does not provide photocopying services.

5.8.9 Reference/Information Services

 The reference collection includes encyclopedias, handbooks, almanacs, directories, manuals, yearbooks and bibliographies. Contact Reference Personnel for assistance:

5.8.10 Reserve Service

Materials are placed on reserve to equalize student accessibility to limited resources that will be used heavily for class assignments. The reserve service should be used primarily for assigned reading lists, rather than recommended reading.  Electronic reserve service is also available.

Materials that may be placed on reserve include:

Materials that should generally NOT be placed on reserve:

Policy/Procedure: Complete a Library Reserve Request Form, available at the Circulation Desk or upon request through campus mail.  Print and audiovisual reserves require 48-hour notice; electronic reserves a 2-week notice.  Please do not announce reserves in class until sufficient time has passed for the requested materials to be processed.

Loan Period:  Determined by the individual faculty member as two hours, one day, three days, or one week. For two-hour check-out reserves it is necessary to specify if an item may or may not leave the library.

5.8.11 Resource Sharing

ABC Express Document Delivery Service
ABC Express is a document delivery service for the exchange of library materials between libraries at Appalachian State University, Western Carolina University and UNCA who together form the Western North Carolina Library Network (WNCLN). The online public catalog displays the books, journals, and other materials owned by the three institutions. Books and journals requested through this exchange are delivered to the requesting library by van, and usually arrive within two days.  This service is available to students, faculty, and staff.

Procedure: UNCA users may request materials from WCU and ASU via a request screen on the online catalog or on forms available at the reference desk.  It is the responsibility of the borrower to consult the online catalog to determine the availability of items in the network, and to retrieve materials upon delivery.

Books and journals are delivered to the library circulation desk on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Requests should be submitted by 3:00 p.m. on the day prior to the scheduled delivery.  Borrowers should pick up and return materials on time (speed of service means no notification of arrival will be given).

Most ABC materials, e.g., books, circulate for three weeks with one renewal.  Journals are for library use only and are returned to the lending library on the next van.  Borrowers must make any desired copies themselves.  The fine for overdue material is twenty cents ($.20) per day.  Please note that unlike UNCA library materials, UNCA faculty must pay the fines for overdue ABC Express materials since they are charged by WCU or ASU.

Interlibrary Loan Service
 For materials not available in WNCLN, an interlibrary loan system (ILL) provides resource sharing on a state, national, and international level.

Procedure:  Requests for materials may be submitted on convenient electronic forms available on the library web site or on paper forms available at the reference desk.  The borrower's main responsibility is to provide accurate and complete information on the interlibrary loan form to enhance accuracy and speed in the process. The Library absorbs the cost of interlibrary loan for faculty research materials.

We encourage faculty members to request books on interlibrary loan or through the ABC Express service rather than place orders for library purchase whenever they question the appropriateness of adding the title to our permanent collection.

5.8.12 Special Collections and University Archives

The Special Collections and University Archives unit of D. Hiden Ramsey Library preserves and makes accessible those materials the uniqueness, rarity or cost of which would make replacement difficult, impossible or financially prohibitive. Toward this end, the unit collects and provides restricted and environmentally safe storage for several categories of information including manuscripts, oral histories, photographs, rare books and assorted other formats. Many of the materials held by Special Collections came from the Southern Highlands Research Center that operated at UNCA from 1977 until 1995. Special Collections gratefully acknowledges the rich acquisitions of the Center and the comprehensive processing work completed by the Center directors and staff.

Collections
 Holdings are especially rich in photographic images of the area.  Some collections of particular interest include:

Services
Special Collections staff eagerly assist in the use of the non-circulating materials in a comfortably appointed reading room.  Photocopy and photo-duplication services are available for a reasonable fee.  In addition, Special Collections staff are pleased to offer instruction in the use of archival materials and manuscripts in support of course work and undergraduate research projects. 

For more information, please see the Special Collections web site accessible via the Library’s home page or contact the Special Collections staff:  Coordinator at 251-6621; Special Collections Assistant at 251-6645.

5.9 Distance Learning Services (DLS)

Distance Learning Services are provided over NCREN (the North Carolina Research and Education Network) which interconnects universities, research institutions, and graduate centers in North Carolina. The network utilizes private microwave links, fiber-optics, high-speed internet and satellite technologies. These systems combine to create an interactive video and data network designed to provide "virtual proximity" to researchers and educators in North Carolina. Virtual proximity means that network users, regardless of where they are located, have access to strategic resources (expertise, computers, laboratories, databases, libraries, and so forth).

NCREN interconnects all sixteen of the UNC institutions as well as the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, Research Triangle Institute, Wake Forest University, the MCNC Center for Communications and the North Carolina Supercomputing Center.  The four medical schools in North Carolina--Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Duke, ECU and UNC-CH--have a separate medical channel dedicated for medical research and programs.

Services are provided in two on-campus facilities, the Steelcase Teleconference Center in Robinson Hall and the Square D Teleconference Center in Ramsey Library. Possible facilities uses include:

For additional information and scheduling, contact Greg Dillingham, DLS Manager (gregd@unca.edu, 251-6333) or John Myers, DLS Programs Coordinator (jmyers@unca.edu, 251-6057).

5.10 Printing Services (formerly University Graphics)

Printing Services is a fee-for-service facility that provides photocopying, offset printing, and design for faculty, staff, and students. Output and design capabilities include manuals and course-packs for the Bookstore; spiral-bound booklets; black-and-white and color copies and transparencies; letterhead and envelopes; business cards; forms; invitations; newsletters; fliers; large-format color signs, posters, and banners; lamination, etc.

Printing Services has a Copy Center in Ramsey Library and also maintains the campus  copiers accessed by copy cards and/or account numbers. Copycards may be purchased from Printing Services, the Bookstore, the Copy Center, or vending machine/value adders in the Computer Center and Ramsey Library.

5.11 Public Information

UNCA's Public Information (PI) Office serves as the University's news bureau and media liaison, good news or bad. The office is always looking for timely news and faculty experts willing to provide interviews to the press. PI also publishes an external monthly "UNCA Today," and "Monday Morning" (a weekly on-campus publication available online at http://www.unca.edu/news/mondaymorning).

Story suggestions and announcements are welcome as are news of faculty achievements; put modesty aside and give PI a call. Be prepared to provide the basic facts of your recent achievement as well as the names and locations of newspapers where the announcement should be sent. Faculty members planning special events that will be open to the public should call Public Information at least six weeks in advance of the event. Many media outlets require information four weeks prior to the event date. PI is happy to answer questions and offer suggestions for faculty preparing for media interviews.

5.12 Publications

The UNCA Office of Publications serves as a clearinghouse for all promotional materials destined for off-campus audiences. The Publications office provides uniformity for university publications by ensuring they adhere to the highest standard of visual and editorial excellence.

University policy requires the Office of Publications staff to review and approve, before printing, all promotional materials designated for off-campus distribution. The Office of Publications staff also provides consultation, design, editing and pre-press services at no cost to campus departments. All services are by appointment.

5.13 FORMS for Section 5.0

No forms for this section.

Faculty Handbook - version 8/12
Handbook for contracts dated prior to 7/1/03 (PDF)
Index | Faculty Senate | UNCA