Office of the Provost: Memorandum
To: All Faculty and Staff
From: N. John DiNardo, Ph.D, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
Subject: Key Reminders for Faculty and Staff: Summer 2007
Date: 22 June 2007
Key Reminders for Faculty and Staff: Summer 2007
Welcome to the Summer 2007 Quarter at Drexel!
Classes for the Summer Quarter, 2006-07 begin on Monday, June 25th for full-time and part-time students and Saturday, June 23rd for Saturday Scholars students.
We have provided important academic information that is relevant to faculty and staff on this web page. To view critical calendar dates and academic policies that have been made available to students, please click here.
Click on a topic below for which you are seeking more information:
Critical Dates
Critical Phone Numbers
Key Information
Grading
Important Policy Reminders
- Auditing Courses (Graduate Students Only)
- Incomplete and Late/Medical Withdrawal Policy
- Disability Accommodations
- Religious Observances
Critical Dates
The Academic Calendar, available at http://www.drexel.edu/provost/calendars/quarter-0607.html provides additional information regarding academic deadlines; critical SCDC/Co-operative education dates; and holidays.
In order for a student to make a reasonable decision regarding course withdrawal, it is important to provide information regarding his or her performance before this date. It is critical that every instructor make certain that students are apprised of their performance in courses by the end of the fifth week of classes. That is, by Friday, July 27th or by Saturday, July 28th for Saturday Scholars.
Instructors for accelerated sessions are also asked to abide by this practice by providing information - such that all of their students will know where they stand in the course - by the end of the second week of the accelerated session.
Courses should be structured accordingly; graded quizzes, exams, lab work, essays, etc. should be returned to students by the end of the fifth week and should provide a sufficient basis on which they can usefully gauge their standing in the course.
Critical Phone Numbers
The following departments and offices are critical resources on campus in the event of an emergency or crisis. Additionally, this information has been featured on a poster produced by the Office of the Provost. To obtain a copy of the poster, please call 215.895.1218.
University City Main Campus
If There is a Threat
Department of Public Safety: 215.895.2222
If There is Anxiety
Office of Counseling and Health: 215.895.1415If There is a Medical Condition
Office of Disability Services: 215.895.1401 (TTY: 215.895.2299)If There is Harassment
Student : Student
Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards: 215.895.6074
Faculty/Staff : Student
Office of Equality and Disability: 215.895.1401Center City Hahnemann Campus
If There is a Threat
Tenet Security: 215.762.7111If There is Anxiety
Student Counseling Center: 215.762.7625If There is a Medical Condition
If There is Harassment
Office of Disability Services: 215.895.1401 (TTY: 215.895.2299)
Student : Student
Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards: 215.895.6074
Faculty/Staff : Student
Office of Equality and Disability: 215.895.1401
Register Today: Mobile Notification Alert System
Recent events highlight the need for fast and far-reaching campus communication.
An upgrade to DrexelOne has enabled instant alert notification capabilities via cell phone text messages. To protect the privacy of students, faculty and staff, the University offers them the choice to provide their cell phone information to receive mobile alerts. Users can choose to receive messages based on preferences.
To learn more and to register for mobile notification, login to DrexelOne and click on the “Drexel” tab, the find “Mobile Notification” in the “Technology Services” channel.
Grading
Instructors may implement the plus/minus grading scale based on numerical grades or other defined standards. Each instructor should communicate with students how the grading scale will be implemented in the course syllabus.
To review the grading scale, please access: http://www.drexel.edu/provost/policies/grades.asp
Please also note the revised schedule for grade submission for graduating students.
Final Examinations and Final Grade Submission
Unless waived by the Department Head and with the exception of laboratory courses, a final examination given during exam week is required in all undergraduate courses. Take-home exams approved in advance by the Department Head may be used and are due at the officially scheduled examination hour.
No final examination may be given in the 10th week of the quarter.
During finals week, no student is obligated to take more than two (2) finals on any given day. The Final Examination policy states that students may appeal to the Office of the Provost for accommodation at least three (3) days before the examination date. Students who are seeking accommodations may download the appeal form and submit it to the Office of the Provost in Main 308.
Instructors for those courses with the lowest course number will be asked to give a special exam for the Summer 2007 quarter.
Final Grade Submission
- For classes with enrollment less than 50: 48 hours after the final exam
- For classes with enrollment of 50 or more: 72 hours after the final exam
The ability to submit grades via DrexelOne will be removed on Wednesday, September 12th at 12:00 PM.
Academic Standing Grading Taxonomy
A document synthesizing both the definitions of Academic Standing (Good Standing, On Probation, etc.) and the use of certain grades (NGR, INC, F, IP) has been created. These can be used to guide your discussion with students.
This document has been posted on the secure Academic Advising website for your reference. It is available by clicking here. (You will be prompted to log in)
For further information please contact the Registrar’s Office at UC-Academic-Records@drexel.edu.
Important Policy Reminders
Auditing Courses (Graduate Students Only)
Faculty and staff are reminded that graduate students who are enrolled in a course and wish to enact the Audit option must do so by August 3rd (sixth week).
For more information, please review the Audit Option policy at:
http://www.drexel.edu/provost/policies/audit_option.asp
Incomplete and Late / Medical Withdrawal Policy
Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their College / School advisor to discuss the late withdrawal appeal and available options.
Faculty should refer students seeking late/medical withdrawals to their College/School advisor as well as to the Office of Disability Services (“ODS”) for guidance regarding such appeals.
Students may also request an incomplete grade in the event of a medical emergency or illness; however it is strongly recommended that the student be passing the course for which the incomplete is sought, and has progressed far enough in the course that the missing material may be made up independently.
Students with chronic medical illnesses may be eligible for reasonable disability accommodations. Faculty should not negotiate reasonable accommodations with students but should instead refer students seeking reasonable disability accommodations to the Office of Disability Services (“ODS”) which will review relevant medical documentation and consider the student’s eligibility for accommodations.
If a student presents himself/herself in emotional distress or is experiencing anxiety, it is recommended that a faculty member should refer the student to his/her advisor and to to the Office of Counseling Health and Wellness.
Please take a moment to review the ODS statement regarding incomplete and late/medical withdrawals at: http://www.drexel.edu/disability/incompletes.html
Additional information regarding reasonable disability accommodations - including a recommended statement regarding Advanced Notice for inclusion in syllabi - is included below.
Religious ObservancesIt is the University's policy to provide a learning environment that provides all students with the opportunity to realize their full potential. To this end, the goal of the Office of Disability Services ("ODS") is to assist students with disabilities in becoming self-sufficient, independent, and successful members of the University's community and to provide students with disabilities with equal opportunity of access to University courses, programs, facilities, services, and activities.
Students seeking reasonable accommodations for their disabilities must first register with ODS. The staff of ODS will work closely with students to review medical documentation, assess their individual needs, and link them with the services necessary to ensure them the opportunity to participate fully in college life.
The ODS website includes a statement regarding Advance Notice for Accommodations which may be included in your syllabus. It is available at: http://www.drexel.edu/disability/advance.html
The University is committed to promoting an environment that supports cultural and spiritual diversity.
Faculty may want to observe religious holidays. Faculty are asked to coordinate with their department heads by the first week of the term to request accommodation.
For more information, please review the Office of the Provost Statement on Religious Observances.