Faculty Engagement
Faculty are expected to understand constraints facing students within the program they are teaching. To facilitate productive progression of students through programs, a high level of availability and addressing student questions and concerns quickly in a way commensurate with their schedules is expected.
Student emails should be addressed within 24 hours for 7-and 8-week courses and 48 hours for 15-and 16-week courses unless the instructor has otherwise communicated a lack of availability for a specific reason.
It is recognized that texting and other apps may provide additional opportunities for instructor/student engagement. Instructors may establish their own preferred guidelines with respect to sharing cell phone numbers and permitting such communication.
Synchronous Learning
Each 7-week course will offer synchronous learning opportunities (online courses should refer to Section 6: Virtual Sessions for details).
Graduate Programs Events & Residencies - Faculty Obligations
Faculty are expected to attend and participate in graduate program activities. At a minimum, and in accordance with COB faculty contracts, this includes attendance at all of their own scheduled class sessions (in person and virtually) and at least one graduation event per academic year. Program directors are required to attend all program specific interview dates, residencies, and graduation events.
Additionally, all graduate faculty should attend a reasonable amount of key program events (i.e., interview days, LDP, networking lunches, graduation celebrations, Leadership Forum, alumni events, etc.). It is the responsibility of the Program Director to provide residency and event schedules to faculty well in advance (calendar invitations with a detailed email agenda preferred).
With prior approval and in accordance with COB policy, mileage will be provided to faculty attending non-Athens based graduate events. Hotel accommodations are not provided to faculty associated with graduate events unless there is justification (i.e., residencies outside of Ohio) and prior approval through the COB spending approval process.
Residencies - Student Obligations
Each program has defined residency opportunities and requirements. Students are required to attend appropriate residential experiences for their program of study and be familiar with the consequences of failing to meet this obligation. In the event of an unavoidable conflict (e.g., military obligation, family emergency, documented illness, unexpected severe weather, etc.), students can request an exemption by communicating with their Program Director. All residency absences require the completion of a make-up assignment regardless of the reason for the absence. Cases of excessive absences will be referred to the Graduate Academic and Professionalism Committee for review.
Severe Weather
Severe weather may impact the physical location of an academic experience and/or the home location of students and faculty. Weather may also impact the ability of some virtual experiences to occur.
With safety of faculty, staff, and students as our priority, decisions regarding weather related schedule changes will typically occur 12 hours prior to the scheduled start time of events.
College of Business graduate events will typically be cancelled when the forecast calls for a temperature below -10 degrees F, snow accumulations over 4โ, or any ice accumulation during anticipated faculty/staff/student travel times to/from the event and/or during the scheduled event. College of Business leadership retains the right to declare an emergency cancellation within 12 hours of any event independent of forecasts based upon real-time weather.
Students and faculty purchasing flights or making overnight reservations associated with events should purchase refundable tickets/reservations. The College of Business will not reimburse for any expenses associated with weather cancellations. Faculty will typically not be reimbursed for voluntary hotel accommodations associated with travel around events based on weather. Exceptions may be made by approval from the Associate Dean for Graduate and Professional Programs.
In the event of a cancellation, every effort will be made by the College and faculty to transition the experience to virtual delivery (if applicable). In the event that virtual delivery is deemed impossible, the Program Director will communicate with faculty, staff, and students about makeup sessions.
In the event a faculty member is unable to deliver a scheduled virtual session due to severe weather, power outage, or internet outage at their home, they are required to deliver the session from campus (if this is reasonable based on travel conditions and time). If delivery of the virtual session is not possible, the Program Director will work with the faculty member to establish an alternative experience for students (i.e., recorded content or lengthening future virtual sessions).
Virtual Sessions
Virtual sessions are software mediated, faculty led, synchronous engagement with students. All College of Business graduate courses will have regular synchronous face-to-face engagement, 21 regular synchronous virtual sessions, or a combination of both. Virtual sessions typically take one of two forms: 1) virtual class or 2) virtual office hours.
Microsoft Teams is the primary virtual session software platform in College of Business graduate programs. Virtual class sessions differ from virtual office hours just as face-to-face class sessions differ from face-to-face office hours.
*Athens based graduate program faculty are encouraged to use virtual sessions to supplement classroom learning, but in general, the face-to-face component required of Athens based classes replaces all references to virtual experiences within this policy.
Virtual Classes
Virtual classes are primarily used to deliver new course content. This can be achieved through a variety of delivery methodologies including, but not limited to, lecture, guest lecture, student debate, faculty led discussion, case study, exam prep, guided problem solving, student presentations, etc. Students are responsible for the material delivered during Virtual Classes (whether through live attendance or via viewing of recordings).
Virtual Office Hours
Virtual office hours are primarily used to enhance student understanding of course material that was previously covered synchronously or asynchronously. Generally, virtual office hours are unstructured time for students to ask questions, for faculty to respond to questions known before the sessions, and/or for students to work on sample problems from course material with faculty support, etc. Students are encouraged to take advantage of Virtual Office Hours but are not required to attend, nor are they required to view recordings. Faculty are responsible for clearly stating their policy regarding recording of Virtual Office Hours in the syllabus.
Location of Virtual Sessions
In order to provide the highest quality learning experience for our students, faculty are expected to deliver virtual sessions from locations with reliable high-speed internet connectivity that are quiet, free of background noise, and provide a professional backdrop when webcams are used. Sessions are typically conducted from one's home or office.
Hardware and Software Needed for Virtual Sessions
Instructional Technology staff will install software and provide hands-on training and documentation to ensure that your virtual sessions run successfully. Faculty who do not possess a headset will be provided with one to maximize audio quality and clarity.
Scheduling Virtual Sessions
The Syllabus/Course Schedule will clearly outline dates, times, and type of session for all virtual sessions. Faculty should consult the 51ยายื academic calendar to ensure virtual sessions are not scheduled on University holidays.
Virtual sessions should be offered on a consistent schedule and spaced appropriately based on content timing. For example, a Virtual Class with new content the night before an exam does not provide sufficient time for students to absorb the material. For weekday sessions, it is recommended that 8:00 p.m. ET is the earliest start time to accommodate student schedules and time zones. For weekend virtual sessions, especially virtual office hours, earlier start times may be appropriate with program director approval.
Frequency of Virtual Sessions
Each 7-or 8-week course will include a minimum average of one virtual session per week. Each 15-or 16-week course will include a minimum average one virtual session every two weeks. The program specific appendices to this handbook provide additional program-specific guidance.