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Many instructional and technology services are provided through North Central Michigan College’s and Academic  & Administrative Technologies division, including registration for Internet accounts, registration for wireless Internet access, lap top check out, digital audio and video recording (“podcasts”) and production, satellite down-linking, videoconferencing, digital and “traditional” library services, and for access to NCMC’s Learning Management System server, the College’s online electronic learning management system.

 

North Central Michigan College’s attractive, and comfortable library houses over 35,000 volumes to support a wide range of academic disciplines. In addition, the library subscribes to over 300 print periodicals, and provides students and staff 24 hour access to tens of thousands of full-text online periodical databases and electronic books. Instructors are encouraged to use the large videotape and DVD library in their classrooms; materials may also be placed on reserve.  Forty computers are available for student and faculty use over the campus high speed network.  Lap top carts are available for check out to be used during class instruction.  

Personalized library instruction for your class is available by appointment for day and evening classes, and students may also make individual research appointments with the librarian. Full-time faculty and Adjunct instructors are eligible for library cards and are encouraged to request library materials to support students’ research needs. Find more information under “Resources for Faculty” on the library home page at http://library.ncmich.edu. Please contact us with any questions you may have by email (library@ncmich.edu), or by calling (231) 348-6617, or toll-free at (866)-900-6235.

 

Smart Classrooms have a LCD data projector, large screen, and stereo speakers permanently mounted in the room, and have an integrated computer multi-media station, and provide high speed Internet access.

Technology use directions can be found in each classroom.  Faculty may request training on use and operations of the Smart Classrooms by contacting the IT helpdesk at (231)-348-6617.

 

All students and faculty have access to the college’s Learning Management System (LMS) online content server. North central’s current LMS platform is Brightspace. On Brightspace, you can offer your students one-stop access to all documents (including syllabi and handouts), web links, podcasts (audio and video content), and other class content in your course. All of NCMC’s online courses use (LMS), as well as most of the College’s traditionally-taught classes.  An orientation on how to use Brightspace will be provided.

At a minimum all adjunct instructors are required to use the LMS to post the course syllabus and to post grades during the semester. 

 

LEARNING SUPPORT SERVICES (LSS)

Learning Support Services (LSS) provides accommodations to students with special needs, tutoring, and test proctoring free of charge.  An assortment of study guides, math tutorials and a math lab with walk-in tutoring are also available. A Computer Lab is available for quiet study, and class assignments.   

Also provided by LSS are Disability Services for students with documented disabilities. These accommodations may range from longer test-taking times, to more conducive physical facilities in the classroom. Students need to initiate this process by contacting the Director of LSS (231) 348-6617. As an adjunct faculty member, you will receive a notification from LSS describing reasonable accommodations that the student may require.  You will then work with the director to provide the necessary accommodations.  It is important that you direct any students requesting accommodations to LSS. You are not to make arrangements for accommodations without the express written approval from the Director of LSS.

LSS, in conjunction with the Women’s Resource Center, provides services to occupationally enrolled students, either in a degree or certificate program at NCMC, who are in one or more of the following categories: (1) have a hidden or obvious disability; (2) is economically disadvantaged (receives Pell Grant); (3) has limited English proficiency; (4) is preparing for a career non-traditional for his/her gender; (5) in a single parent (including single pregnant women) or (6) is a displaced homemaker.  If a student is uncertain whether he/she qualifies for any of these services, he/she should be referred to LSS.

 

ACADEMIC TESTING GUIDELINES FOR FACULTY

Test proctoring in Learning Support Services (LSS) is for make-up testing and for students testing with accommodations. Please help us to ensure that the resources of LSS are used wisely to benefit students by following these guidelines:

• Each test must be accompanied by a completed Exam Coversheet – exams submitted without completed coversheets will be returned to the instructor.
• Make sure that all directions for the exam are complete.   It would be inappropriate for LSS to try to interpret or assume directions beyond what is stated.
• Completed exams must be picked up and signed out by faculty.  To protect the integrity of the testing process, LSS will notreturn exams via students.
• Tests must be taken between Monday and Friday during regular hours. No weekend testing is available.
• Please remind students of LSS hours and photo ID requirements.
• All online exams require an appointment made by calling at (231)-348-6693. 
• Testing through LSS is designed for make-up exams or students with accommodations.  
• If proctoring is requested for entire classes, LSS may be able to proctor in your classroom depending upon staff availability.

When campus closes due to bad weather, all exams scheduled that day will automatically be rescheduled to the next business day the LSS is open. 

Our off campus sites offer test proctoring service during set dates of the semester.  Those dates will be sent out electronically to all instructors once the semester begins. 

Once completed college administration is automatically notified and will be able to address the issue directly.

 

To submit an Incident Report: Log into the NCMC portal, click on “my north central”, click on “forms”, select Incident Report.

 

 

In the event a fire alarm sounds while classes are in session, students and staff are to evacuate the building following the evacuation plan in your classroom. Proceed in an orderly manner to the nearest exit and withdraw a minimum of 100 feet from the building.

If you encounter a fire, pull the nearest fire alarm and evacuate as instructed above. The alarm automatically alerts the Petoskey Public Safety Department.

Fire extinguishers are located throughout all buildings. Please familiarize yourself with their location.

 

 

Damaged college property should be reported to maintenance at (231)-348-6384 or by filling a ticket in the Portal System. 

Your cooperation in keeping classrooms clean is appreciated.  It is requested that rooms be left as found, i.e lights turned off, white boards wiped down, and electronic equipment turned off.

If you are encounter a technology issue while teaching, please contact IT HELP DESK at (231)-348-6617.

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A successful syllabus should communicate to students what the course is about, how it fits into the curriculum or major, and what will be required of the students for them to complete the course with a passing grade. A thorough syllabus contains two parts:

 

1. General information about the course, the instructor, the work required and the policies;

2. A schedule of readings, assignments, examinations and due dates of projects or papers.

 

Because the syllabus gives students an overview of the course and the work required of them, it may be viewed as a sort of "contract" between students and teachers. Accordingly, you should plan carefully when preparing your syllabus and strive for precision and specificity when writing it. You should be very clear about the consequences involved with whatever policies you adopt for your class. For example, can students miss an exam with or without prior notification? What happens if they do miss an exam or submit assignments late? Think through the possible scenarios and elaborate on them, so that it is as unambiguous as possible. If you have any questions about this, please see your Assoc. Dean of Adjunct Faculty. 

 

• Course title

• Course description

• Course number, course section and credit hours

• Classroom location, days and hours the class meets

• Prerequisites, (if any)

 

• Full name and title

• ncmich email address

• ncmich phone number and ext. number

 

• Textbooks

• Other required materials, such as notebooks, lap-top computers or calculators

 

• Objectives: describe the subject matter of the course as well as what new information, understanding, orskills students should acquire by the time they have completed the course

• Course Goals: briefly describe the purpose of the course and why it is important 30

• Course Structure: briefly describe the organization of the course

• Instructional Method: describe briefly any major instructional approaches to the material (e.g. case method, practical, or simulation)

 

Policies (be precise and specific so that both you and your students have a guide of policies and consequences should difficulties arise)

 

• Attendance: define precisely what role attendance will play for students.

• Lateness: define precisely how you will handle tardiness.

• Class Participation: Explain what is expected of students in terms of participation and how it will affect students' grades.

• Academic Dishonesty: Explain what constitutes cheating and plagiarism as well as the possible sanctions that can result from academic dishonesty.

• Copy and Paste the College’s statement on academic dishonesty into your syllabus. See text on checklist.

• Policy on accepting late papers or assignments.

• Policy on make-up tests.

• Policy on use of electronic equipment in the classroom.

• Policy on the use of PDA’s, cell phones, I-pods or similar electronic devises in class.

• Technology Disclaimer.

• Components of the Final Grade: list all aspects of the course that contribute to the student's grade (e.g. deliverables, participation, exams)

• Weighting: indicate the percentage of the final grade each component of the course will contribute

• Criteria: describe as specifically as possible what criteria will be used to determine course grades including grading scale

• Calculation: explain the means by which grades are to be determined (numerical scale, what points means, total points possible) 

 

This part of the syllabus should indicate what work is expected of students by a particular date. Although providing students with an accurate plan of how the semester will progress is important. Course schedules should be indicated as tentative. An overly detailed syllabus can very easily lead to frustration for both you and your students.

 

Organize the schedule of events and tasks to best meet your goals, the preparation level of your students, the subject matter, and the class structure: by week; class section; or day.

 

 

Checklist for Writing a Successful Syllabus

The following checklist can help you develop your syllabus. Most North Central courses have a master course syllabus. Please contact your Associate Dean if you do not have a copy of the master course syllabus for your course.

_______Course number, section, title, meeting days and time, room, and building.

_______Your name, title, ncmich telephone number and ext, ncmich email.

_______ Your office hours or a time when students can meet with you.

_______Course Description (as listed in Master Course Syllabus).

_______Required purchases texts and supplies.

_______Prerequisites (As listed in Master Course Syllabus).

_______Course outcomes or objectives (As listed in Master Course Syllabus).

_______Schedule of assignments; readings, exams, papers, and other required learning assessment                   activities.

_______Grading standards and criteria (Students should know what elements of the class will                           determine their final grade and what grading scale you will use in assigning the final grades.)

_______Course policies regarding, attendance, make-ups, late assignments, tests or exams, extra                      credit, extensions, illnesses, cheating, and plagiarism, Grades including P/F, I, and W grades.

_______Course Calendar (indicate tentative, subject to change)

_______Supplementary material to help students succeed in the course, studying, note taking,                           additional readings or resources.

______Include Accommodations Statement:

Disability Information Reasonable accommodations can be provided for students with documented disabilities. Please contact Learning Support Services to arrange these: SCRC 533, (231)-348-6817 or (231)-348-6687, or lss@ncmich.edu.

______ Include the College’s statement on Academic Dishonesty.

Academic Dishonesty, misconduct, cheating or plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty including acquisition without permission of tests or other academic materials. Included are those students who aid and abet, as well as those who attempt such behavior. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the use whether by paraphrase or direct quotation, of published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear attribution. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials. Incidents of academic dishonesty shall be dealt with according to the procedures outlined in Academic Dishonesty as found in the student handbook. Any act of academic dishonesty in this course will result in a failure of the assignment and possible failure of the course.

_______ Post a copy of the syllabus on Blackboard.

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APPENDIX A

 

MODEL SYLLABUS

Student Responsibilities

North Central Michigan College acknowledges and encourages the appropriate use (i.e., reproduction, distribution, performance and display) of copyrighted works and materials for teaching, scholarship and research purposes consistent with federal copyright law and the standards for fair use. Given both the importance of complying with federal copyright law and the difficulty of determining fair use, this policy provides guidance for the use of others' work as well as links to copyright and fair use resources.

 

For purposes of this policy, copyrighted works and materials include all audio visual, electronic, and printed works and materials under copyright protection. Some materials are not subject to copyright protection, including:

 

works that lack originality (e.g., the phone book);

freeware;

US Government works;

facts;

ideas, procedures, concepts, principles or discoveries as distinguished from a description, explanation, or illustration thereof; and works in the public domain, including works with copyrights that have expired (generally older than 95 years). Since a copyright notice is no longer required, the absence of the ©, especially for works published after 1978, does not necessarily mean the work is in the public domain.

 

The concept of fair use is embodied in section 107 of the copyright law. This law provides that certain limited use of copyrighted materials for such purposes as teaching, criticism, commentary, reporting, scholarship and research is not infringement of copyright. The law sets forth four factors to be considered when making a determination of fair use:

 

• The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;

• The nature of the copyrighted work;

• The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole;

• The effect of the use upon the potential market for, or value of, the  copyrighted work.

 

 

 

At North Central, all prospective faculty are divided into two broad categories that reflect their primary teaching role:  general education / transfer courses or occupational courses.  The requirements for faculty qualifications differ depending on the type of North Central course the faculty member will teach.

Broadly speaking, whenever a prospective faculty member wishes to offer a North Central course, s/he should convey that interest first to their high school administration.

The high school administration will in turn contact the Director of Student Outreach and Engagement at North Central with the request and the prospective faculty member’s credentials; North Central administration will review the request and the credentials and communicate back to the high school administration either the approval or denial of the request or the need for further documentation. 

If North Central asks for further documentation regarding a candidate’s request, it may be more expeditious if the faculty member works directly with the North Central Dean who is examining the documentation; once the Dean has made a decision regarding the faculty’s qualifications, s/he will convey that information back to North Central’s Director of Student Outreach and Engagement, who will in turn communicate back to the high school administration and the prospective faculty member.

For general education and transfer courses (English, Communications, Humanities, Languages other than English, Math, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences):

Route 1:  the faculty member is expected to hold a master’s degree in the discipline or relevant sub-field as applicable; or

Route 2:  if the master’s is held in another discipline, the faculty member should hold at least 18 graduate credit hours in the discipline in which he or she teaches; or

Route 3:  if the master’s is held in another discipline, the faculty member should present a combination of graduate credits in the relevant discipline according to this schedule (candidate must present a minimum of nine (9) credits in the discipline or subfield):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AND

--Tested experience of the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA’s) consistent with the federal Office of Personnel Management’s General Schedule (GS) classification system at the GS 7 level for that discipline.  Per HLC guidelines, time in service alone is not sufficient to receive credit toward this category of “tested” experience.

Candidates for teaching general education / transfer courses using Routes 1 and 2 should experience little difficulty in demonstrating their qualifications; candidates seeking qualification using Route 3, should provide their most current, updated and complete credentials and experience, and to review the GS classification series for that area, where such series exist, and specifically the requirements expected at the GS-7 level.

For general education and transfer areas that do not have a corresponding GS-7 level position through OPM, or whose professional experiences may not entirely align with the GS position description (e.g., language specialist series) the general process for vetting on the basis of tested experience is the same, with an initial meeting between the candidate and Associate Dean to review credentials, and to consider any request by the candidate for consideration of tested experience.

However, where no GS-07 level position in the academic discipline exists (e.g., language instruction or translation in American Sign Language or Anishinaaabemowin; chaplaincy or other professional work in Religion; journalistic or other work consonant with Communications), demonstration of appropriate experience at the corresponding conversion rate, with clearly defined means of tested experience shall be recognized.

The candidate shall furnish documentation to the Dean that substantiates both time in service and KSA equivalency. At that time, the Dean will complete a written confirmation of the applicable academic credits, appropriate conversion rate and documentation of professional experience, as well as evidence of the test(s) used to account for the substitution of experience.

While the above forms of tested experience may be considered for areas that do not have equivalent GS-7 positions, they also are subject to the condition that academic credentials remain the primarymeans of vetting; as such, candidates are still expected to furnish evidence of nine graduate credits in the relevant discipline, interdisciplinary field, or sub-field, as appropriate.

The Dean shall determine if the documentation meets the standards expected under the GS equivalency system.  Should the prospective faculty member or the high school administration wish to appeal the decision regarding these qualifications, either may do so directly to North Central’s Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success.

For Occupational Courses (Accounting, Business, Computer Information Systems, Computer-Numeric-Controlled Operator, Criminal Justice, Economics, Information Technology, Management, Marketing, Office Administrative Services):

Route 1:  the faculty member is expected to hold a master’s degree in the discipline or relevant sub-field as applicable; or

Route 2:  if the master’s is held in another discipline, the faculty member should hold at least 18 graduate credit hours in the discipline in which he or she teaches; or

Route 3:  if the candidate does not hold a master’s degree, he or she will be expected to present documentation of the following combination of academic credentials and tested experience and state or industry licensure, certifications, or badges as applicable to the specific discipline being requested.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As with candidates for teaching general education / transfer courses, candidates in occupational areas using Routes 1 and 2 should experience little difficulty in demonstrating their qualifications; candidates seeking qualification using Route 3, should provide their most current, updated and complete credentials and experience. 

Should the prospective faculty member or the high school administration wish to appeal the decision regarding these qualifications, either may do so directly to North Central’s Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success.

In conclusion, North Central welcomes the opportunity to bring a college-level experience to area high school students through our dual credit programs and is deeply committed to working closely with high school administration and faculty to ensure proper faculty qualification and a process of working toward such qualification that will benefit students, high schools, and North Central alike.

*At its November 2015 meeting, the Higher Learning Commission Board of Trustees resolved to provide an opportunity for member institutions with dual credit programs to apply for extensions related to compliance of faculty qualifications in these programs.  North Central will certainly apply for such an extension, but the maximum length of time possible for such an extension will be five years.  It is expected that all North Central faculty, including those in dual credit programs, will ultimately be qualified identically.

Documentation for general education / transfer faculty qualification may include, but is not limited to:

• Supervisory evaluations specifying nature of work completed consonant with specific knowledge, skills, attributes (KSAs) required
• Contracts and client evaluations specifying specific duties and scope of work completed, for self-employed candidates
• Letter certifying qualification from the appropriate tribal executive body
• Letter from a recognized body or organization certifying qualification in a language for which graduate academic study is not readily available (e.g., American Sign Language)
• Recognized, independent systems of testing, including the American Council of Teaching Foreign Language/Language Testing International (ACTFL/LTI)
  • For those desiring experience equivalency in languages that are tested by ACTFL/LTI:
    • All four dimensions of communication must be tested: reading, writing, speaking (interview), and listening
    • The candidate must receive Superior ratings or higher in each of the areas for them to count toward tested experience equivalency.
• Other external certifications or credentials from recognized bodies, as applicable.
• Juried or otherwise competitively ranked and awarded pieces of work appropriate to the field
• Peer-reviewed publication(s) in appropriate venues relevant to the field
• Academic transcript data indicating performance in the relevant discipline to be taught
• Other documents or experience, as deemed appropriate by the Associate Dean, and, if necessary, the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success.

Documentation for occupational faculty qualifications may include, but is not limited to: