CWRU Undergraduate Instructor's Manual

Chapter Two
The Beginning of the Semester

Registration and drop/add

Registration for each semester's classes begins late in the preceding semester and continues until the end of the second week of classes. The Drop/Add period begins the first day of registration and continues through the second week of classes; within that time students may shift from section to section and course to course. Students who are absent from your class during that period are still responsible for coursework if they add or remain registered for your class. They should make arrangements with you to make up any missed work. Drop/Add for summer session runs through the first week of class for most classes and the first two days for intensive session courses.

Once the Drop/Add period is over, you will receive a course roster from the Registrar. Check it carefully against actual class attendance. Students who are not registered for your class are not permitted to attend class. All auditors must register as auditors. Undergraduate students who are on the list but have never attended should be reported to the Office of Undergraduate Studies. Please also verify the instructor information on the page and report any errors to the Registrar.

You may be approached by students who want to enroll in your class but have holds on their accounts or other problems that prohibit them from registering. These students should be referred to the Dean of Undergraduate Studies so that they may resolve their problems by the end of the Drop/Add period. After the Drop/Add period any students who are not registered should be sent to the Dean of Undergraduate Studies to attempt to resolve the situation.

First-day activities

On the first day of class you should plan to:

• Introduce yourself.
• Explain your goals for the course.
• Distribute and review the syllabus and schedule of assignments.
• Explain how you will make yourself available to students outside of class-whether through regular office hours, scheduled appointments, periodic blocks of conferences, or telephone or e-mail.

• Take attendance and check it against the Registrar's list. Some instructors find it useful to collect an information sheet or notecard from each student listing name, phone number, e-mail address, and the adviser's name. You may also ask them to provide their majors, reasons for taking your class, and other relevant interests.

• Give a brief lecture, or hold a discussion or class activity. Although other necessary first-day activities may take a significant amount of the available time, allow enough time to introduce the course's content. This is your opportunity to impress students who may be undecided about taking your class.

Setting the tone for the semester

The first day of class is the time to spell out your expectations for student behavior, both academic and personal. These expectations should be addressed on your syllabus, and should also be discussed and explained at the start of the semester. Explicate your standards for the following:

• Collaborative work
• Attendance and in-class participation
• Late or make-up work
• Academic integrity
• Behavior in the classroom (including whether eating or drinking are allowed)
• Courtesy and decorum

Chapter One: Course Preparation
Chapter Three: Day-to-Day Interactions
Table of Contents
Index

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