CWRU Undergraduate Instructor's Manual

Introduction

This manual is for all those who teach undergraduates at Case Western Reserve University,* including full- and part-time faculty members, lecturers, adjunct instructors, and graduate teaching assistants. In it you will find the answers to many questions which you may have about your teaching duties. The questions are of several types: "what do I do if...?"; "whom do I call about...?", "what are the rules concerning...?" This is not a manual on how to teach, although it includes some suggestions on the organization of your courses. A CWRU teaching manual exists; it is called A Practical Guide to Teaching at CWRU, and it may be obtained from the University Center for Innovation in Teaching and Education (UCITE) or from Educational Support Services.

This is not a book of policies, rules and regulations, although several official university and federal policy statements are included, and are indicated with bold type and an icon in the margin (as at right). It is mainly a book of information which all instructors will find useful in getting things done at CWRU. In addition, it provides suggestions for the organization of your classes and for your interactions with your students. The main goals of this manual are to save your time, to make our classes run smoothly, to call attention to various services available to instructors and students, and to provide our students with the best learning experiences possible.

We expect that improved editions of this manual will appear in the future. Therefore, your feedback and suggestions are especially valuable. Please send comments to Dean Margaret Robinson in the Office of Undergraduate Studies.

The idea of making such a manual available arose from discussions between the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and the University Undergraduate Faculty Executive Committee. The committee which has compiled this first version of the manual includes Michael Altschul of History, David Benseler of Modern Languages, William Fickinger of Physics, Amy Hammett, Registrar, Margaret Robinson, Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Jane Suresky of Nursing, and Caroline Whitbeck of Engineering Ethics and Philosophy. The actual writing, editing, and organization were done by Amy Stephenson of the English Department.

We wish you well in your teaching and research at CWRU.

* Most of this information will also be useful for instructors of graduate and professional students as well. Questions should be referred to the Dean of Graduate Studies or of the appropriate professional school.

Chapter One: Course Preparation
Table of Contents
Index