Instructor handbook

AHS instructor

Handbook contentsÌý

  1. Information for instructors
  2. Academic integrity
  3. Resources
  4. Policies and guidelinesÌý

Information for instructorsÌý

The Faculty of Health is one of six faculties at the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ.

The Faculty of Health hasÌýthree academic units: the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, and the School of Public Health Sciences. Contact information for each unit can be found on the unit's website.

Mandatory training

All UÀ¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ employees are required to complete certainÌýmandatory training courses:

  • SO1001 Employee safety orientation
  • SO1081 Workplace violence awareness
  • SO2017 WHMIS 2015
  • AODA accessible customer service training

Supervisors at UÀ¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ are also required to complete SO1100 Supervisor Safety Awareness.

Research ethics training is required for UÀ¶Ý®ÊÓÆµÌýresearchers. Please see the ResearchÌýwebsite for information on research ethics.

For unit-specific information on mandatory training, see the appropriate unit handbook.

Additional training

Course scheduling

Planning courses and assignments

Textbooks and course outlines

Ìýmay be submitted on the Bookstore website.ÌýÌý(course notes, lab manuals, etc.) is a course notes package that can be prepared as an alternative to a textbook.

It is advisable to place copies of course materials on reserve at the Library. Information aboutÌýcourse reservesÌýcan be found on the Library website. Course reserves are accessible to students at no charge.

A course outline template can be found on the Secretariat website. See the CTEÌýwebsite for information on what to include in a course outline and examples of exemplar course outlines.

The Department of Kinesiology has developed a standardized course outline that can be obtained by contacting the Undergraduate Chair, Chris Vigna.

Tests and assessments

Final examinations

TheÌýfinal examination scheduleÌýandÌýimportant information about final examinationsÌýcan be found on the Registrar’s Office website.

Accommodations

Students who have two final examinations scheduled on the same day, at the same time, may fill out theÌýfinal examination timetable conflict form. Eligible reasons forÌýaccommodations during final examinationsÌýare outlined in the current Undergraduate Studies Academic Calendar.

Exam processing

Optical Marks Recognition (OMR)Ìýscanning reads answer sheets and saves the accumulated data to file.ÌýSee the IST website for more information aboutÌýexam and survey processing.

CrowdmarkÌýis an online, collaborative marking system available to instructors and students. Please visit the CrowdmarkÌýwebsite for more information.

Odyssey is the examÌýmanagement systemÌýUÀ¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ uses to collect examÌýscheduling information, create seat assignments, and print exams. Please visit the Odyssey website for more information.

Posting final grades

Instructors may post student information in a public place provided the identification of the student remains private, as outlined inÌýPolicy 46 – Information Management.

Final examination and final course grades are not to be released prior to the end of the final examination period. If you do not have a final exam, then you should not release students' last test/assignment grade prior to the end of the final examination period.

University closures and emergency procedures

If there is aÌýuniversity closure during final examinations, rescheduled examinations will be held at the same time of day and in the same location as originally scheduled, on the next available day on which examinations have not been scheduled.

All individuals in charge of proctoring final examinations should be familiar withÌýevacuation procedures for final examinations, outlined on the Registrar’s Office (RO) website.

Grade submission

Course and instructor evaluations

Copyright

Information, privacy, and confidentiality

À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ LEARN

À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ LEARN is the University's web-based learning management system, where instructors and teaching assistantsÌýcan manage course content, post assignments, create virtual dropboxes, manage grades and create discussion forums for students.

The À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµÌýLEARN HelpÌýwebpage is an excellent resource for anyone who is new to using the LEARN system. Tips forÌýimproving your LEARN siteÌýcan be found on the CTE website. The CTE offers workshops on how to useÌýLEARN. TheÌýCTE LiaisonÌýcan provide individualized instruction upon request.

Online service interruptions

In the case that there is a service outage to the online content of four hours or more, instructors may follow the University’s protocol forÌýservice disruption in the online learning environment.Ìý

Working with teaching assistants

A teaching assistant (TA) contract should be developed to ensure that TAs understand their hours (typically 160 hours per term), start/end dates, responsibilities and expectations.ÌýQuestions that a TA should askÌýare outlined on the CTE website.Ìý

Giving and receiving feedback with TAs is beneficial to you as the instructor, and to students. The Faculty of Health Teaching Assistant (TA) Performance Evaluation process aims to help course instructors support their TAs, ensure two-way accountability between instructors and TAs, and provides a safe and constructive opportunity for documented self-reflection and evaluation. All instructors with TAs are encouraged to participate in this process.

TheÌýteaching assistant manual, available on the Faculty of Health website, provides information aboutÌýTA responsibilities and additional resources.Ìý

The TA Community Group is available toÌýall Faculty of Health TAs through LEARN. Questions about the TA Community Group can be directed to Leeann Ferries.

Room bookings, keys, and supplies

Room booking proceduresÌýand information onÌýafter-hours use of spaceÌýcan be found on the Faculty of Health website.

Most bookings in B.C. Matthews Hall (BMH), Lyle Hallman North (LHN), Lyle Hallman South (LHS) and the Toby Jenkins Applied Health Research Building (TJB) are organized through Faculty of Health Reception on the 3rdÌýfloor of BMH. Please emailÌýFaculty of Health ReceptionÌýfor more information.

Information onÌýbookable resourcesÌýandÌýassigning keys in BMH and LHIÌýcan be found on the Faculty of Health website.

Audio-visual equipment, including laptops, projectors, and computer adaptors, can be booked through Faculty of Health Reception on the 3rdÌýfloor of BMH.

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Academic integrityÌý

UÀ¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ policy requires instructors to report all academic integrity infractions to the appropriate Associate Dean.ÌýPlease direct all undergraduate academic integrity related matters to: ahsugad@uwaterloo.ca. Please direct all graduate academic integrity related matters to: Brian Laird atÌýbrian.laird@uwaterloo.ca

The Faculty of Health prefers to handle academic integrity cases through formal inquiry, to:

  1. ensure that cases are handled consistently, and
  2. maintain a record in case of repeat infractions within or outside of the Faculty.

Instructors may wish to have students complete theÌýAcademic Integrity Acknowledgement FormÌýwhen they submit assignments. The CTE website has more information aboutÌýencouraging academic integrity online.

Steps for formal resolutions

  1. Ensure that the assignment in question is graded. The Associate Dean needs this grade:
    1. In case they do not proceed with a case against the student. The student will receive their earned grade on the assignment, or
    2. In case they assign a penalty to the student, the student appeals, and the penalty is overturned.
  2. Send information about the allegation to the Associate Dean. Be sure to include:
    1. The student’s information: full name and student ID
    2. The course and instructor information
    3. Information about the assignment in question: date of the submission, weight of the assignment grade
    4. The assignment in question (keep a copy in case you wish to provide the student content-specific feedback)
    5. Supporting evidence for the allegation: the source of plagiarism with highlighted text
    6. Any additional information: emails to/from the student regarding the allegation
  3. The Faculty of Health will assign a grade of Under Review (UR) to the course on Quest.
  4. The Associate Dean will contact the student to set up a meeting. The Associate Dean will decide if they are proceeding with the allegation or not after meeting with the student.
  5. If the Associate Dean proceeds with the case, the course instructor will receive an email with information about the penalty and a request for grades as needed.
  6. If the Associate Dean does not proceed with the case, the instructor will receive an email with this information and a request for the earned grade.
  7. TheÌýFaculty of Health will update the student’s grade on Quest.

Penalties for academic offences

The Associate Dean will refer to the University’sÌýGuidelines for the Assessment of PenaltiesÌýwhen assigning a penalty.

The severity of the penalty willÌýconsider several factors, for example: plagiarism quantity, course element weight, plagiarism location within multiple-component course elements, and limited university experience.

°Õ³Ü°ù²Ô¾±³Ù¾±²Ô®

°Õ³Ü°ù²Ô¾±³Ù¾±²Ô®Ìýis a tool that can be used with LEARN dropboxes that compares submitted assignments to its database.

Regardless of whether °Õ³Ü°ù²Ô¾±³Ù¾±²Ô® will be used in a course or not,ÌýstudentsÌýmustÌýbe givenÌýnotice of this software in the course outline. If you intend to use °Õ³Ü°ù²Ô¾±³Ù¾±²Ô®, please be prepared to arrange an alternative for any student who does not wish to submit their files to a °Õ³Ü°ù²Ô¾±³Ù¾±²Ô® dropbox.

More information about °Õ³Ü°ù²Ô¾±³Ù¾±²Ô®Ìýguidelines for instructorsÌýcan be found on the Academic Integrity website.

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ResourcesÌý

Additional information about UÀ¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ can be found on the gateway page for faculty and the gateway page for staff.

Support for new employees, including information on immigration, relocation and the local community, can be found on the Human Resources website.Ìý

Teaching and professional development

Centre for Career Development (CCD)

  • Offers career advising to students, alumni, staff, faculty,Ìýand post-docs.
  • See the website forÌýinformation on workshops, appointments, internal resources and job postings.

Centre for Extended Learning (CEL)

Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE)

Teaching Fellows

  • This position was established as part of a university-wide effort to raise the profile of teaching and learning, and to support and encourage teaching excellence.
  • To connect with an Faculty of Health Teaching Fellow, please contact Elena Neiterman (SPHS), Zara Rafferty (REC), or Tamara Maciel (KIN).

Writing and Communications Centre

  • Offers writing and communicationÌýpractice, support, and research on campus.

Administrative information

Graduate Studies Academic Calendar

Important dates

  • The Quest websiteÌýoutlines important dates for each academic year, such as the course selection period, course drop/add dates, fee deadlines, Convocation, and University holidays.

Undergraduate Studies Academic Calendar

Campus services

Health Computing Office

  • Offers information about UÀ¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ accounts, email, printing, and software.
  • See the Health Computing Office website for .

The Office of Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion

  • A central source of expertise on substantive equality, diversity, and inclusion matters.
  • Provides a variety of services for persons dealing with conflict, human rights issues or workplace harassment.
  • Please see The Office of Human Rights, Equity and InclusionÌýwebsite for information on current equity initiativesÌýand forÌýlearning and development opportunities.

Information Systems and Technology (IST)

  • Provides support and training services for instructors and students, management and support of UÀ¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ LEARN, and information regarding use of podium computers, laptops, and classroom bookings.

  • can be found on the Library website.
  • The University is linked to the Ontario Inter-University Library System whereby it is possible to obtain a copy of a book or journal that is not available in our library within 48 hours. The inter-library loan (ILL) service reaches across North America.

Registrar’s Office (RO)

  • Provides a variety of services for undergraduate students, faculty, and staff.

Health and wellness

AccessAbility Services

  • Provides support for students with permanent and temporary disabilities. Students can apply online for support.
  • AccessAbility Services will contact instructors directly if accommodations are needed in their course. It is a student's right to request and receive alternative classroom and examination procedures on the basis of a documented disability.
  • Tips for instructing students with disabilities can be found on the AccessAbility Services website.

Health and well-being Counselling Appointments

  • Offers individual appointments,Ìýpeer supportÌýand mentoring, andÌýseminars, workshops and group therapy
  • Information for faculty and staff who are supporting students can be found on the Campus Wellness website.
  • Appointment times specifically for Faculty of Health students are available at Health Services. Please contact Counselling Services at 519-888-4096 for more information.

Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)Ìý

  • Offers a range of health and wellness services to UÀ¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ employees and their dependent family members, including counselling services (face-to-face), plan smart services (by telephone), and online services.
  • Employees who have the temporary benefits program are not eligible for EFAP services.

Sexual ViolenceÌýResponse Coordinator (SVRC)

  • Provides information and support for students, faculty and staff who have experienced sexual violence.

Regroup Mobile

  • The Regroup Mobile app provides push notifications in case of major campus emergencies.

Student success

Graduate Student Association (GSA)

  • Hosts events, offers financial support, and provides a number of services for graduate students, including legal aid, student advising, and supplementary health and dental plans.Ìý

International Student Experience (ISE)Ìý

Student Success Office (SSO)

Ìý

  • Provides peer mentorship toÌýstudents who are experiencing social difficulties, mentalÌýhealth challenges, and transitional challenges adapting to university life or differentÌýcultures.

weCONNECTu

  • Provides academic and social support for new students in the Faculty of Health during their transition to university through workshops,Ìýpeer mentoring,Ìýand academic and community-based programming.