Instructions for all Instructors and TA’s
What is "my ufl"? What is "PeopleSoft"?
Instructors are expected to use the web portal "My UFL" (https://my.ufl.edu) with your Gatorlink log-in to access information on class rosters, to monitor travel and grant awards, to submit grades, and to view (and print) their paycheck information. In the future most of the flow of information between individuals and the university will be conducted through this portal. PeopleSoft is the name of the management system for much of the computerized information processing within the university.
Whom should I contact for class-related topics
Patricia King (gaither@anthro.ufl.edu): change of grades, grades for independent courses, textbook orders, liaison with the computer technicians
Lee Ann Martin (leeann@anthro.ufl.edu): photocopy accounts, purchasing, equipment
Gerald Murray (murray@anthro.ufl.edu): faculty liaison for Grade-a-Gator
Teaching Resources
What are my photocopying privileges?
Faculty and TA's are given photocopy account numbers from Lee Ann Martin to use the office
photocopier. There is a set amount of free copies on your account for each semester, depending
on status. Do not ask the office staff to make copies for you.
How can I make copies of syllabi and exams, especially for large courses?
The department contracts with a copying service to reproduce exams for courses. There is
usually a three-day turn-around time to acquire the copies. Check with the main office to learn
how to request copies of exams. If there is a course packet, the copy shop making it may provide
free copies of the syllabus and/or exams. To minimize expense, put the complete syllabus in the
course packet or post it as a downloadable document from the web, and distribute only a short
syllabus to students.
How can I minimize the amount of materials to be photocopied?
Post materials students will need on your own or the course web site, use the WebCT Vista
system to provide access to information, have the students purchase packets of readings and
handouts from one of the copy shops, put required and recommended readings and handouts on
reserve in the library.
Where can I check out videos or films?
The film and video library is on the second floor of Turlington, near the Dean's office complex.
Instructors and Teaching Assistants may check out these materials for classroom use through the
Office of Instructional Resources. You can view their catalog at www.oir.ufl.edu/media/
How can I get audiovisual equipment for my classroom? How can I learn how to use it?
Most UF classrooms now have computer projection and other AV equipment. If you need
additional items such as slide projectors, they can be acquired from the Office of Instructional
Resources, which has different offices in various classroom buildings, including 1215
Turlington. You can request equipment online at their website
(http://www.at.ufl.edu/classrooms/support.html) or email them at classrooms@ufl.edu. You
should contact OIR to receive training and new security codes for the classroom equipment you
will use each semester.
What is WebCT Vista?
WebCT Vista is an online course management system, useful for posting syllabi and
assignments, electronic submission of papers, online gradebook, and online quizzes, exams, and
discussions. An account must be requested by the instructor for each course, each semester.
Contact Learning Support Systems at http://lss.at.ufl.edu/
Can I take computers or other university-owned equipment home with me?
To remove university-owned equipment you should complete a property document from Lee Ann
Martin in the main office. Graduate students must obtain the permission of the department chair
to remove equipment.
Office Hours
How many office hours should I hold?
The expectation is that an instructor and all the TA's will hold 3-6 office hours per week. They
should be listed in the syllabus and posted on the door. Office hours should be held during
regular university teaching hours.
May I hold office hours in my home or at a restaurant?
No-office hours must be held in a university office. You also may not hold course meetings,
review sessions, etc., outside of campus buildings, even if the students agree to do so. This rule
is to protect both you and the students.
Syllabi, Student Papers, and Grades
What information should go into my syllabus?
Consult the web page, "University of Florida Policy on Course Syllabi"
http://www.ir.ufl.edu/fac_handbook/syllabi.htm, for minimal required information.
Can I revise my syllabus one the class has begun?
Once you have posted or distributed the syllabus with the conditions for class grades, attendance,
extra credit, etc., you cannot change those conditions without the unanimous consent of the class.
Can I post grades outside my office or in the classroom?
The only way to post grades is to provide each student with a unique number or code name and
use that number or code to post their grades. It cannot be any part of their social security number
or UF ID. There are secure ways to post student grades on the internet, and many instructors are
using WebCT Vista and online gradebook for this purpose rather than physically posting grades.
You cannot tell any other student what scores or grades other students have earned.
Can I leave student papers outside my office door or in the student lounge?
No, it is against university privacy policy. You should arrange a different method for distributing
graded papers and exams to students.
Can I give a student extra credit?
If you give extra credit, it must be available for all students in the course. Your grading system
must be clearly stated in the course syllabus.
Can I use any grading system I like? What about counting attendance or participation in the
grade?
The department and college have general expectations that all students will be graded based on
the work performed and that a minimal competency is required to earn a passing grade, usually
60%. How the grades are determined can vary. However, you must insure that all students are
evaluated on the same basis and that no University rules are violated. Class attendance and
participation, like exams and papers, can be counted towards the final grade, but this must be
stated in the syllabus with an indication of what proportion of the grade comes from these
different components.
Why doesn't Grade-a-Gator work?
Grade-a-Gator has been moved to the my.ufl.edu portal (through the Admin menu). The old
system required a GatorLink password no longer than 8 characters. Make sure your password is
up-to-date and meets the current restrictions.
Can I allow an unregistered student to sit in on my class?
All students in attendance must be registered for the class. Students who are not registered for
credit should sign up as auditors.
If you must unavoidably cancel a class, call the main office so that a notice can be posted on the
classroom door, or use the class listserve (from My UFL) to email every student. You should
schedule a make-up or substitute activities to replace the lost time.
Classroom Decorum, Student Problems, Safety, and Security
Is there a dress code for instructors and teaching assistants?
No, but conventionally teachers do not wear informal clothes such as shorts, T-shirts, and flip-
flops while teaching. You engender more respect if your dress communicates to the students the
seriousness with which you hold your profession.
Whom can I contact for help with student, safety, and security problems?
Contact the Department Chair for help and information. Teaching Assistants should be in touch
with the professors teaching their classes. Teaching Associates should speak with their
designated faculty mentor or the Graduate Coordinator.
What do I do if I have a serious problem with safety on campus or in the classroom?
The University of Florida is obligated to provide a safe and secure environment. In an
emergency situation if you or any student does not feel safe, contact the University Police
Department (392-1111) or call 911.
How should I handle students with disabilities?
If a student has a disability, that student must bring you an official letter to that effect from the
Dean of Students' Office. The letter will indicate what accommodations you are asked to
provide the student. You may be required to provide the student with copies of your overhead
transparencies and powerpoint slides. Course syllabi should provide a statement related to
accommodations for such students; see the university syllabus guidelines.
How should I handle sexual harassment problems in my class?
If a problem is reported to the TA, the TA must report it to the Instructor, and the Instructor
(Faculty or Teaching Associate) to the department chair. Consult the guidelines for sexual
harassment at http://www.aa.ufl.edu/aa/affact/harass/. Sexual harassment workshops are
provided by the university and every instructor and teaching assistant is expected to attend one.
See the schedule at the Office of Affirmative Action home page: www.aa.ufl.edu/aa/affact/
May I date a student in my class?
No. It is neither ethical nor professional behavior to do so because it creates a conflict of
interest. Keep in mind that you are in a position of power over the students in your class. Any
relationship with a student may well be perceived as coercive.
Can I expel a disruptive student from class?
Yes. The usual practice is to expel a student for one class only, followed by a private talk with
the student outside class. If this doesn't solve the problem, speak to the department chair for
advice.
How should I punish a student for plagiarism or cheating?
To expel a student or assign a failing grade for plagiarism and other forms of cheating, this
policy should be spelled out on the syllabus. The procedures for handling this problem are
outlined on the student academic honesty page: http://www.dso.ufl.edu/judicial/academic.htm
What kinds of information should I not ask of students in class discussions or papers?
Most students are not offended if you ask questions such as, what is their hometown or where did
they go to high school. Nevertheless, you should make it clear that they are not required to
divulge private information about themselves. You should not ask about a student's ethnicity,
religion, or family, for example, although if a student volunteers this information, you may
pursue it further in a class discussion in a non-invasive and non-threatening way.
Can I require students in my class to participate in research projects?
You cannot involve students in projects for your own research. If you design a class project that
involves interaction with people not in your class, you should seek the approval of the
Institutional Review Board and have all participants sign an informed consent statement. You
may not take biological samples or invade the personal privacy of participants or students
without first getting permission from the IRB. See http://irb.ufl.edu/irb02/index.html
