Frequently Asked Questions

What do I do if...

• I’m locked out of my classroom?
• I need to get in touch with someone “after hours?”
• I need audio-visual equipment?
• I need photocopies?
• I need to use the phone?
• I have to cancel class?
• The weather is so bad I think all classes might be canceled?
• I find a student who is cheating?
• A student in class is being disruptive?
• There is a medical emergency in class?
• I have a student who needs serious academic or personal counseling?

More questions about classroom policies ...

• What should I include in my course syllabus?
• What is Miami University's attendance policy?
• Should I have office hours?
• Are student evaluations required in every class?
• Do I have to give a final exam?
• What is "study week?"
• What are the "first week alerts?"

I’m locked out of my classroom?
Security can let you in. The phone number is 727-3333 (7-3333 from any campus phone) and the security office is located in 139 Johnston Hall.

I need to get in touch with someone “after hours?”
Security 727-3333 is on duty around the clock. Maintenance and custodian staffs work until 11 p.m. (727-3202).

Other key departments maintain extended hours through most of the work week.
Faculty support services is staffed MTWR until 8 p.m. and Friday until 4:30 p.m.
Audio-visual services normally is staffed MTWR until 7:30 p.m. and Friday until 5 p.m.
Records and Registration is open MTWR until 6:30 p.m. and Friday until 5 p.m.
Bookstore is open MTWR until 7 p.m. and Friday until 3 p.m.

I need audio-visual equipment?
Jimmy Rogers is the senior program assistant in charge of audio-visual needs. If you need to contact Jimmy, the phone number is 727-3247; e-mail is rogersjd@muohio.edu; office is 24 Johnston Hall. If you wish to make a standing order for a class, rather than just for specified days within the semester, it is a good idea to communicate directly with Jimmy.

I need photocopies?

Faculty members will find photocopying machines available for use at the following locations.
Second floor Thesken Hall - Faculty Lounge
111 Levey Hall - Faculty Area
205 Johnston Hall - Faculty Support Office
024 Johnston Hall - Copy Room
You need to key in your departmental code to operate them – you can get this number from your coordinator/chair.

Faculty support services can also make classroom copies with advance notice—three days notice is preferred. Fill out a form to request the work — they are available in faculty support services offices or click here.

I need to use the phone?

Each office has a telephone with its own number. To make calls within the University (using a campus phone), preface the four-digit extension with a 5 for Hamilton, 7 for Middletown, and 9 for Oxford. For instance, from a phone on campus you can reach the main switchboard at MUM by dialing 7-3200—from the outside the number is 727-3200. From a campus phone, dial 88 to get an outside local line and 81 for long distance.

Campus phones that will allow you to call anywhere on campus (or make emergency 911 calls) without charge are located in the hallways of every floor of Johnston, Thesken and Levey, except the second floor of Johnson (a phone is available there in the Faculty Lounge).

I have to cancel class?

If you must cancel class due to illness or unavoidable circumstances, you should contact the faculty secretary in your building (area code 513):

• Johnston Hall: Tyra Day (727-3234), or Tammy Lewis (727-3218), or Lois Lafayette (217-4083 or 727-3218).
• Thesken Hall: Sandi Sandlin (727-3241)
• Levey Hall: Tammy Lewis (727-3380)
  

  Note: If you reach voicemail when calling faculty secretary in your building, please call another faculty secretary to let them know you are canceling class.

AND the switchboard operator (727-3200). Also notify your chair or coordinator.

The weather is so bad I think all classes might be canceled?

This happens rarely, but it has occurred. If classes are to be canceled, a decision will be made by 6 a.m. for daytime classes and 3 p.m. for evening classes. The Public Relations Office will inform area radio stations of the decision. Listen to the major Cincinnati stations, or to

WPFB-AM 910
WPFB-FM 105.9
WOXF-FM 94.9
WMOH-AM 1450
WOXY-FM 97
WMUB-FM 88.5
WONE-AM 980
WHIO-FM 99.1

I find a student who is cheating?

Miami’s student handbook has specific prohibitions against academic fraud and misconduct. At the same time, a student has certain “due process” rights that must be respected. If a student is cheating, it’s a good idea to consult your coordinator or chair to make sure the situation is handled according university policy.

A student in class is being disruptive?

For an emergency: If immediate action is warranted, ask the student to leave class. If the situation is severe or the student refused to leave, call campus security (7-3333) and/or the Middletown Police (911 or 425-7700), depending on the seriousness of the incident.

Although faculty members may ask a student to leave class for disruptive behavior, unless a grievance procedure is instituted, this may not exclude the student from returning to subsequent class meetings. If disruptive behavior recurs, the instructor should institute disciplinary actions by contacting Jim Ewers, Associate Dean for Student Affairs (7-3233 or ewersjb@muohio.edu).

Even if you don’t initiate a grievance, you will be asked to file a report with Student Affairs after any incident. These reports not only allow Student Affairs to investigate, but help make sure a pattern of disruption does not go undetected because the incidents occur in different classes or semesters.

For a hostile environment: If you feel uncomfortable with student behavior in class or during student conferences, consult you’re your coordinator/chair for assistance with future encounters with the student. For recurring disruptive behavior, a grievance may be filed with the Office of Student Affairs.

There is a medical emergency in class?

If possible, remain with the victim while you send someone to call 911 and report the victim's location and symptoms. In case of an accident, don't move a seriously injured person unless the victim is in a life-threatening situation. There are first-aid kits in the campus security office (7-3333, 134 Johnston Hall) and in the business services office (7-3400, 116A Johnston Hall). For additional information, see the Emergency Procedures Handbook.

I have a student who needs serious academic or personal counseling?

Student Services can help in both cases. The Middletown campus offers learning assistance in a variety of formats including Reading/Writing and math Lab, one-one tutoring study tables; and individualized consultations about time managements, study skills and test-taking strategies. With the assistance of faculty, this office initiates academic interventions for students who are experiencing academic difficulties. Call 7-3440 to make a referral.

The university also provides cost-free and confidential counseling services to current students. If you notice students exhibiting behavior that may warrant personal or career counseling, please contact this office. If you are concerned about the well-being or health of a student, do not hesitate to call 7-3431.

What should I include in my course syllabus?

Each faculty member is required to create a detailed syllabus for each course they teach, and distribute it to each student on or shortly after the first class meeting. This syllabus should include:

• the course name
• where/when it meets
• faculty office hours (it is also strongly encouraged to include an e-mail address so that students can contact you between class sessions — but if you do this don’t forget to check your e-mail regularly and respond in a timely manner)
• textbooks
• attendance policy
• requirements and policies about assignments, number of tests, how final grades a determined
• other rules and regulations

Some faculty members also include statements about:

• honoring diversity
• accommodating disabilities
• expectations for classroom conduct (and misconduct)

A syllabus is regarded as a virtual contract between the faculty member and the students. Don’t change the basic rules and requirements of the course once they are communicated in the syllabus. Your syllabus may specify a schedule of topics, test dates, etc., as tentative, but everything else is really “set in stone” once it appears in the syllabus. Even if your syllabus is on a web site or on Blackboard, please distribute a hard copy to each student in the class at the first class meeting.

What is Miami University's attendance policy?

There is no specific attendance policy prescribed by the university. Each instructor is free to define a policy, or have no policy at all. In any case, you should make your policy about attendance clear to all students, include it in your syllabus and enforce it consistently and fairly. The most important aspect is the communication of the policy and treating all students the same. A student who does not attend regularly or who fails to meet the attendance requirements of the instructor may be reported to the Registrar and be dropped from the course with a grade of "F", with written notification being sent to the student.

Should I have office hours?

Part-time faculty are asked to try and hold at least 1-2 hours of office hours per week for each course. You should notify your students of your office hour(s), include the time in the syllabus and be available for them at the specified time and place.

Are student evaluations required in every class?

All faculty are required to have all classes evaluated by students in some formal manner that is appropriate to the specific type of course. The only exceptions are independent studies with invidual students or classes with fewer than five students enrolled.

When student-teacher evaluation forms are utilized by the instructor, a student in the class should be charged with collecting the forms and sealing them in an envelope. The sealed envelope should immediately be returned by the student to the location designated by the campus department or coordinatorship. The envelope will then be sent to the Computer Center in Oxford. After scoring, the Computer Center will forward the scores to the Chair. Information normally is also shared with the Dean. Forms and information are returned to the faculty member by the Chair after final grades for the semester are submitted. When used exclusively for faculty self-improvement, the faculty member may administer his or her own evaluation instruments and utilize the results before final grades are submitted.

Do I have to give a final exam?

Unless you are otherwise directed by your Chair or Coordinator, a final exam will be given in each course and this exam must be given at the specified day and time during exam week. We also encourage faculty to give comprehensive final exams.

The scheduled day and time of an exam cannot be changed by the instructor. If you have a compelling reason for requesting a change, you must obtain permission from your coordinator and the Associate Executive Director of the appropriate campus.

What is "study week?"

It is University policy that no tests or “major” quizzes can be given during the last week of classes. Please ask your coordinator if you have any questions about this. It is important that we all adhere to this policy. Also, it is absolutely forbidden to give your final exam prior to exam week.

What are the "first week alerts?"

The beginning of each semester is a very hectic time, and some situations occur then that do not occur throughout the remainder of the semester. You can prepare yourself by considering the following:

1. Students are allowed to drop and add classes during the first week without a signature, so you may have students appearing in your class after the first class period if the class was not full.
   
2. If your class is full and you have students asking to “force add” the class, you may add them if you wish and if the room has sufficient seating for them. The term “force add” is not accurate - you are not “forced” to admit a student to a full class unless you wish to do so. Students hear this term and think they can always get in a class, but it is totally the instructor’s decision. If you have students who do not show up for the first class (and they have not contacted you in advance), you may drop them in order to admit students who do want in. Please inform the records office on the appropriate campus, by letting them know the names (and banner ID) of students that you wish to drop for non-attendance. At the regional campuses, we do usually give the students a little leeway if they do miss the first class. If your class enrollment is going to exceed the published limit because of force adds, please let the bookstore know so additional books can be ordered.
   
3. If your class is not full and a student comes to you to add your class after the first week, it is totally your decision on whether to add this student. Unsolicited advice – many students never catch up when they enter a class late. It is usually not a positive experience.
   
4. If your class is not full, there is no need to drop the first week’s absentees. During the second week of class, let the records office know who has not attended and they will be dropped.
   
5. All class rosters are available on-line thru MyMiami (login in with usual username and password at http://mymiami.muohio.edu/). You may receive a printed class list on the first week of class, but the records office could discontinue this practice at any time. The printed list may not be accurate also, since dropping and adding continues after the lists are printed. If you have trouble accessing your class list via MyMiami, please contact your coordinator or Records and Registration for assistance.

   Why is all of this emphasized? Many of our students have financial aid and their aid can be affected by the number of hours they carry. It is important that we keep accurate records in order to make sure they are not charged for classes they do not take and to insure that they get the aid for the ones they are taking. Thanks, in advance, for your help in this important effort.