FAQs for Faculty
Inclement Weather Campus Closing
We encourage you to include the statement below in your syllabus:
When the university announces an official campus closure, all academic instruction and activities, online or in-person, on or off campus, will cease until the university officially reopens. Since there is no guarantee of the ability to communicate or access academic resources, students will not be expected to attend class, submit assignments, take exams or quizzes, or meet any scheduled deadlines during the closure. Instructors should make every attempt to communicate with students prior to a campus closure—but not during since this may not be possible—to provide expectations for upcoming course activities. Upon reopening, instructors should communicate with students to adjust course expectations and deadlines,
No, since there is no guarantee that every class member will be able to communicate or access academic resources. No communication will be expected, including email. All activities or deadlines such as class meetings, quizzes, exams and assignments that occur within the time the campus is closed should be adjusted to after the campus reopens.
If you cannot get to campus due to inclement weather at or near your home, you can cancel your class or hold via zoom, understanding that not every student can access extended communication and should not be penalized for not being able to attend via zoom if the class is normally held in person.
No. There is no guarantee that every students will have access to extended communication (such as hour-long zoom) or academic resources when campus is closed. Communication will not be expected when campus is closed. Course activities or deadlines scheduled within the time the campus is closed should be adjusted to after the campus reopens.
All course activities or deadlines that occur within the time the campus is closed should be adjusted to after the campus reopens.
Any activities or deadlines scheduled to occur within the time when campus is closed should be adjusted to after the campus reopens.
No. Any make-up time will take place during the scheduled class time or through out-of-class activities. Faculty should not schedule additional class meetings where all students are expected to attend—in-person or online—outside of normal class hours.
When campus closures are predicted, you may communicate with your students to provide expectations for upcoming course activities in the case of campus closing. No communication is expected between faculty and students once the campus closes, since communication may not be possible for every class member.
When campus reopens, inform your students of adjusted course expectations and deadlines to make sure the course learning objectives are met.
WE have provided a statement you can use in your syllabus to address students’ expectations.
No classes can be held on campus when the university is officially closed. The health and safety of our students, faculty and staff are of the utmost importance.
You are encouraged to build flexibility into your course schedules to account for personal illness or campus closures. Do not schedule additional class meetings where all students are expected to attend (in-person or online) outside of normal class hours. Instead, utilize out-of-class activities that students can complete in a reasonable timeframe, such as homework, reviewing a PowerPoint, watching a recorded lecture video, reading, writing a reflection, etc.
SACSCOC requirements follow the U.S. Department of Education definition of a credit hour at one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class work each week for approximately 15 weeks. For TCU, this requirement is met by having coursework equal 700 minutes of instruction per credit hour plus 150 minutes of a final evaluative exercise. The use of asynchronous instruction allows using out-of-class activities for making up missed class time due to campus closures without the need for scheduling specified make-up days.
The emergency preparedness committee meets daily during inclement weather to make crucial decisions about travel and safety, and makes every effort to inform the campus community of closings and openings as much in advance as possible advance.
In the case of a delayed opening, facility services is notified to open buildings at least 30 minutes in advance of the allotted time to open, to give faculty, staff and students time to prepare for class and work.
Where can I find the Faculty Handbook?
The Faculty Handbook is available online here. It is updated each summer. All policies are kept in PolicyTech and linked from the handbook.
How do I submit my Annual Report? (full-time faculty only)
Regular full-time faculty members are required to submit annual reports, which are used to formulate recommendations for merit-based salary adjustments. Click here for more information.
Where can I find the Syllabus Template?
Click here to access the syllabus template, checklist and support services. Use this syllabus template, even for an existing course. This process will continue each semester until all courses taught at TCU are using the required template. The form for proposing new courses already includes the new syllabus template.
Can I make assignments over University breaks?
Coursework should not be assigned or due from the time classes recess till the time they resume. More information is available here.
What are the policies for Student Attendance and Absences?
Information about excused absences, unexcused absences, documentation and making up missed work can be found here: Faculty Handbook: Attendance Expectations and Official Absence Policy.
When do I submit Unsatisfactory grades?
Per the Faculty Handbook, Unsatisfactory grades, or U-grades, must be submitted by professors mid-semester. This timely notification to students that they are not doing satisfactorily in a course gives the Student Success team the remainder of the semester to work with the student to make improvements before final grades are calculated. Faculty participation is key to these students’ success.
Can I give my final exam online?
A final evaluative exercise must be administered in all classes during finals week with these two exceptions: students with more than two finals in 24 hours, and students whose final exam conflicts with a major religious holiday. If a class is designed to be taught in person, the final exam must be given in person. If the class is designed to be taught online, then the final is provded online. Click here for the Faculty Handbook: Final Evaluative Exercise Policy.
How do I register for Finding Ourselves in Community Workshops?
Click here to access the application and see the workshop schedule.
What are the latest updates to the TCU Core Curriculum?
The Faculty Senate voted to approve several updates to the Core Curriculum (click here), the culmination of a three-year faculty-led process. The updates will improve student learning, faculty teaching, and communication of the benefits and purpose of the Core Curriculum.
What should I do if I, my class or my research becomes the target of social media harassment?
Access the Digital and Social Media Engagement Guide for Faculty. As our faculty and students contemplate complex issues, they should be able to engage in classroom discussions without fear that any statements will be misused or used outside of the classroom context. To that end, faculty may prohibit students from capturing or recording course content, materials or discussions without the permission of the instructor and/or other classroom participants. For virtual classrooms, faculty may lock access so that only those with permissions (passwords) can participate, and prevent screenshots. If you opt to do follow these guidelines, it should be stated clearly in your syllabus. If a student refuses to adhere to your stated restrictions, refer to the Unprofessional Behavior, Disruptive Behavior, and Lack of Academic Progress Policy.
What can I do if I am concerned about a student’s well-being?
Report a non-emergency student concern by filling out this online form. TCU Counseling & Mental Health Center provides training to help you recognize and respond to distressed students. For immediate health and safety concerns about your student, contact the TCU Police Department at 817-257-7777.
If your question is not answered here, email the Director of Communications for the Provost, Elaine Cole, at e.cole@tcu.edu.