Here are some reminders and opportunities for the final stretch of the semester:
Final Evaluative Exercise in Keeping with how the Course is Designed
As stated in the Faculty Handbook: “Faculty members are to administer an appropriate final evaluative exercise in all classes. The final evaluative exercise cannot be omitted since it is counted toward the minimum class credit hours required by the U.S. government and SACSCOC. The form of the evaluative exercise may vary according to the course level, objective(s) and instructional methodology.”
That last sentence is causing some confusion. Some are interpreting that to mean that online finals can be provided for in-person courses. That is not the case. If a course is designed to be delivered in person, then the final is administered in person. If a course is designed to be delivered online only, then the final is delivered online.
We will clarify the wording for the 2026 Faculty Handbook.
Submitting Final Grades
As a reminder from an earlier message, beginning this December, TCU will no longer hand out diplomas at Commencement. This means graduating students won’t require earlier dates for finals, and faculty will not need to maintain separate rosters nor rush to submit seniors’ final grades in advance of the ceremony. Per the Fall 2025 academic calendar, final grade deadline for all students is 9:00 a.m., Monday, December 15, 2025.
Call to Participate in Workshops for Finding Ourselves in Community (FSC)
I encourage all faculty to apply for Spring 2026 workshops to imbed Finding Ourselves in Community (FSC) into your courses. This is an important part of our SACSCOC accreditation as our five-year Quality Enhancement Plan. Faculty who complete the workshops receive a stipend of $1,000, with an additional $1,000 after teaching your first FSC-designated course and submitting student artifacts. Click here for more information, workshop dates and times, and applications.
Research Poster Contest
All students, postdoctoral scholars, faculty and staff are invited to present posters of your new, ongoing or completed research at the TCU Research and Creative Activities Poster Symposium, Nov. 5, 3:30-5:30 p.m., Tucker Family Ballroom (BLUU). Click here to register by noon, Wednesday, Oct. 22, to participate in the poster contest.
Thank You
I’m happy to report only 24 sections have not submitted U-grades to date. Why am I happy? Because last semester we had 70 unsubmitted sections. We are getting closer to 100 percent, which means we are helping more and more students stay on track. I thank our wonderful faculty who submitted U-grades; Reginald A. Wilburn, associate provost for undergraduate affairs, and Annorah Moorman, associate vice provost for student success, for championing this initiative; and our associate deans for leading their department chairs and faculty to participate.
Floyd L. Wormley Jr.
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs