Faculty Resources
Faculty Policies, Procedures & Resources
- Handbooks for SCS Faculty
- University Resources for SCS Faculty
- Grading: Process & Procedures
- Honor Code: Process & Procedures
- External Resources for SCS Faculty
Handbooks for SCS Faculty Members
The Georgetown University Faculty Handbook: The Handbook details faculty rights and responsibilities, the University Mission Statement, University governance, campus policies and other benefits.
SCS Teaching Handbook: Whether you are new to teaching at Georgetown and SCS or a veteran faculty member, we hope this handbook will serve as a helpful reference when creating syllabi, evaluating student progress, and handling administrative policies (such as grade appeals and suspected acts of cheating or plagiarism).
CNDLS Teaching Handbook: In this booklet, the Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship defines student-centered teaching and how to enact it within your curriculum.
Assessing Student Writing: "What started out as an assessment project has become a robust forum for pedagogical and curricular design and faculty development."
Center for New Designs in Learning & Scholarship (CNDLS) Labs: A blog where CNDLS staff members share their work and highlight innovative practice at Georgetown University.
Provost's Office: The Provost's Office includes Appointment Information for SCS, Faculty Affairs, and Faculty Records and Appointments in addition to Academic Guidelines and Reports and other valuable resources.
Registrar's Office: The Registrar's Office maintains the Academic Calendar and the Schedule of Classes. Their Office also provides the Scheduling Policies & Guidelines which we follow. Of these policies, the most important to note is that all courses are required to provide 50 minutes of in-class instruction per week (over 15 weeks) for each credit awarded. Thus, a 3-credit class must meet 2,250 minutes during the semester; a 4-credit class must meet 3,000 minutes.
Syllabus Checklist & Guidelines: Every course requires a syllabus. This document can be used as a checklist for the required information that should be included. All syllabi must be made available online, and linked here are instructions.
Grading: Process & Procedures
- Faculty teaching credit courses must enter all final grades using MyAccess.
- Faculty teaching non-credit courses must enter grades using the Non-Credit Faculty Grading Portal.
Honor Code: Process & Procedures
We encourage faculty to include specific statements about the Honor Code on their course syllabi and to use "SafeAssign" on all student papers to encourage originality and authenticity. Students are bound by the Honor System even if their professors do not discuss the Honor Code or use SafeAssign. Therefore, we recommend that students discuss all questions about plagiarism, impermissible collaboration and appropriate attribution (citing sources) with their course instructors.
A. Reporting a Possible Honor Code Violation
- As a faculty member at Georgetown and in SCS, you must report any and all suspected violations of the Honor Code to the Honor Council at honor@georgetown.edu as soon as you become aware of the possible violation. Although you may also choose to talk with your Associate Dean about the matter, reporting the incident to the Honor Council is your most important step.
- Shortly after you report the incident, you will be contacted by an Investigating Officer (IO) to discuss the details of your report. The IO will also speak with the student and, if necessary, other affiliated parties. Please keep copies of emails, papers, tests, and any other documentation related to your report.
- Upon completing this initial investigation, the IO will either (a) determine that no violation has occurred or (b) refer the case to a Hearing Board for further review. If the student is found not in violation, then you must treat the student as if no violation has occurred and grade the assignment based solely upon its academic merits. You cannot retaliate against a student if he/she is found not in violation.
B. Appearing before the Hearing Board
- If the case is referred to a Hearing Board, you may be asked to present during an evening hearing. The Board consists of students, faculty members, and the hearing chairperson. Everything reported in the hearing remains confidential and should not be discussed outside of the hearing.
- The Board will complete its review and either (a) determine that no violation has occurred or (b) refer the case to a Hearing Board for further review. If the student is found not in violation, then you must treat the student as if no violation has occurred and grade the assignment based solely upon its academic merits. You cannot retaliate against a student if he/she is found not in violation. If the student is found in violation, then you are free to assign the reduced grade (including a failure in the course) as appropriate. Please note: The sanction of the Board is separate from the academic merit (grade) you choose to assign upon completion of the hearing.
- If the suspected violation occurs when grades are due at the end of the semester, you should assign an "NR" (not reported) as a place holder until the hearing has been completed. Thereafter, you can email the Interim Associate Dean of Academic Affairs (rlg27@georgetown.edu) with the final grade.
External Resources for Faculty
The Adjunct Project: "The goal of this website is to identify universities that set the standard for best practices with regard to adjuncts. The best schools should be recognized and honored for what they are doing." This site, created by Josh Boldt, includes self-reported data from adjunct instructors from around the country.
The American Association of Univeristy Professors: The Association's purpose is to advance academic freedom and shared governance, to define fundamental professional values and standards for higher education and to ensure higher education's contribution to the common good.
The Chronicle of Higher Education: The Chronicle features news, events, opinion pieces, blogs, facts, figures, forums and career postings in education.
Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS): As Georgetown faculty and staff, you are among the most important individuals in some of the students' lives. They may turn to you when they are struggling and in times of need, or you may be one of the first to notice when they are distressed. There are tips for faculty on how to deal with struggling or distressed students.
SCS Teaching Handbook Archive
2011-2012
Last updated: 11/12/12