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Reminders and resources for undergraduate class instructors

The following reminders and resources are for faculty who teach undergraduate classes. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Office of Undergraduate Education with any questions or concerns.


Each course will have a syllabus
Faculty Rule 3335-8-19 states: “Each course as defined in rule 3335-8-01 of the Administrative Code will have a syllabus to be provided to each student explaining how the student's performance will be assessed. University policy further requires that it be made available to students at the beginning of, and throughout the conduct of the course.” Sample syllabus statements and policies are available on the Office of Undergraduate Education website. (Colleges and campuses may have additional syllabus requirements or guidelines)


Participation rosters
In order to comply with Federal Title IV regulations, the university collects information regarding whether a student begins attending or participating in a class at the beginning of the semester or session.

All instructors are required to complete a “participation roster” during the first week of classes. The roster allows you to either answer “yes” the student has attended or participated in some way, or “no” the student has not attended and has not participated. Learn more about participation rosters.


Low-stakes early assignments, learning resources, & progress reports
To increase student success, give a low-stakes graded assignment in the first two or three weeks of class. The assignment should be representative of the type of work expected in the class so that students get an early indication of what is expected of them. Remind students what academic misconduct is and how to avoid it. Encourage students to use academic success resources such as the Dennis Learning Center, study groups, tutoring, academic advising, and faculty office hours.

Progress Reports are requests sent to instructors during key times throughout each term to check on the progress students are making in their courses. Each instructor for a course is sent an email with a secure link to fill out progress reports. The email will contain information about how to complete your report.


GE “bookends” portfolio
A component of our General Education program is the web-based portfolio tool provided by PebblePad. Instructors teaching any undergraduate class may encourage students to upload signature projects or assignments to their portfolios, whether exemplary work or assignments that show a student’s learning progress. In the “bookends” seminars, student learn how to use their portfolio to make meaningful connections between their work in different classes and activities.


Approval needed to change course delivery mode after students have registered
Instructors must have the formal approval of their college’s academic leadership and the Office of Academic Affairs to change the overall delivery mode of a course they are teaching (e.g., changing a course from in-person to hybrid or distance learning after students have already registered for the course). Contact Randy Smith and Katie Reed for questions regarding undergraduate classes.


Short-term leave for military-connected students
Throughout the academic year, military-connected students may receive orders from the United States military that requires them to miss class for short periods of time. It is recommended that instructors make reasonable accommodations for military-connected students who are required to participate in military duty. For more specific guidance visit the Military & Veterans Services webpage.


Carmen “observer” for Division I student-athletes
For NCAA Division I student-athletes, a staff member is typically assigned “observer” status in their Carmen classes. Staff with observer status cannot view other students’ names or grades; the goal is simply to support our student-athletes and required NCAA reporting. Please contact the Office of Undergraduate Education with any questions or email Kacy King, executive director & senior associate athletics director, at the Student Athlete Support Services Office.


Submit textbook orders before students begin registering
To comply with federal and state laws intended to help students control college costs, instructors will submit textbook orders at least ten days prior to the date of priority registration for a given term. Typically this means that textbook orders should be submitted by early March for autumn semester, early October for spring semester and early February for summer semester. Visit the Registrar website for registration dates. When a textbook order for a given class is not submitted by the deadline, the bookstore will “auto-adopt” the most recent prior textbook order for that class. For more specific guidance contact Erin Sandona. Auto-adopted titles for each course will include a custom message that appears on the website:

“Textbooks are listed for information purposes only. Please do not order textbooks without first verifying with the instructor, as textbooks may be subject to change.”   


Optional Buckeye Honor Pledge
The purpose of the Buckeye Honor Pledge is to motivate reflection on our Shared Values and emphasize the importance of one’s personal commitment to ethics in education and learning. Instructors have the discretion to ask students to include a signed version of the pledge with examinations, papers, or other academic assignments. Students are not required to write or sign the Buckeye Honor Pledge and should not be penalized for not signing it. Regardless of whether they sign the Buckeye Honor Pledge or not, students are held to the Code of Student Conduct.

As a Buckeye I pledge to act with responsibility and care. I will build trust through honesty, transparency, and authentic engagement. I will demonstrate integrity through my original contributions and respectful collaboration with others. I will act in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct. Time and change will surely show, I will uphold these values wherever I go.