Part-Time Faculty and Teaching Assistant Handbook
Parking
MaineCard
Getting Paid
Offices and Keys
FirstClass
Mailboxes
Scheduling
Other Room Problems
Equipment and Technology
Photocopying
Scanning
Faxing
Film Collection
WebCT, BlackBoard and FirstClass Conferences
Student Privacy
Academic Calendar
Course Evaluations
Grading
Counseling Center
Students with Disabilities
Student Athletes
ENG 317
Parking
All parking at the University of Maine is by permit only. Parking permits can be purchased at Student Services, located in the Memorial Union. You can buy a permit in person, or fill out a paper application and mail it in. Parking spaces fill up quickly, but we have been assured that there are enough for every student and faculty member. See the Campus Map for parking areas. Please note the color-coding; most faculty members can park in blue or gray lots.
Please visit here for more information.
MaineCard
Your MaineCard is your University of Maine identification card. You can obtain one from Student Services in the Memorial Union. It also acts as a debit card – you can add funds to it via Value Transfer Stations, located in the Memorial Union near the ATM machines and in Fogler Library near the reserve desk. These funds (called Black Bear Bucks) can be used to pay for printing (in the Computer Center or at any of the computer clusters), make copies at Fogler, or pay for meals at the dining facilities. Black Bear Bucks can also be used at the bookstore, the MaineBound Adventure Center, and at various establishments around town through the Black Bear One Program. Most importantly, your MaineCard is your library card, allowing you to take books out of the Fogler Library.
Please visit here for more information.
Getting Paid
In order to ensure that you are paid, please complete paperwork at the Payroll Office in 124 Corbett (not D.P. Corbett) Hall, located near the Gym at the north end of the Mall. Please bring some form of identification – a social security card and a Maine license are best, but there are other options available. You will be paid on the last day of every month, and the University usually prefers to pay through direct deposit (you can make other arrangements if you wish). Many forms can be found here.
Part-Time Faculty Association (PATFA) information can be found here.
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Office and Keys
Most faculty offices are located in Neville Hall. You will need three keys: one to your office, one to the English Department (304 Neville), and one to the exterior door of Neville Hall. Stella Santerre or Hansie Grignon, who are both located in room 304, can give you the keys you need. These keys are university property and should be returned to the department whenever you are not scheduled to teach in an upcoming term.
FirstClass
FirstClass is the email system used at the University of Maine. In order to set up your account, you will first need a username and a password. Contact the IT Help Center, located in the basement of Shibles Hall, or call their help desk at (207) 581-2506.
Once you have a username and password, you still need to download the FirstClass Installer for Microsoft Windows. Once you have downloaded this software, you will have a FirstClass icon on your desktop. Enter your username and password at the prompt, and you can begin sending email.
FirstClass is fairly easy to use. If a person is in the system, and you type his or her name (or even a portion of that name) in the “To” box and hit Enter, the system will automatically find that person for you and fill in the name. Your UMaine email address will probably be your first name dot last name at umit.maine.edu. If you wish to set your Preferences, look under the Edit menu (the very last option).
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Mailboxes
All faculty mailboxes are located in 304 Neville Hall. Please let Stella or Hansie know if you need to change your box for any reason. Mail delivery usually occurs between 9:40 and 10:00 AM every morning. Outgoing mail can be placed in the black tray on the square table in front of Hansie’s printer. It is taken down at the end of the day (around 4:30). Envelopes, letterhead, inter-office envelopes and mailing labels are in the supply room.
Room Scheduling
Classrooms are assigned by the scheduler, Kara Boyington (581-1311), located in 100 Wingate Hall. She has a huge job, not only finding rooms for classes, meetings and conferences, but creating new course sections and juggling the demands of the entire campus. If you have a problem with your room, and wish to find a new space (this happens only rarely), please call Kara.
Other Room Problems
If you like your classroom, but have a slight problem (lights out, blinds broken, etc.) please tell Stella or Hansie. Or if you would like to take care of the problem yourself, you can call Facilities Management at 581-4400. They are usually quite prompt.
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Equipment and Technology
Occasionally you might need to borrow some equipment, whether you’re showing a movie in class or making a PowerPoint presentation. There are two places in which you can borrow these items: the Media Resource Center (second floor of Fogler Library) or the Audio Visual Services (in the basement of Shibles Hall). You need a MaineCard in order to borrow any items from Fogler, and you can usually borrow equipment for 1 to 2 days.
Audio Visual Services has a wider variety of equipment. It’s a good idea to book your item in advance (just stop by Shibles Hall). If you suddenly need help during a presentation, call AV Services at (207) 581-2500.
There are also two Toshiba projectors in Naomi Jacobs’ office. Please see Naomi to sign out one of these.
Photocopying
Two photocopiers are located in room 304B Neville (a kind of closet in room 304). In order to use either one, you need a copier code, which you can obtain from Stella Santerre or Hansie Grignon.
Please punch this code in first (the copier on the right will not register any numbers as you punch them in; the other copier will show a line of asterisks). When you have finished copying, clear your account number by hitting the FC button twice on the right-hand copier, and pressing the * key on the other.
Scanning
We have recently updated our left-hand copier so that we can scan items into it and receive the image via email. Here are the steps:
1. Go here.
2. Click on "E-mail" on the left-hand menu, and an "E-mail Destination Control" page should come up.
3. Enter your full name.
4. Enter the first initial of your last name.
5. Leave the Custom Directory where it is.
6. Uncheck the Frequently Used box.
7. Enter your FirstClass email address.
8. Enter a Display Name (probably your last name).
9. Keep the File Format where it is.
10. Hit Submit.
When you wish to scan an item, go to the small copier (the one on the left). Enter your usual copier code, then hit the "Image Send" button. Small clusters of letters will appear along the bottom of the screen. Hit the cluster that contains your Display Name, the press your name (it should turn dark). Place the item you wish to scan face down in the copier tray, then hit Start. It may take several minutes for the scanned item to appear in your FirstClass inbox.
Macintosh users may experience some difficulty. Please let Stella or Hansie know if you do.
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Faxing
The fax machine is located in 304B Neville (the “closet” in 304 Neville). Directions for use are posted on the wall.
Film Collection
We have a fairly extensive collection (over 1000 VHS tapes and about 160 DVDs) of feature films, documentaries and shorts. They are housed in the Wicks Room in 304 Neville. If you wish to borrow a film, please email Hansie Grignon, and the movie will be placed in your mailbox. Please let Hansie know, as well, if you would like to have a video list emailed to you.
WebCT, BlackBoard and FirstClass Conferences
The Faculty Development Center at 149 Memorial Union provides services including:
WebCT is an online portal that contains sites set up by instructors, so that students can access course materials, assignments, quizzes, etc.
BlackBoard is a web-based software system, used to make teaching more flexible, especially in distance education. It has tools for online course management, content sharing, assessment and online collaboration and communication.
FirstClass conferences appear as icons on your FirstClass Desktop. You can add your students to your conference, so that they can access course information or discussions, or even turn in homework.
Please visit here for the general request form to set up WebCT, BlackBoard or a FirstClass conference. There are workshops available that provide training in all of these services.
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Student Privacy
Very occasionally, someone may call you and try to obtain information about a student. We are not allowed to give out any information – we cannot even verify that a student is at the University. Please refer all such calls to the Office of Student Records (581-1293). For more information on FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), please visit here.
Academic Calendar
Classes usually begin in early September for the Fall semester, and in mid-January for the Spring semester. Final exams usually take place in the third week of December and the first or second week of May. The Academic Calendar can be found here. The final exam schedule is here.
Course Evaluations
Toward the end of each semester every faculty member must submit course evaluations. You can choose the “bubble” sheets or a more informal written evaluation. Bubble sheets are computer forms that are collected then scored by the Faculty Development Center. Written evaluations pose a series of questions (please ask for a sample in 304 Neville).
The evaluation process is simple. First, choose which form you wish to use (or you may administer both forms, if you wish). Let Stella or Hansie know which form(s) you want, and they will provide you with the necessary amount. During class time near the end of the semester, give the forms to a trustworthy student, ask him or her to distribute them, collect them, and return them to 304 Neville, and then leave the room whilst the students evaluate you.
Once all the evaluation forms are in, bubble sheets are sent to the Faculty Development Center (this usually happens the first week of January and in late May). You can see bubble and written sheets (both usually have some comments upon them) once you have turned in your grade roster for the semester.
More formal language:
The University of Maine System Board of Trustees requires that students have the opportunity to evaluate both the course and its instructor for each course in which they enroll. The BoT further requires that a summary of these evaluations be included as part of the application process for granting of tenure. The Office of Institutional Research distributes an evaluation form approved by the University of Maine Faculty Senate and widely used at UMaine, but other evaluation forms can be used if they are reviewed and approved by the appropriate college and the Provost’s office.
Administering the course evaluation forms is the responsibility of each instructor. The University expects instructors to adhere to several common-sense procedures that ensure students can evaluate each course without fear of intimidation.
- Time should be allotted within a regular class meeting for students to complete the forms.
- The instructor should nominate a student to collect the forms and deliver them to the appropriate departmental office. The instructor should be absent while the students complete and collect the forms.
- The forms should be maintained in a secure place (such as a locked file cabinet) until they are delivered to the Office of Institutional Studies for scoring.
- The instructor should have no access to the forms themselves or the summary of results until after grades for the course have been submitted.
Certain contract provisions also govern the retention, distribution, and use of student evaluations. The University views student evaluations as ONE INDICATOR among many of the quality of courses and teaching performance. The more indicators that peer committees use (such as review of syllabi, personal interviews of students, classroom observation, etc.), the more assured they can be in their assessments of effectiveness.
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Grading
Grade rosters are distributed at the end of each semester by the Office of Student Records. You can fill out a paper form for grades, or file them electronically. Please visit grading guidelines for more information.
Counseling Center
The University of Maine provides counseling for faculty who need assistance. The Employee Assistance Program gives free, confidential aid to those who have work related or personal problems. The EAP building is located discreetly on the edge of campus at 126 College Avenue, and is open from 8 to 5. They can be reached at 581-4014.
Students who may need counseling can go to the Cutler Health Center’s Counseling Center. Their phone number is 581-1392.
Students with Disabilities
The University of Maine Disability Support Services (DSS) aims to create educational access for students with disabilities by providing services, information and education for students and the campus community. Please visit their website or call the director, Ann Smith (581-2319), for more information.
Student Athletes
Student athletes often have very busy, rigid schedules. They are given preference during registration in order to insure that they obtain the courses they need. For more information on academic support for athletes, please go here.
ENG 317: Business and Technical Writing
ENG 317 is normally taught by full- and part-time faculty members. Very occasionally a teaching assistant has stepped into the breach. Please open the ENG 317 Checklist (in Word) for more information.
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