MSUMAcademic AffairsFaculty GuideInstructor / Instruction Information

Instructor / Instruction Information

Academic Freedom
Automatic Class List Serve
Class Lists
Computer Labs
Confidential Records
Course Syllabus Policy
Daily Calendar
Faculty-Authored Texts
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Patents and Intellectual Property
Textbook Orders

Academic Freedom

It shall be the policy of the MnSCU to maintain and encourage full freedom, within the law, of inquiry, teaching, and research. The Employer shall not discriminate against a faculty member for engaging in political activities or holding or voicing political views, so long as the exercise of this right does not interfere with his/her responsibilities as a faculty member.

Refer to IFO/MnSCU Agreement, Article 4 and the MSUAASF/MnSCU Agreement, Article 4.

Automatic Class List Serve

Faculty may create a distribution list for their classes by following the instructions on the Creating an Automatic Class List Serve.

Class Lists

Class lists are available online by logging in to eservices on MSUM's homepage with your Dragon ID or Username and your PIN or Password. Once you are logged in you have access to class management tools, usch are Faculty Overrides and Grade Entry.

Computer Labs

Computer labs are located in various campus buildings. Campus computer equipment includes microcomputers, workstations, minicomputers, and access to mainframe and supercomputers. Electronic mail service is available to faculty. Use of the equipment is restricted to Minnesota State University Moorhead faculty, staff, and students. For detailed information on computer labs, refer to Information Technology.

Confidential Records

Confidential information about students at MSUM is maintained in several offices. Such reports are on file only when students have utilized the services of such offices and are solely for the purposes of maintaining essential records, providing required reports to governmental agencies, and furnishing services to students. Further information is contained in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) section.

Course Syllabus Policy

Policy Statement:
The course syllabus is prepared to clearly notify students of course content, course requirements, and course expectations.

Dissemination To Students:
Each student enrolled in a course shall be provided a course syllabus during the first week of class. For courses offered in a condensed format, the time frame for distribution will be adjusted accordingly. Refer to the Course Syllabus Policy for the required course syllabus elements; optional elements appear in italics. Moreover, the items underlined are required under Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board Policy 3.22, Course Syllabi.

For information on obtaining permission for using articles in a course packet, inserting a video clip on a website, or using books, articles, movies, music, fine arts, plays and more, refer to Patent and Intellectual Property in this section.

Daily Calendar

Approved by the President 1/23/07
Approved APAC 11/28/06

Options for 3-credit classes:

Options for 4-credit classes (and 2-credit half semester classes):

Options for 2-credit courses (and 1-credit half semester classes):

Options for 1-credit courses:

Options for labs/studios/practica meeting for 2 hours 50 minutes at a time:

Options for labs/studios/practica meeting for 1 hour 50 minutes at a time:

Options for classes meeting 5 days per week (MTWHF):

FINAL EXAMS:

Scheduling Restrictions:

1. Departments are responsible for scheduling classes in a way that efficiently uses assigned classroom space.

2. Departments are responsible for scheduling classes in a way that uses student time wisely and efficiently, as well.

3. Departments must use a proportion of classes meeting on MW(F) and a proportion of classes meeting TH.

4. Departments should offer Dragon Core/Liberal Studies courses at a variety of times, including in the evening.  Evening classes are considered to begin at 4:30.

5. Dragon Core/Liberal Studies courses are expected to adhere to the published schedule; exceptions should be based on pedagogy.

6. While no mandated open time is included in the schedule, Friday afternoons (from 2:30 to 5:00) will generally be available for faculty and student meetings and for university-wide colloquia.

7. Academic Deans are responsible for monitoring adherence to these criteria. Requests for exceptions to the schedule will be addressed at the departmental level and forwarded with the department chair’s signature to the appropriate dean for final approval. 

Faculty-Authored Texts

According to Minnesota Law, faculty members who have published books may not designate such books as required texts, without the written permission of the appropriate faculty dean.

[M&C 5/15/92]

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Student records maintained by the University fall into two general categories -- directory information and educational records.  As custodian of student records in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, the University assumes the trust and obligation to ensure the full protection of student records which includes maintaining the confidentiality of educational records. The administrative procedures are to be complied with by University personnel who have or accumulate educational records which are in a personally identifiable form. The term "student"  means an eligible student under FERPA (a student enrolled or previously enrolled at MSUM). Copies of FERPA and the regulations are available at the following offices: Records, Academic Affairs and Student Affairs. For additional information, compiled by Tami Norgard, MSUM Public Information Officer, refer to Minnesota Data Privacy Act and FERPA [PDF]. If you have further questions, contact the Registrar.

Directory information is information concerning a student which may be released publicly. It includes the following categories: (I) the student's name, local and permanent (hometown) address, telephone number; (II) major and minor fields of study, class level, dates of enrollment, full time/part time status, awards, honors (including Dean's list), degree(s) conferred (including dates), previous educational institution(s) and dates attended, e-mail address, photographs taken and maintained by the University for various purposes, past and present participation in officially recognized activities and sports, height and weight of athletes, and gender.

Educational records are those records, files, documents, and other materials which contain information directly related to a student's academic progress, financial status, medical condition (see Section IV A and B), etc., and are maintained by MSUM or a party acting on behalf of the University.  Educational records include more than academic records. Educational records, with the exception of those designated as directory information (see Section II), may not be released without the written consent of the student to any individual, agency, or organization other than the following authorized personnel.

Patents and Intellectual Property

A faculty member shall be entitled to complete ownership and control of any patentable discoveries or inventions, or of intellectual property, except where the faculty member’s normal workload was reduced for purposes of the development project, where the university has provided substantial support for or involvement in the project, or where the inventions or discoveries are produced as a result of agreements or contracts between the university and external sponsors. See IFO/MnSCU Agreement, Article 27, Section C, Subd. 4 for specifics. For additional information on Intellectual Property, refer to MnSCU Board Policy 3.26.

Textbook Orders

Textbooks can be order online through the Campus Bookstore using the textbook requisition form.

MSUMAcademic AffairsFaculty GuideInstructor / Instruction Information