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Checklist

Before your course begins

• You will receive a packet of materials that includes your appointment letter (contract), a link to resources about policies and procedures, forms for requesting textbooks, copyright information, and releasable information; and information about UW E-mail. It is most important that you read your appointment letter carefully, sign it, and return as soon as possible, along with the other forms.
  
  Pay special attention to the releasable information form. It contains the contact information for students. You will need to supply two pieces of contact information, preferably e-mail and voice mail. If you don't want to use your personal voice mail, please let your Assistant Director know. A UWEO voice mail number (for incoming messages only) can be set up for you. The UWEO voice mail can be set to forward a message to your personal voice mail, notifying you that a message is waiting for you.
  
  Note that you need to send updates about your releasable information to UWEO.
  
• Your payroll information forms: Complete and sign your payroll forms ( I-9, W-4, and affirmative action) form) and return to the UWEO accounting office in the business reply envelope provided to you.
  
  
• USPS PO Boxes: UWEO pays for a USPS PO Box if one is needed for a course in which e-mail doesn't suffice for submitting assignments (some math classes, for example), and you don't want your home address publicized. If you would like a USPS PO Box, please request one from your Assistant Director. If your request is approved, your Assistant Director will instruct you in the steps for purchasing it.
• Please purchase you USPS PO Box as soon as possible and note the address on your releasable information form.
  
• Handbooks: Read this handbook and the Student Handbook to become familiar with the policies and procedures associated with your online learning course.
  
  
• Textbook Information: You will either receive your textbook title(s) from the UWEO Distance Learning Design Department, or you will be provided the information via a Textbook/Audiovisual form, which you will receive with your instructor contract.
  
• Desk copies: Your Assistant Director will ensure that you receive a desk copy of the text for your course.
  
• Grading Options: Confirm the grading option for your course:
  

  Credit/No-credit Courses

  In courses designated credit/no-credit (C/NC), students receive University of Washington academic credits if they complete the requirements for the course, and no credits if they fail to do so. Depending on the options the department has specified for the course, students in credit courses may, in addition, either automatically receive a numerical grade for the course or a satisfactory/non-satisfactory (S/NS) designation. In some cases, again depending on department policy, students in credit/no-credit courses may choose the numerical grade or satisfactory/non-satisfactory option.

  The University of Washington Course Catalog lists the options for each credit/no-credit course.

  Non-credit courses

  In courses designated non-credit, students may receive Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Numerical grades are not assigned in non-credit courses. In addition to earning CEUs, students may receive a successful/unsuccessful completion (SC/USC) designation for the course.
  

• Welcome letter: Write a welcome letter that includes your expectations—for individual start courses, send to each student as soon as he/she is enrolled. For group start courses, consider posting your letter in a discussion forum or sending it via e-mail.
  
  You may also want to compose generic e-mail responses; for example, a reminder to students if you haven't received assignments for a while.
  
  
• Instructor biography: The instructor bio is an important element in bridging the cyberspace gap between instructor and students. Each instructor is unique and will approach the bio differently. Each will find a way of conveying excitement about their field. Some bios are humorous; some are more laid-back; a good bio can be short, medium, or long.
  
  However you approach it, your bio should include at the minimum information about your professional experience and your education. You are encouraged to also write about your outside interests. Since one course may be taught by several instructors, we also ask that you state your preferences for assignment submissions in the last paragraph of your bio. For individual start courses, this typically is by e-mail—please specify if you want attachments or if you want the assignment in the body of the e-mail, and specify what you want in the subject line. For group start courses, instructors often use an electronic submissions tool, which has several features to make collecting and grading assignments efficient. Your instructional designer can give you more information about this tool.
  
  The UWEO Distance Learning Design Department will contact you to request your biography. You may want to review sample biographies (MS Word).
  
  
• Discussion Forum: See Setting up a Discussion Forum (in Online Learning Instructor Resources).
  
  
• Onsite Meetings: If you are an instructor for a group start course that has one or more scheduled onsite meetings, be sure to get the room location and contact UWEO Help if you need equipment for the room. See the information on emergencies for cancellation of onsite meetings.

Once the class starts

• When students enroll: individual start course—you will know when a new student joins your course because you will be sent a Grade Tracking Sheet for the student the week that they enroll. You can also view the names of your students on your electronic class list, which is updated every night.
  
  For group start courses, the names of all of your students are listed on your electronic class list.
  
  
• Student information form For individual start courses, a student information form is included on the online syllabus, and students are asked to complete and submit it with the first written assignment. It will come to you via e-mail. The information that students give you may help you personalize your comments when you provide feedback on their assignments.
  
  For group start courses, you will learn about your students from the brief biographies they are asked to submit to a discussion forum.
  
  View the general student information form.
  View the student information form for programming classes.
  
• Planning Calendars: Students in individual start courses also submit a planning calendar that will help you determine if they are on track for completing the course. Students in group start courses submit assignments per a predetermined schedule that's posted on the class Web site.
  
• Please note these important timelines:
  • Student assignments should be graded and returned within seven days.
    
  • Respond to student messages sent by e-mail or voice mail within 48 hours or less.
    
• Error in course materials We make every effort to ensure accuracy in our course materials. If you do perceive an error, please report it to dltechsupp@extn.washington.edu
  

When students complete the course

• Please see the information on how to submit a student's final course grade.
  
• Retain a copy of the student's grade for at least a year after the student has completed the course.

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