Adjunct Faculty Responsibilities

1. Class Rosters

Faculty members have access to their class rosters through WaveNet. During the first week of classes, a request for roster verification will be sent to the faculty member via email. On the class roster link within WaveNet, the faculty should add comments regarding attendance at the first class meeting and any recommended action regarding add/drop.

Following the add/drop period, a second roster verification request will also be sent to faculty. Instructions accompanying this request must be followed promptly and explicitly. Discrepancies between the second roster and the students actually in attendance must be reconciled immediately so that the final grade roster will be accurate.

Photo rosters are also provided through WaveNet.

2. Course Evaluations

In all CHS courses, students are provided the opportunity to evaluate the course and the faculty member. Participation in the evaluation process is a requirement and must be supported by all CHS faculty. The evaluations will occur near the end of each academic term. Notification messages regarding the course evaluations will be distributed to students and faculty approximately two weeks before the end of the term. The student message will contain instructions on how to complete the course evaluation instrument.

All CHS faculty should encourage students to participate in the course evaluation process. When doing so, faculty should assure students that their course evaluation responses are anonymous and are not made available to faculty until after grades are submitted. Once all CHS course grades for a specific academic term are posted to Wavenet by the Registrar, course evaluation results will be distributed to CHS faculty and all school deans and program directors.

Only course evaluations administered by the CHS are used in the faculty's annual evaluation. In cases in which a faculty member is being considered for promotion, step advancement, tenure, or five-year review, the information from the course evaluations will be shared with the faculty members who are preparing a peer review, the RTP committee, the University Tenure Committee (tenure cases only), appropriate CHS and University administrators, and the Board of Regents.

If a faculty member identifies a violation of academic integrity by a student, the faculty member may request that the student's evaluation be removed. The request must be submitted to and approved by the school dean or program director.

3. Course Syllabi

Faculty members are required to prepare a syllabus for each course. All syllabi should include the following elements:

3.1. Instructor Information: Name, title, contact information, office hours with location
3.2. Course information: Title, catalog number, brief description/purpose, meeting time and place.
3.3. Required course materials: textbook(s), lab manuals, etc.
3.4. Student Learning Outcomes
3.5. Alignment with University and CHS mission: A brief statement on the relationship between the course and the respective mission statements.
3.6. Course Calendar and topics, including course readings
3.7. Grading: Include both the methods that will be used to assess/evaluate student learning and the criteria for assigning the course grade should be defined.
3.8. Final Examination; The date and time of the final exam.
3.9. Course Evaluation Policy
3.10. A statement concerning the Office of Student Accessibility: An exemplary statement is provided on their website.
3.11. A statement regarding academic integrity
3.12. Any attendance policy or requirements

For in person courses, the completed syllabi should be provided to the school or program office at least 30 days prior to the first class meeting. For online courses or any course with a standard syllabus, the syllabus is completed in advance and will be shared with the faculty member. Faculty will be granted access to all standard syllabi well in advance of the first class meeting.

4. Copy/Reproduction Guidelines and Copyright Compliance

The Copying Guidelines for Classroom and Research Use are found on the Provost's website.

5. Final Examinations

A final examination or concluding evaluative activity must be held for each didactic/lecture course at the time and place published in the final examination schedule. Exceptions must be approved in writing by the appropriate school dean or program director. Failure to comply with this policy is a serious dereliction of duty as a member of the CHS faculty, subject to disciplinary action.

All students are required to be present during the final exam period. Exceptions may be granted only in case of emergencies or very special circumstances. Faculty members are not required to give a student permission to take a final at any time other than the time scheduled. However, in exceptional cases, students may petition to have their final exam day/time changed by filling out the Change of Final Exam form.

6. Grades and Grading

6.1. Testing and Grading

Grades must be assigned accurately and fairly. Careful records of student progress should be maintained throughout the academic term and all records pertaining to students' work should be retained for one semester following conclusion of a class.

Throughout a course, students should be informed of their status and progress. To achieve this standard, a systematic evaluation process should begin early in the term, continue at reasonable intervals, and be communicated regularly to students.

6.2. Final Course Grades

The due dates for final course grades are sent out via email approximately one month prior to the term end date and then sent again one week prior to the term end. Faculty must submit the final course grades in WaveNet in advance of the deadline communicated by their dean or program director. Care should be taken to avoid any errors in grade input. In the event of an error or a need for a grade change, such as for submission of late work by a student, a Grade Change Request form must be submitted. All course grade changes need to be approved by the program dean/director as well as the grade supervisor for the program.

An incomplete or "I" grade may only be granted in compliance with the Incomplete policy articulated in the CHS or applicable school/program catalog. An incomplete grade is not intended to give students with poor grades additional time to improve their performance in the course.

6.3. Grade Dispute Policy

Grades measure student performance and serve as a means of determining graduation eligibility and honors. As such, the CHS recognizes that a fair and rigorous assessment of student coursework is vital to the mission of the school and wishes to ensure that disagreements that arise over assigned grades are handled promptly, fairly, and professionally. The grade dispute policy may be found on the University website.

7. Meeting Classes

All classes should begin promptly at the time scheduled. Necessary absences must be reported to the relevant program director/dean in advance whenever possible. Failure to meet scheduled classes and chronic tardiness are serious lapses of professional behavior.

8. Office Hours

Availability for student consultation is one of the most significant aspects of the work of a student-focused college dedicated to the development of healthcare professionals. Faculty members are expected to make themselves available to students at regular times for at least three hours distributed over two business days weekly during all academic terms when they are teaching. Faculty are encouraged to be available for student meetings by request at other times.

Office hours should be conducted in the primary delivery modality of the academic program, either in person or via Zoom. Office hours should be documented on the class syllabus, posted prominently at the faculty member's office, and filed with the appropriate school or program office each term.

9. Student Accessibility

It is the policy of Pepperdine University to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and state and local regulations regarding students and applicants with disabilities. Pursuant to these laws, no qualiﬁed individual with a disability shall unlawfully be denied access to or participation in any services, programs, or activities of Pepperdine University. Faculty are expected to make reasonable accommodations of either their own accord or as directed by CHS leadership to accommodate students with disabilities. The role of the Ofﬁce of Student Accessibility (OSA) is to provide support to faculty as it helps to maintain an environment that guarantees students with disabilities full access to all University educational programs, activities, and facilities. All services through the OSA are kept strictly conﬁdential.

As part of our distinctly Christian mission, we are dedicated to the dignity, independence and self-determination of all of our students, including their needs in the classroom. This includes the acquisition of course materials. By choosing materials that are available in hard copy and accessible PDF, you are creating an inclusive environment for our students with disabilities.

The complete University policy for accommodating students and applicants with disabilities is found on the Ofﬁce of Student Accessibility website.

10. Teaching

10.1. Teaching Assignment

The school dean or program is responsible for the assignment of courses to each faculty member. Whenever possible, faculty preference will be considered during the assignment process.

10.2. Course Scheduling

In each academic term or trimester, the school dean or program director will determine the days of the week, time of day, and the location of each course. Faculty may be consulted during the scheduling process, but priority will be granted to ensuring timely progress toward degree completion when developing the course schedule.

10.3. Compensation for Independent Studies

Faculty will be paid at the prevailing CHS rate per unit for students engaged in an independent study under their direction. The independent study must be approved in advance by their school dean or program director.

10.4. Course Cancellation and Proration Policy

Any CHS class may be canceled prior to the beginning of an academic term or trimester when enrollment falls below a designated minimum as determined by the school dean or program director. The decision to cancel a class is solely at the discretion of the school dean or program director.

CHS administration also reserves the ability to prorate compensation for a class with low enrollment. For instance, in a three-unit class where 18 students is the designated minimum enrollment and the course has only 12 students enrolled, in lieu of canceling the class the school dean or program director may offer the instructor the option of accepting two units for the course. All classes with fewer than three students will be considered in independent study.

If a class does not meet its enrollment minimum, the faculty member has the option of declining the prorated teaching opportunity or the independent study assignment. In these cases, the faculty member may choose to meet their required teaching load through another course assignment. Once the academic term or trimester has begun and the first class meeting has occurred, the faculty teaching assignment and compensation agreement cannot be changed.