Contributors:Misty Hamideh

Instructors have a lot to think about before, during, and after each term. Be sure to accomplish these essential tasks.

Don’t wait until the last minute to get your course prepared for the new term. Before opening your course to students, reflect on the last time you taught. Think about ways to enhance your course for the upcoming term. This guide points to articles about new teaching strategies, as well as steps you to make sure your course is published and open to students on the first day of the term.

Refresh Your Course for a New Term

Check the PSU Academic Calendar for these specific dates:

  • Schedule of Classes available online
  • Priority Registration begins

Early and regular communication with your students is important and this guide offers key contact points and ways to help your students get the support they need before the term even begins. If you’re new faculty, make sure to use your Gmail account at mail.pdx.edu. This is also where you can access the Google Suite of Education applications. If you need help preparing your course, please contact the Office of Academic Innovation as early as possible to schedule a consultation.

Start Your Term Right: Essential Student Communications

Department of Education also requires instructors to track and document attendance for each course in which they are registered. To satisfy the initiation of attendance requirement, students must attend or participate in academically related activities for each class in which they are registered within the first two weeks of the term.

Faculty Guide to Initiation of Attendance

Check the PSU Academic Calendar for these specific dates:

  • Last day to drop with 100% refund
  • Last day to add with instructor approval
  • Last day to drop without a “W” withdraw on academic record

Being present in your course is key to keeping students engaged, leading to overall student success. This guide outlines a few things you can do to stay connected to your students and help them feel like part of your learning community.

Tutorial

Staying Present in Your Online Course

Check the PSU Academic Calendar for these specific dates:

  • Last day to change grading option
  • Last day to withdraw from a course

As the term ends, here are a few things to do before you relax and celebrate your course success! This guide highlights steps to share grades with both your students and the registrar, and helps you prepare for the next time you teach the course.

Tutorial

Wrapping Up: End of Term Procedures

Check the PSU Academic Calendar for these specific dates:

  • Deadline for submitting final grades
  • Official grades available online