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If you are going to be absent from a class, please contact Betty Emerson 364-4848 by 4:30 p.m.

Instructors may not grade students based upon attendance, including absences or tardies, nor can they drop a student for not attending class. Instructors may, however, recommend to a student that she or he is receiving an “F” in the class and should consider withdrawing. There is an official college participation policy that students maintain an 85% participation level, but what this means is somewhat vague.

The college does not provide faculty with formal attendance rosters. Instructors make their own, most often using Excel or Making the grade or you print the roster using Datatel.

The bookstore is located in the Student Center,

Colleague/Datatel is the TSTC computer database; used for registration and checking student status, including schedules, test scores, and transcripts. Adjunct faculty members do not access to Colleague, but Cari Kenner or Lydia Ramos will provide requested information.

1. Department Chairperson

2. Assistant Chairperson

3. Spanish Department Assistant Chairperson

4. Department Secretary

5. Teaching Lab Assistant:

Faculty is encouraged to make their copies through TSTC’s copy shop. To do so, give Lydia Ramos a hard copy of what you want to copy three days in advance. Building W also has a copier in the workroom, but faculty members are restricted to no more than 20 copies in a set.

                                      Your copier code is: ___________

                               Your copier password is: ___________

Course Information Sheets

The CIS contain standardized information which must appear. However, you may add additional policies, procedures, etc. Also, if you have a combined course, please be sure that each student gets the correct CIS: for example, in a combined READ 100 AND 200 class, distributed the READ 100 CIS to the 100 students and the READ 200 CIS to the 200 students.

Developmental Studies

This department includes developmental reading and writing only: developmental math is included in the math department.

During the first class week, developmental course drops and ads are usually done through Connie Moncus in W-132. All students need to go to the Admissions office and are required to collect their own signatures.

Evaluation, Statistical

As part of the SACS requirements, the developmental studies department requires that instructors give a pre- and post-test exam in the 100 and 200 level courses. The objective pre-test is identical to the final exam, so please do not go over the objective pre-tests with the students. Reading 100 and Writing 100 students take Form One of the exam, and Reading 200 and Writing 200 students take Form Two of the exam. If you have a combined class, be sure that each student gets the correct exam based upon the course in which she or he is registered. At the end of the semester, in addition to submitting their grades, instructors provide a spreadsheet listing pre- and post-scores along with other statistical information.

       The reading pre-and post-test is a simulated THEA test. Connie Moncus provides the test and answer key. Once instructors have graded the pre-tests, the data should be recorded by the instructors and Scantrons given to Lydia Ramos. The final exam for reading is the same s the pre-test; after scoring the exam, the Scantrons and data sheet should be submitted to Lydia Ramos.

     The writing pre- and post-test consists of an objective and essay exam. The objective portion of the exam is a simulated THEA test; the exams and the answer key may be picked up from Connie Moncus. In addition, writing students are required to write to write a pre- and post- persuasive essay without any assistance from the instructor; Cari Kenner provides the essay prompts. For the pre-test essay, instructors score their own students’ work, using a pre-determined rubric. Photocopies of the essays are given to Lydia Ramos, but the original essays may be scored and returned to the students. At the end of the semester, students take a final exam that also consists of the objective post-test and a persuasive essay based upon a different prompt provided by Cari Kenner. These post-test essays are graded not by the students’ instructor, but by two other department members. Cari Kenner organizes this effort. Scored scantrons and the original essays should be given to Lydia Ramos.

Both at midterm and at the end of the semester, faculty members input grades into Web Advisor. Grades may be kept on either Excel or Making the Grade, and grade rosters (along with attendance data and pre- and post- testing data) are submitted to Lydia at the end of the semester.

You will receive a key to Building W, the classroom door (which also opens lab 124). Keys will be ordered for you and you will be able to pick them up at the Campus Police Office, Building A.

A variety of options are available for lab assignments. Word processing, grammar programs, and Internet reading sites are commonly used. The instructor provides the assignment to be completed in lab 124. Please contact Alma Garcia or Patty Hinojosa in advance to reserve the lab. 

No formal lesson plans are required or submitted, but it is advisable to keep your own informal plans.

The library in now called the Learning Resource Center (LRC).

The instructor may decide upon her or his own make-up work policy. This statement is generally added to the Course Information Sheet. As a department, we are generally very firm about not accepting make-up work; rather, we give students much time to complete longer assignments (for example, giving students a week to complete an essay rather than two or three days). We also encourage students to buy and use assignments planners.

Instructors are required to report those students who are enrolled in the class but did not attend the first day.

Faculty parking permits are required and cost $30 for the year. They can be paid for and picked up in the Admissions building in Building SS.

Lydia Ramos distributes the ALP’s (Attendance Leave Payroll), a form listing hours worked. Employees sign this form at the end of the month and return to her.

Among other things, campus police are available to open buildings and classrooms. The non-emergency number is

THEA (Texas Higher Education Assessment) is the new name for the test formally known as the TASP. Connie Moncus has many practice reading and writing tests to duplicate and use with the classes. If students in Reading classes pass the THEA, they get an “A” for the class and do not need to return. If students’ in the Writing classes pass the THEA, they do not have to take the final exam and get and “A” for the final, but still need to attend class.

The Internet-based program used to enter Midterm and Final grades. Adjunct faculty will be provided with Web Advisor log-in names and training.

In the workroom of Building W, you will find the copier, a fax machine, the Scranton grader, a paper shredder, the mailboxes and a paper cutter. This room is usually locked, but any key to the building will open it.