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Beginning of the Year Announcements and Reminders

(For a PDF of this letter, please click here.)

Date: August 6, 2008

To: University Faculty, Senior Lecturers, Lecturers, and Instructors

From: William E. Fry, Dean of Faculty

Subject: Beginning of the Academic Year Announcements and Reminders

The 2008-2009 academic year starts soon.   I encourage you to take note of the various reminders pertinent to semester activities.  This information also is available on the University Faculty website: http://theuniversityfaculty.cornell.edu.

1. Academic Calendar:  The five-year academic calendar for the years 2008-2009 through 2012-2013 is ( ) attached.
2. Academic Integrity: Attached is a resolution passed in March 2002 by the University Faculty Senate recommending that each course syllabus include a reference to the Cornell University Code of Academic Integrity.
3. Evening Prelims:  Evening prelims may be given only on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m. (Please see attached “Evening Examinations and Evening Academic Activities.”)  Evening courses occur only on Monday and Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
4. Final Examinations and Other End-of Semester Exercises:  Final exams can be given only during the final exam period and never during the last week of classes or study period. Faculty legislation regarding final examinations and other end-of-semester exercises was revised in May 2008 (attached).  The final exam schedule is available at: http://www.cornell.edu/academics/courses.cfm.
5. Free Time between 4:25 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.: You must obtain an explicit exemption from your college Dean to schedule any activities, including review sessions, within the time reserved for undergraduate students’ non-academic activities.  (Please see attached regarding “Evening Examinations and Evening Academic Activities.”)
6. Classes before Holidays/Recesses:  Faculty legislation requires that classes be held just before and after academic recesses like Thanksgiving, Fall and Spring Break.
   
7. Religious Holidays Respected: We are supportive of our students who wish to practice their religious beliefs.  Additionally, there are some specific legally mandated considerations that may affect your course.  See the attached statement and listing of Religious Holidays for the 2008-2009 academic year.
8. Confidentiality of Student Records:  I also remind you that student records must be treated confidentially, including class lists, e-mail lists, student grades and the student photos provided with your course list.  When making mass mailings to your class, please place the NetIDs in the ‘bcc’ field of your e-mail program to avoid disclosing the list.  You may not post or otherwise release this information to anyone external to the University.  Internal sharing is limited to official purposes. (http://www.policy.cornell.edu/vol4_5.cfm)
9. Other Announcements:  Refer to our website throughout the year for events of interest to the faculty, including the deliberations of the Faculty Senate and some useful links to course-related issues.
10. Some Useful Links for those who are teaching and advising this year:

Faculty and Departmental Services/University Registrar’s Office – http://registrar.sas.cornell.edu/Faculty
Courses, Classes and Exams – http://www.cornell.edu/academics/courses.cfm
Center for Learning and Teaching – http://www.clt.cornell.edu
Cornell Career Services – http://www.career.cornell.edu
Office of the University Registrar – http://registrar.sas.cornell.edu/
Student Services (overall) – http://www.sws.cornell.edu/
Median Grade Reports – http://www.registrar.sas.cornell.edu/Student/mediangradesA.html