This File 185.00   Date 8/18/03

ORIGINATOR: Provost and Chief Academic Officer

SUBJECT: Class Visitation

I. Introduction

Visits to UMUC online and face-to-face classes are important for supporting and working with faculty to ensure the best possible learning environment for UMUC students. Visitors will conduct themselves in a collegial manner.

II. Definitions

1. Authorized Visitors

   Deans, associate deans, assistant deans, chairs, academic directors, librarians, faculty developers, graduate distance education (DE) coordinators and other academic administrators in comparable positions are Authorized Visitors who may visit classes. In addition, the Vice President, UMUC-Asia; the Vice President, UMUC-Europe; the Vice President and General Counsel; and area directors are Authorized Visitors. The Provost may designate additional Authorized Visitors.

2. Regular Visits

   Regular Visits to classes are to support and develop faculty, to assess class readiness, and/or to evaluate faculty performance.

III. Reasons for Visiting Classes

Authorized Visitors may visit classes as appropriate for administrative and academic reasons. The reasons for visiting classes include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Mentor and evaluate faculty who are teaching their first UMUC course.

2. Assist and evaluate experienced UMUC faculty.

3. Evaluate faculty who have requested review for promotion.

4. Review syllabi

5. Review class setup to ensure all components are available and all links are working.

6. Review classes to ensure UMUC’s standards for faculty and student participation are being met.

7. Assess faculty training or mentoring.

8. Update materials to support online classes.

9. Conduct institutional research projects related to pedagogy, best practices, and student learning.

10. Investigate student complaints.

11. Address emergency situations not covered under items A through J above.

IV. Procedures

The following procedures apply to visiting classes:

1. When appropriate, Authorized Visitors to classes will attempt to inform faculty that they are visiting.

2. Every attempt will be made to notify faculty of the schedule for Regular Visits to classes. When all classes are to be visited, a general schedule will be provided along with the position titles of the Authorized Visitors making the visit.

3. The reasons for Regular Visits will be shared with faculty members.

4. When the purpose of the Regular Visit is assessment of class readiness and/or faculty performance, the criteria and observations will be made available to faculty members in a timely manner.

5. DE coordinators will share their observations with appropriate academic administrators. Summary reports of the results of Regular Visits will be provided to appropriate academic administrators in a timely manner.

6. Supervisors will discuss with each visited faculty member observations made during Regular Visits to classes and provide a report to each visited faculty member.