1.      In courses where more than one teacher is involved should adopt the co-operative mode of teaching. Quite before the first class, all the teachers involved should meet and decide on the course policy about grading schemes, requirement and modes for homework, about projects and about course page management.  The course-page management is generally the responsibility of the Instructor, but the tutors must also contribute to it.

2.      Prepare a handout for students clearly listing the Course contents; one textbook that the student must have (from which the problems can be assigned by problem numbers): reference books; Your Office address and your Office Hours (when the students can meet you for their difficulties, and when you make sure you are in the Office).

    This handout must also specify your expectations from the students.

    For students in the old programme, it must tell them what they need to do to earn sessional marks. One or more projects are recommended.  The handout must list the due dates for projects and the marks the project will carry towards the sessional marks. This must also tell the students specifically that there will be no choice in the examinations and tests, and they must attempts all questions that will be spread over the entire syllabus.  Also inform them of the new attendance rules: 80% attendance required.

    For students in the new programme it must include the grading scheme: the grading scheme should include percentage weights for the three exams, the first mid-semester exam, the second mid-semester exam, the final examination; weightage for quizzes, weightage for homework if any, and the weightage for within course projects. Course projects are essential. The due dates of the projects must also be specified.  This must also specify how many quizzes will be held, and if they would be pre-announced or surprise.  It is suggested that some quizzes should be pre-announced and some surprise.

    The Institutes allows considerable freedom to the course instructor in deciding the weightages.  Typical suggested weights are:

·         Quizzes/Home assignment: 10-15

·         I mid: 15

·         II mid: 20

·         End term: 35-40

·         Projects: 10-20

 

3.      Unlike in the past, the student register for the individual courses.  This implies that the student lists will not be available on the first day of the class, but may take up to two weeks or more.  Please bear with this and ask circulate a sheet of paper for students to sign on till you get a list.

1.      Follow the announced policies strictly.

2.      The creation and maintenance of course pages in essential for the courses in the new programme, but recommended for the courses of the old programme. Keep the course page updated.  Use this to the best of your judgement.

1.      The Instructor and her/his team are totally responsible for the conduct of examination including setting of papers, getting them duplicated, starting examination on time, invigilation and grading. The academic office is responsible only for announcing the time and place of mid-term and end-term examinations, and giving the forms for returning the final results. 

2.      The instructors and tutors must do the duties as invigilators in their courses for all quizzes, tests and exams. The duties for additional invigilators required in each course (for mid-term and end-term examinations only) will be assigned by the Head of the Department concerned. 

3.      The Instructors are responsible for ensuring that there is no copying in the examinations and quizzes. Some guidelines are suggested for the purpose:

•     Use at least two shuffled sets in quizzes.

•     Use random assigned seating to students.

•     While using shuffled sets make sure the students do not exchange papers.  Make them write their names right at the beginning of the test and go around to check that shuffling has not been disturbed.

1.      All test scripts (except final examinations) to be returned to students.  Any discrepancies/errors pointed out by the students must be attended to/disposed of.

2.      Scrupulous records should be kept securely. Keep duplicates.

3.      Final examinations scripts should be shown to students. For this purpose announce at the time of examination when and where (usually a class room unless the class size is small) the students can come and examine their answer books (Usually half an hour slot is enough for the purpose).  Make a record of marks awarded before you hand out the answer books to the students. Hand out the answer books, give them about five minutes to go through the answer books and write their requests on the cover page of the answer books. And return to you. Do not enter into any arguments or discussion.  Do not announce grade cut-offs. Collect the answer books and re-mark them in light of the student requests.  Against each request write clearly what action you have taken, or that the request is not tenable. Re-enter the marks in your records.

4.      Preserve final exam scripts for one semester.

5.      It is pertinent to point out the decision of the Board taken in its Fourth meeting: “…the final examination will be shown to the students after marking. The student may point out errors, if any, in the marking in writing. If the student still has a grievance against the grading, he/she will have the right to appeal to the HOD. The HOD will report to the Director on the matter who will approve the recommendations of the HOD in the matter. The Director may also look into the case directly. It was also decided that if, at this appellate stage, a substantive difference in the evaluation is observed and the teacher is found to be guilty of causing the same because of bias or negligence, he/ she would be liable for a strict disciplinary action leading to major penalty.”

6.      In the new programme, a grade E is also available to the students only in the first two semesters of their programme. This E grade entitles them to reappear once, and will be awarded to students who are within 5% of the cut-off for the last pass grade D.

7.      A grade I for incomplete is also available for the students in the new programme:

      For reasons acceptable to the Instructor, an I (for Incomplete) grade may be assigned if a student fails to complete any of the required course work by the end of the semester. In all such cases, an Incomplete Contract, which is a formal agreement between the student and the instructor, is to be filed along with the grade report. An Incomplete Contract includes:

·        The course work that remains to be completed.

·        The date by which the specified work must be completed (no later than one month of the close of relevant semester).

·        The final grade to be substituted for the I grade, if the specified work is not completed by the specified date.

The Incomplete Contract will be filled by the Instructor with the Academic Section when the Grade Sheet is submitted.

If the student completes the required work by the specified time, the instructor completes a grade change form indicating the final grade earned. The student should check with the instructor to ensure that a grade change form has been submitted.

If the student does not complete the required work by the specified time, the I grade is automatically replaced with the final grade specified by the Instructor on the Incomplete Contract. If a final grade is not specified, or if an Incomplete Contract is not filed, the I grade automatically reverts to an F grade after one month.

8.      The grading for small classes may be done on absolute standards, but for large classes, it may be done on the curve.  In such cases, the typical grade distribution may be something like this:

10-20% A’s

20-30% B’s

15-25% C’s

20-30% D’s 

This is not rigid, but a faculty member has to ensure that the grading is neither too lenient nor too difficult. In case the Head of the Department thinks that the grading is out of line, she/he may hold a discussion with the Instructor.  In case it is not resolved, it may be brought to the attention of the Chairman Senate.

9.      The final marks list has to be submitted to the academic office (through the Head of the Department) within 96 hours of the date of final examination, or within 96 hours of the last day of classes for that term, in case no final examination is prescribed for the course.

1.      Each course shall have a permanent file (in Electronic form). This file shall be started by the first instructor of the course and within the file there shall be a separate folder for each time the course is taught. The folder will contain the following:

a.       Lecture-wise break-up of contents as envisaged and as delivered• Copies of all assignments/ quizzes/ examinations, minor and major

b.      Consolidated student performance report

c.       Consolidated reaction survey report

d.      Comments on innovations

 

2.      It is the responsibility of the Instructor to complete the file folder for the current year, and burn the complete file (including previous years’ folders) on two CD and give one to the next instructor, and retain the other for future reference in case the CD is damaged.