Syllabus

At the beginning of each semester, please send your syllabi via email to Becky DiMattia (rdaroff@bu.edu) for the Undergraduate Academic & Career Development Center file, or Grace Uygun (guygun@bu.edu) for the Graduate Academic & Career Development Center file.  Please include your office phone number and office hours on your syllabus, and the course pre-requisites, where applicable.

If you are teaching a pre-existing course, you can be added to a previous semester’s Questrom Tools site, which will give you access to a recent syllabus, for modifying with respect to dates, times, office hours, etc.

A well-constructed course syllabus describes the course overall, the learning objectives for students, what materials are required, when key deliverables are due, when exams will be given, the grading structure, and a discussion of academic conduct expectations. Students also appreciate a syllabus that articulates the linkages between the course and the required courses in the curriculum and how and why teamwork is used in the course. Class-by-class assignments for the term should also be included in the syllabus.

You may download the syllabus template here for use in your own class, and see an example of a recent application of this template for the graduate-level OM726 course.

Course Packets

The Susilo Business Center on the first floor of the Hariri Building is equipped to produce course packets for faculty, and will seek necessary permissions to reproduce articles, chapters, etc. Faculty should be aware that the permissions process can take up to a few weeks with the publishers, so it is advisable to consult with the Susilo staff as soon as possible. They can be reached at susilobusinesscenter@bu.edu, 617-353-4685.

Faculty Link:

The Faculty Link provides faculty with a gateway to a number of University and Instructor-specific tools. View and search schedules, course descriptions, reports, as well as instructor-specific course lists, course websites, class and exam schedules, and grading information.

Shared Drives:

Every Questrom affiliate has access to several shared network drive. Information regarding mapping these drives to your own computer can be found at http://questromworld.bu.edu/tech/essentials/network-drives/.

Instruction Design Consulting:

Questrom ITS’ instructional design services focus on promoting active learning in the classroom, both through traditional means and through the use of educational technology. We can help with flipping your class, creating instructional videos or other materials, developing course assignments and activities that promote active learning, enhancing your use of Questrom Tools, as well as incorporating various technologies into your pedagogy and curriculum. Please check out our blog here:http://questromworld.bu.edu/tech/blog/ or email us at Questromhelp@bu.edu.

Echo 360 Lecture Capture:

Echo lecture capture allows faculty to record their classroom lecture. It is available in all Questrom classrooms. Both audio and video are recorded. The audio comes from microphones inside the classroom. The video consists of a camera directed at the front of the classroom and the output screen from the podium (or laptop) computer. After a lecture is captured, the professor will receive a link to the recorded material. The professor can then forward the link to the students or post it to Questrom Tools. By default classes are not recorded. To record a class, please see this page: http://questromworld.bu.edu/tech/classrooms/echo-lecture-capture/.

Poll Everywhere:

Questrom School of Business offers a Poll Everywhere license to any faculty with interest. Poll Everywhere is a web-based system which allows audience response in classes and at events. Participants do not need to register, and vote using their own mobile devices through standard texting, browser, or app. To request a license, please email questromhelp@bu.edu from your BU email account, and ITS will send you an invitation link directly from Poll Everywhere.

Annotating on the Podium Computer:

Our classrooms are each equipped with a Lenovo (Windows 10) PC, and a Sharp touch-screen LCD. The LCD allows for annotations in Microsoft Office and elsewhere in the Windows environment. See our training video at http://questromworld.bu.edu/tech/2017/06/07/annotating-on-the-new-podiums/ for more details.

Video Conferencing:

Questrom offers a variety of options for allowing remote participation to the classroom. This can be used to invite a guest speaker remotely, or for students who are unable to attend class due to travel or illness. It is set up only at the request of the professor, and requires as much notice as possible to ensure a satisfactory experience on both ends. Please see http://questromworld.bu.edu/tech/services/video-conferencing/ for more details and fill out a request form.

Scantron Training:

The Scantron machine is located on the sixth floor next to the copier room/kitchenette across from room 627. The Scantron quickly grades multiple choice tests taken on standardized bubble sheets and imports the data into ParScore software. ParScore can be installed on your office computer as well. Once in ParScore, test scores can be exported and added to Questrom Tools. For more on using the Scantron and ParScore software, please see Questrom Help [coming soon] or email ITS at Questromhelp@bu.edu.

Pardee Management Library Resources:

Pardee Library offers assistance to faculty in locating and using library databases and eJournals, and creating links to electronic resources for Questrom Tools course sites. Other library services and resources are described in this document, “Frederick S. Pardee Management Library Information for Faculty and Staff.”

Classroom Seating Charts:

The Academic Support Department provides a seating chart service for faculty who prefer a visual aid in the classroom. Our seating charts are tailored to each Hariri classroom and display ID photos over each student’s name or nickname. Seating charts can be useful for faculty as they get to know their students at the beginning of each semester. (Please note these seating charts are for Hariri rooms only.) See this guide for more details, or email Academic Support at qstacademicsupport@bu.edu.

How/When To Submit Grades:

Final Grades are submitted on the Faculty Link using the ‘Grading’ feature listed under Instructor’s Tools. Grades are generally due 72 hours after the final exam, or after the last class if there is no final exam.

UDC And Grad Center Grading Distributions:

Each program has grade distribution guidelines for core classes and electives. For undergraduate required courses, 25-35% of grades should be in the A/A- range, with 50-65% of students receiving B grades. C+ and below will be earned by 5-20% of the population. The target GPA for undergraduate electives is 3.25.

At the graduate level, required courses should have no more than 40% earning an A/A-, with electives showing no more than 50% with A level grades.

It is important, at all levels, that you grade promptly (within one week), and provide substantial feedback to substantiate the letter (or number) grade. Students will come to you for guidance and may want additional information regarding the grade you chose. Be consistent. You might consider using a grading template for papers and projects. For more information, consult the UDC and Grad Center, which have published guidelines regarding grading, retaking courses, etc.

Academic Integrity Working Group:

Questrom’s Academic Integrity Working Group is a standing committee that provides resources to faculty regarding exam protocol and best practices for the handling of cheating and plagiarism. The group recently published materials for faculty to modify as needed for individual exams.

For any instance of suspected student dishonesty, immediately contact your program offices (contact information at the bottom of any page on this site), who will be able to assist and advise.

Attendance and Class Participation:

In many classes, attendance and class participation make up a sizable portion of the final grade, and it not possible to remember students’ involvement accurately if you wait till the end of the semester. Each professor has their own methods of tracking these two important functions. Faculty Link can be of assistance by providing a list of current students, with complementary photos. Your Senior Program Coordinator can show you how to make a photo-based seating chart to help you learn names, take attendance or mark for participation purposes. Check with your colleagues for best practices.

The Undergraduate Academic & Career Development Center and Graduate Academic & Career Development Center staff have published curricula for the various programs at Questrom School of Business.

Each student in the Questrom School of Business is required to read and abide by the Academic Conduct Code, which defines what constitutes academic misconduct and the process that is followed when misconduct occurs. Please review this document yourself.

It is very important to be clear, in your syllabus and in your class, about your expectations for student performance. It is also very important that you not create an environment in which cheating is easy. Questrom has an Academic Conduct Code Committee (comprising faculty, a staff representative, and a student representative) to review cases where academic misconduct has occurred. Many times, however, the faculty member could have avoided the situation if only they had been more explicit and thoughtful about course expectations.

The Educational Resource Center (ERC) provides academic support to students who want to practice language skills with a native speaker, restructure an essay, or improve study habits. They offer one-on-one and group academic skills sessions with peers and professionals, as well as offer a variety of workshops to faculty, student organizations, and various campus offices.