Member Resources

Tips for New Faculty

Your department handbook provides extensive information for department faculty members. This document is not intended to replace the handbook, but to assist new faculty during the hectic first few days of classes.

Campus Maps: http://www.lcc.edu/maps/campus.htm

Class Management: Instructors are expected to maintain good order in their classes. They may set reasonable policies concerning student behavior. For example, many faculty members insist that cell phones be turned off during class. Harassment or abusive student behavior should not be tolerated. In extreme cases call Public Safety at 483-1800. There should be a working phone in your classroom. If using a campus phone dial only 1800.

Class start times: Classes at LCC run for fifty minutes and normally start ten minutes after the hour, ending on the hour. There are exceptions to this rule, but they are very rare.

Breaks: There are ten minutes between classes so that students may get to their next class. In the case of classes longer than fifty minutes, it is normal to allow students a ten-minute break each hour.

Attendance/Tardiness policy: This policy is up to the instructor. Commonly students are allowed one absence for each credit hour of the class before sanctions are applied. Faculty should drop non-attending students from the class prior to the sixth week of class.

Course Syllabus: Courses at LCC are designed by faculty and approved by the curriculum committee. The basic features of the course, such as learning outcomes and assessment policy are set in stone. LCC offers many sections of some courses and it is critical that students receive a consistent educational foundation before progressing on to more advanced courses. Generally, classes with multiple sections use the same midterm and final exams. The Course Syllabus should be considered a binding contract between LCC and its students. As long as the instructor adheres to the Course Syllabus, however, he/she has reasonable latitude on the day-to-day conduct of the class.

Syllabus supplements: In addition to using the standard Course Syllabus the instructor is expected to hand out supplementary materials to students. These syllabus supplements or section syllabi outline basic information for that specific section. This information should include attendance policy, details concerning grades and assignments. They should also list specific art supplies, contact information for the instructor, and his/her schedule. Instructors must turn in a copy of this handout to the department office where it is kept on file.

Student privacy:  Federal law requires that student records be kept absolutely private. Faculty may not post grades or discuss student grades or attendance with other students, or even the student’s parents without written consent from the student.

Records: It is essential that accurate and complete records of student work be kept. It is normal to record absences and tardiness as well as grades on all projects. Records should be kept as long as the instructor is associated with LCC. Students can, and do challenge grades.

Cheating and Academic Honesty: The standard LCC policy is vague and unclear. Instructors who wish to enforce a strict policy should state that policy in their syllabus supplements.

Email: All LCC faculty, staff and students have an LCC account. If you do not wish to monitor this account it is possible to shift your email to a preferred account.

Star Card/Faculty ID: All faculty and staff are issued a Star Card. This card acts as a faculty ID and also is used to check out books from the Library. It can be used in certain Xerox machines for faculty to make free copies for use in their classes. It is needed to open the gate in some LCC parking lots. Money can be added to the card at several machines on campus and deducted at paid parking lots. It can also be used at the Kennedy Cafeteria.

Starport: LCC provides access to a database of information through the LCC.edu web page. Starport is the entry point for this restricted area. It provides access to registration information, student records, and electronic course delivery (see online course support and Oracle below). New faculty should sign up for an LCC email account and a phantom voicemail account in Starport. Help desk: 483-5221.

Online course support: LCC offers virtual classes using the Angel interface. It is accessed through the LCC web page. Many instructors use this technology to supplement their face-to-face classes. Every course is automatically connected to the interface and free training is provided for faculty by LCC.

Oracle: Limited access to student records and registration data is found in the Oracle system. Final grades are entered at the end of the semester in Oracle, which is accessed through the LCC web page.

Textbooks: New faculty members are normally provided with a textbook for the classes he/she is teaching. Faculty can request inspection copies of relevant publications from book publishers. Inspection copies are usually free.

Faculty Union: All faculty members are required to recognize the union. It serves part time and full time faculty members alike, and all faculty are encouraged to participate in union meetings and activities. Our faculty union, LCC-MAHE represents faculty in contract negotiations and disciplinary matters. It also has negotiated limited insurance benefits for part time faculty who have been with the college over 3 years.

Timecards: LCC timecards are filled out digitally in Starport on the lcc.edu web page. Full time Faculty members do not have to fill out a time card unless they miss a class. If a substitute instructor is needed both parties must fill out a timecard.

Payday: Every other Friday is payday at LCC. All employees are strongly encouraged to sign up for direct deposit. Until this is arranged for, checks can be picked up at the cashiers office in the Gannon building.

Parking: The parking situation at LCC is difficult. It is wise to arrive an hour early to find a parking space unless you have an 8:10 class. The best time to arrive is on the hour, since classes are ending and some other faculty are leaving. Noon is an especially good time to find a spot. You must have a parking decal to use any LCC parking lot.  Decals are available in the Gannon Building, Parking Services.

Security: LCC is an urban campus and it is impossible to control access to the campus. Security is complicated by the many evening classes and weekend workshops we offer. Although our campus is considered generally safe, use good judgment. Call Public Safety (LCC security officers) at 483-1800 at the first sign of trouble.

Snow days: LCC does not generally suspend classes, however on such an occasion, you are encouraged to keep your eyes on local news station announcements.  If weather delays or cancellations do occur, the LCC website or Starport homepage may also make those announcements.