Faculty Handbook
Faculty Handbook
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This handbook contains information and forms that faculty commonly use for designing and managing their classes and conducting San José State University School of Information administrative business. It is comprised of 7 sections: Administration, Course Management, Student Advising, Instructional Tools, King Library, SJSU, and Forms. Within each section are links to useful resources pertaining to personnel, teaching, students, and instructional software. The sections also contain information about iSchool and SJSU policies and procedures as well as the names of people to contact with questions or concerns. The goal of the handbook is to provide faculty members with quick access to standard forms and procedures. For semester-specific information, consult the faculty site on Canvas. An index of terms will direct you to the information included in the Handbook.
School Philosophy
Practice + Theory = Praxis
All reflective professions require theory. Professionals require theory to build and lead institutions. Theory also differentiates professional education from paraprofessional or vocational training. The iSchool faculty are committed to cultivating a culture of reflective practice. Thus theory, and its necessary relationship to practice, help practitioners determine what is enduring or fleeting, and highlights the difference between glad tidings and testimonials versus verifiable best practice. Praxis represents the intersection of theory, education, and practice. The pedagogical goal of praxis is to understand and explicitly teach the relationship between professional activity and theory so that curricula do not function as mere sequences of isolated elements, procedures, methods, or techniques. Praxis provides an opportunity to apply conceptual frameworks. Our courses should seek and exhibit a dynamic balance between theory and practice.
School Overview
About iSchool
History
Mission and Goals
Strategic Plan
Accreditation and School
Ranking
MLIS Program Assessments
School Contact Information
Faculty
Staff
Technology Support
School Calendars
Visiting San Jose State University Campus
iSchool Office Location
The iSchool office is in Suite 417 of Clark Hall on the San José State University Campus. Clark Hall is near 7th Street (El Paseo De Cesar E. Chavez) south of San Fernando Street. Please see the following:
Handling Student Problems
Students with learning difficulties of many types present a challenge for the instructor whether online or face-to-face. Here are a few tips to consider.
Role of the Coordinator of Admissions
Role of the Coordinator of Admissions and Academic Advising
The Coordinator of Admissions and Academic Advising is appointed by the director.
In consultation with the director or associate director the Coordinator of Admissions and Academic Advising:
Incompletes
Students who cannot fulfill all the coursework due to a medical or family emergency at the end of the coursework can be assigned an Incomplete. The instructor must be willing to work with the student through completion, for as long as a year after the incomplete is assigned, which is the maximum time allowed by the University. It is the student’s responsibility to read the guidelines available at: Incompletes
The instructor will assign the student an “I” on the final grade roster.
Grading Policies
Table of Contents
Grading Scale
Submitting Final Grades to the University
Student on the Grade Roster Who Never Attended Class
Changing Grades
Saving Grades
Thoughts on Grading
Grading Scale
In accordance with the SJSU Graduate School guidelines, the following grading scale will be used:
Class Rosters
Instructors may access their official class roster at any time by logging into MySJSU (my.sjsu.edu) using their SJSUOne account.
Ordering Textbooks
Buying Books Online: iSchool eBookstore
Most students find it convenient to purchase books online. We have set up per-course book pages to help them find books: https://ischoolapps.sjsu.edu/gss/textbooks/
Travel Fund Criteria for Part-time Faculty
Part-time faculty members willing to represent iSchool at professional conferences, meetings, and events
In exchange for representing iSchool and/or meeting with iSchool students and alumni at professional events, the school’s Director will consider a proposal to reimburse expenses, including mileage (up to 250 miles RT), one hotel night if attending an evening event (up to $275), and conference registration if conducting a trend-spotting meeting.
Travel Fund Criteria for Full-time Faculty and Staff
The iSchool provides travel funds to enable faculty to attend relevant conferences and institutes for purposes of research dissemination, professional development, and community service. Staff proposals for training will be supported to the degree possible. All proposals are subject to approval by the Director
Budget
Each full time faculty member is given an annual travel allowance depending on their status: tenured, tenure track, full time lecturer. Staff will be adjudicated separately against position requirements
International Travel Requirements
If you wish to be reimbursed for iSchool-related international travel, a Travel Authorization Request must have been obtained prior to the travel taking place. If a Travel Authorization Request was not obtained, a reimbursement will not be processed. The FTS Travel Authorization Request for international travel must be submitted 60 days prior to the travel date to non High Hazard areas, and 80 days prior to the travel date to High Hazard areas.
Plagiarism
For the official statement of policy on this matter as passed by the Academic Senate, see:
Domestic Travel Requirements
If you wish to be reimbursed for iSchool related domestic travel, a Travel Authorization Request must have been obtained prior to the travel taking place. If a Travel Authorization Request was not obtained, a reimbursement claim will not be processed. The FTS Travel Authorization Request for domestic travel must be approved 30 days prior to the travel date.
Travel Rules and Regulations
The following information is a summarization of CSU and SJSU travel regulations and policies. Also, read carefully below for iSchool-specific policies and procedures.
Official SJSU Travel Agency
Fell Travel is the official travel agency for SJSU.
Recruitment Related Travel
When traveling to represent the school at an exhibition for recruitment purposes, CSU, and School of Information policies and procedures are enforced, along with those outlined in the Exhibition Travel Manual.
Travel Process
As soon as you know you are going to travel, submit the online Request for Financial Assistance for Travel Form for full-time faculty and staff or the Request for Financial Assistance for Travel Form for part-time faculty.
Changing an Email Address
If you want to change your e-mail address globally, you must do so in various places. E-mail addresses can be separate and different in each of the following listed places. Use the appropriate procedure to change the e-mail address for each type of resource.
Creating and Updating Faculty Web Pages
(See People – Faculty for a full listing of current faculty web pages.)
All full-time and part-time faculty must set up and maintain a faculty web page. Faculty web pages are managed using the Facultypages web application (link below). The Facultypages application includes a series of forms that let you customize the information displayed on your faculty web page.
iSchool Peer Review Guidelines
All tenure-track, temporary full-time, and part-time faculty members must have peer evaluation of their courses. The frequency of these reviews depends on the nature of the instructor’s appointment and status.
GSS Syllabi CMS FAQ
This FAQ will change over time and is based on actual questions. If you have not done so, also review either GSS Syllabi CMS Tutorials. For textbook selections, see iSchool Textbook Selection and eBookstore.
REMINDER: You now have to pass 2-factor authentication to login to GSS.