2.The Academic Calendar - roles changing over the year

As the weather changes over the year so does our work. Academia works in long cycles, but there are weeks, semesters, years, and graduations.

The calendar is a map of what we have to do where and when over an academic year.

When its published it contains generic information applicable to all faculties and programmes.

Good Time Keepers - always in before time, uses time well.

• Fulfils deadlines

• It is useful to have your own version of it as reference

• You may wish to customise it to suit your own planning during the semester and indeed the entire year.

• Prioritises effectively - Is prepared to put in the time and effort to get things done, but also manages to have a reasonable work life balance

Institution Me

Institution MeThe calendar is what ‘they’ want to happen

This is what I am expected to do to make it happen

What actually happened This was my

experience of making it happen

• Academic Calendar• To be prepared minimum eight(8) weeks before semester starts• To be distributed to students on the first week of semester • To indicate all dates pertaining to:

– Registration Date– Cut off date for Appeal– Cut off date for submission of supplementary work(s)– Cut off date for withdrawal, Add & Drop Modules– Lecture Series & Guest Lectures– Attendance Reminders– Performance Reminders– Non Contact Week– Students’ Evaluation of Staff & Modules– Final Examination & Review Week– Moderation Week– Public Holidays

 

LECTURER

• Prepare module outline and timetable for each semester that is given to each student at the start of the semester.

• Prepare project briefs that have clear objectives, assessment criteria, deadlines and schedules and expected outcomes. Ensure Principal Lecturers are aware of your projects.

• Report to Year Leaders any student who has been missing classes to the point that it will effect his/her assignment marks.

• To recommend changes to the curriculum to the Principal Lecturer at the end of each semester.

• If you find that there were deficiencies in the module, topics, the teaching materials, lecture presentations and so forth – please provide ideas of how to improve the material to the PL

• To recommend necessary resources at the end of each semester that are required for the next semester intake.

• Once you have hold of the module file you can recommend extra resources, technology and material if necessary.

YEAR LEADER

• Year Leaders compile a summary of student attendance and performance to the Program leaders on a weekly basis who will then report to the Registry and Students Services departments.

PRINCIPAL LECTURERS

• To ensure all unit module outlines are standard, accurate and compatible ensuring students progress from one level to another smoothly.

• To ensure appropriate learning objectives are met using appropriate projects.

• To ensure assessment and evaluation of work is clear and suitable to the learning objective.

• To actively manage, administer and file (in hard and/or soft copy) all module outlines, lesson plans, lecturer notes and handouts.

• To coordinate and plan before each semester the projects and assignments given to ensure there is no overlapping between streams and provide opportunities for integration among streams.

• To coordinate projects talking into consideration annual competitions (local and international), Faculty and University College objectives (e.g. forthcoming events and exhibitions).

• To plan at least two exhibitions per year for each stream highlighting the best possible work.

• To liaise with industry experts and ensure that curriculum is up-to-date and current with the relevant needs of the industry.

• To ensure modules have appropriate industry input via guest lectures, site visits etc.

• OK in groups check through the calendar – does everybody know what each milestone is?

• What, if any, were the problems encountered last semester in reaching them?

• What are the personal problems/events/situations that can prevent them being reached?

• What professional or institutional problems prevented them being reached?

• List all the things that happen, or could happen in the year – best case, worst case

• Think in terms first and foremost regarding home and family and community, the economy, your personal well-being.

• Then think about knowledge and other resources• Then think about your admin. duties• Then the teaching• How would each thing impact upon the calendar, what

can we do to patch things up?

Detail on it your personal deadlines:• When will you have designed assignments• When will you have designed exams• How much marking will you have, when will

you do it and when will you have it finished?• How about study/research – are there any

conferences in S.A. – can you do a paper?; what about local/regional industry research with your students; what about events. Seminars anything that will get you more in the know in your field.