Faculty Teach Kit

	PART I - SEMESTER ROADMAP
	Use this guide as your roadmap for delivering high-quality instruction every semester. It outlines key responsibilities, recommended practices, and essential processes to help you prepare, teach, and support students effectively from the first day of class through the end of the term.

WEEK BEFORE START
	Task	Component
	Meet with Your Chair Learn expectations, updates, and course delivery guidance.	Administration
	Familiarize Yourself with Policy Review policies and procedures for compliance purposes.	Administration
	Review Student Behavioral Plan Understand department procedures for conduct concerns.	Administration
	Familiarize Yourself with the Curriculum Consider taking the course to determine delivery, pacing, and assessment strategy.	Administration
	Request Your Course Template Use the approved course template from your chair for base content.	Course Set-Up
	Build Your Instructional Plan Prepare how you will deliver the course.	Administration
	Edit Course Dates Verify due dates, availability dates, and adaptive release settings.	Course Set-Up
	Check Gradebook Settings Set overall grade, categories, weights, and calculations.	Course Set-Up
	Set-Up Honorlock on Exams Ensure that you have Honorlock enabled at least on the OCCMA.	Course Set-Up
	Enable Safe Assign Turn on the tool for writing assignments to help reduce plagiarism.	Course Set-Up
	Review Ally Report Generate an accessibility report with 90% or better.	Course Set-Up
	Plan Synchronous Sessions (Web) Open Class for Zoom and schedule two sessions.	Course Set-Up
	Complete QC2 Checklist Review course quality standards and submit the required QC2 checklist.	Course Set-Up

FIRST WEEK
	Task	Component
	Verify Student Roster Make sure that the course has the minimum number of students to start.	Course Set-Up
	Open Your Course in Blackboard Make the course available to students.	Course Set-Up
	Make Your Syllabus Visible Ensure that your students have access to the published syllabus.	Course Set-Up
	Make & Publish Welcome Video Include all required components of a welcome video.	Engagement
	Post Welcome Announcement Welcome students and explain how to get started.	Engagement
	Send Welcome Email Introduce yourself and the course, share textbook details, and encourage students to log in.	Engagement
	Learn Student Names Begin building rapport and connections with students.	Engagement
	Share Classroom Agreements Establish expectations for communication and participation.	Engagement
	Share Permissions for Material Use Showcase all permissions for use to students.	Administration
	Administer the First Week Attendance Reporting Assignment Verify student participation and attendance.	Attendance
	Grade the First Week Attendance Reporting Assignment Evaluate submissions promptly.	Attendance
	Mark Census Attendance Record attendance by Census Day in Blackboard.	Attendance
	Report First-Week Attendance Submit attendance through Self-Service.	Attendance

DURING THE TERM
	Task	Component
	Connect with Students Maintain regular communication	Engagement
	Encourage Early Participation Promote consistent engagement.	Engagement
	Share Weekly Announcements Keep students informed.	Engagement
	Share Deadline Reminders Remind students of upcoming due dates.	Engagement
	Respond to Student Messages Reply promptly and professionally.	Engagement
	Hold Virtual or In-Person Office Hours Provide opportunities for student support.	Student Support
	Conduct Synchronous Sessions (Web) Hold at least two recorded synchronous sessions.	Student Support
	Deliver Quality Instruction Facilitate engaging learning experiences.	Instruction
	Share Guidance and Expectations Clarify assignment expectations.	Instruction
	Provide Exemplary Examples Share examples of quality work.	Instruction
	Assess Student Learning Grade assignments and assessments.	Assessment
	Verify Learner Authenticity Use Blackboard integrity tools.	Assessment
	Encourage On-Time Submission Remind students before deadlines.	Engagement
	Post Grades and Feedback Return meaningful feedback promptly.	Assessment
	Mark Attendance Review gradebook and identify concerns.	Attendance
	Monitor Student Progress Review gradebook and identify concerns.	Student Support
	Document Outreach Record communication with students.	Student Support
	Submit Early Alerts Report at-risk students.	Student Support
	Refer Students to Services Connect students with campus resources.	Student Support
	Provide Mid-Term Feedback Share progress updates.	Assessment
	Adjust Course Pacing Modify instruction as needed.	Instruction
	Reteach as Needed Reinforce difficult concepts.	Instruction
	Remove Learning Barriers Address obstacles to student success.	Student Support
	Facilitate Student Engagement Encourage collaboration and discussion.	Engagement
	Remove Inactive Students Coordinate with registration and records.	Administration
	Escalate Grade Disputes Notify the department chair when needed.	Administration
	Resolve Grade Concerns Address grade questions professionally.	Administration
	Report Student Misconduct Submit BIT or conduct reports.	Administration
	Report Instructor Absences Notify your chair when you are absent.	Administration
	Earn PLC Credits Complete required professional learning.	Development
	Develop 1-3-5 Portfolio Full-time faculty will prepare portfolios for the 1-3-5 program.	Development

LAST TWO WEEKS
	Task	Component
	Administer OCCMA Deliver the required assessment.	Assessment
	Grade OCCMA Evaluate and record scores.	Assessment
	Review OCCMA Results Grade OCCMA in Blackboard and check in the dashboard.	Assessment
	Verify OCCMA Weighting Confirm that syllabus and Blackboard weights match requirements.	Administration
	Promote Course Evaluations Encourage students to complete evaluations.	Engagement
	Submit Grade Changes Process necessary grade corrections in a timely fashion.	Administration

LAST TWO WEEKS
	Task	Component
	Submit Final Grades Enter final grades in Self-Service.	Assessment
	Verify Gradebook Accuracy Confirm that Blackboard grades match final grades.	Assessment
	Process Incomplete Grade Records Finalize approved incomplete grades.	Administration
	Complete the Course Archive records and finalize Blackboard.	Administration
	Document Glows & Grows Reflect on successes and opportunities for improvement.	Development

LAST WEEK
	Task	Component
	Submit Final Grades Enter final grades in Self-Service.	Assessment
	Verify Gradebook Accuracy Confirm that Blackboard grades match final grades.	Assessment
	Process Incomplete Grade Records Finalize approved incomplete grades.	Administration
	Complete the Course Archive records and finalize Blackboard.	Administration
	Document Glows & Grows Reflect on successes and opportunities for improvement.	Development

	PART II - QUICK REFERENCE
	Step-by-step guidance for the situations you are most likely to encounter during the middle of the semester. Each guide is organized into a clear sequence of actions to help you resolve common issues efficiently and confidently. Follow the steps in the order they are presented to achieve the best results.

Student Has Not Shown in Seven Days
Guidance
	Check Blackboard last-access date to confirm inactivity.
	Reach out directly via OC email within 24 hours.
	If no response, file an Early Alert through Navigate within 24 hours of identification.
	Document the outreach and outcome.
*Note:* Do not wait for students to 'come back' on their own. Early intervention is the Drop Rate Improvement Program model in action.
Student Submits AI-Generated Work
Guidance
	Gather evidence first: detection report, assignment, any relevant communications.
	Give the student an opportunity to respond before a final determination.
	Apply the appropriate consequence: 1st offense = grade of 0 on the assignment + Academic Dishonesty Course from LRC.
	Report via Maxient complete the Academic Dishonesty Submission Form and upload all documentation.
	Track pattern: 2nd offense = F for the course; 3rd offense = escalate to department chair/Dean.
*Note:* Handling a confirmed case informally without Maxient documentation is a prohibited practice. The SOP applies even when the situation feels minor.
Student Presents Accommodation Notice
Guidance
	Act on it immediately you do not re-evaluate or question the documented need.
	Review the specific accommodations listed and implement as written.
	Coordinate with the Testing Center for extended-time or quiet-environment accommodations.
	Contact the Office of Student Accommodations if you are unsure how to implement.
	Contact the Professional Learning Center (PLC) if you need help in Blackboard.
*Remember:* The accommodation creates equal access, not a reduced academic standard.
*Note:* Refusing to coordinate because of scheduling inconvenience is not permitted. Treating an accommodation as optional because you disagree with it is a prohibited practice.
Blackboard is Down / Tech Failure
Guidance
	Notify students immediately through OC email.
	Report the outage to IT, PLC, and your department chair before communicating deadline changes to students.
	Only extend deadlines if the outage is confirmed by IT and/or PLC do not do this unilaterally.
	Document: nature of failure, date and duration, impact on students, actions taken, IT ticket number.
	Submit documentation to department chair within 24 hours.
*Note:* Technology failures do not suspend instructional standards. Faculty who routinely cite tech failures without IT/PLC-confirmed incident reports as a reason to not have class will be treated as having undocumented absences.
Student Requests and Incomplete Grade
Guidance
	Verify eligibility: student must have completed the majority of the course AND be passing on work submitted.
	Confirm a documented extenuating circumstance beyond the student's control.
	Complete the Incomplete Grade Agreement in Blackboard before posting the grade.
	Set a completion deadline and specify the grade if work is not completed.
	Post 'I' only after the agreement is on file.
*Note:* An Incomplete is not a default extension. It cannot be issued to avoid assigning an F to a student who simply did not complete the work.
Pregnant or Parenting Student
Guidance
	Student will present a formal adjustment letter from the Office of Student Accommodations specifying effective dates.
	Meet with the student to discuss implementation in good faith.
	Allow make-up work within the adjustment parameters: exams up to 1 week; assignments up to 48 hours.
	Do not require a doctor's note for pregnancy or parenting-related absences.
	Do not penalize grade, participation record, or standing for absences covered by an active accommodation.
*Note:* Adjustments are not retroactive. Pressuring a student to withdraw, reduce their load, or change their program because of pregnancy or parenting status is a Title IX violation.

	PART III - THE WHY
	The expectations in this document come from a decision that OC made in 2011: we would not let students disappear without a fight. Everything in the Faculty Expectations traces back to four commitments and one principle high structure and high support, delivered together.

The Premise Behind OC s Commitment:

American higher education is not doing enough good for enough people.

The Grade is a Promise

A grade at OC is a professional judgment about whether a student has demonstrated mastery of course learning outcomes. It is not a negotiation, a retention tool, or a Drop Rate Improvement Program workaround. When you pass a student who has not met the standard, you hand them a credential that they cannot stand behind and a transcript that misrepresents their preparation. That is not kindness it is the opposite.

The Four Commitments

Everything in this document traces back to these four commitments. They are not slogans. They are the operational definition of what it means to teach at Odessa College.

	Interact with the students and get to know them by name during the first week of a new term.
	Monitor student behavior and progress, and intervene when an issue arises.
	Meet with students one-on-one and communicate routinely about their course performance.
	Become a master of paradox maintain a structured course while allowing for appropriate flexibility.