FAQ list for adjunct faculty
Last edited December 6, 2012
How can I start teaching at Sierra Nevada College?
Salaried faculty and staff positions and some adjunct positions are posted on the SNC web site at
http://www.sierranevada.edu/about-snc/ under the “JOBS” menu (direct link: http://www.sierranevada.edu/about-
snc/jobs-2/. However, many adjunct teaching opportunities are not posted, so a prospective instructor is well served to
make contact with an academic department chair.
A prospective instructor should prepare a resume or CV and cover letter, and then contact the chair of the department in
which the instructor desires to teach or the HR director. Chairs will discuss which courses are being taught, and what
areas of expertise are needed. In general, the prospective instructor needs a graduate degree, or special expertise in some
discipline within humanities, fine art, science, or business. When a particular course has been identified, the prospective
instructor will be asked to give a short (generally 10-20 minute) teaching demonstration, typically to some class in the
desired department. The department chair will recommend the instructor to the Provost, who has final say in any hiring.
If not hired immediately, your name may be kept for future teaching prospects.
Once chosen to teach a course, how do I become officially hired?
The department chair collects contact information for the new adjunct instructor and completes a short form (New
Faculty Information Form), which is submitted to the HR department and to the Provost for approval. Once approved, the
HR director informs the registrar, who attaches the instructor to the right course and sets up an SNC-SIS account for the
new instructor, which will give the instructor access to a database of information about his/her course and students. The
new instructor will pick up an employment packet with a list of documentation needed from the HR direct, currently from
Veronica Shearin, or from the Department Chair. Fingerprints will be needed, done at the local sheriff station, and
passport or Nevada work permit or driver’s license plus social security card, unless the instructor has a Nevada Teaching
Credential. Also needed are a CV or resume, transcripts of highest degree, and a W-4 form. The packet also includes
information on parking, workers compensation, and FERPA responsibilities (see below). The HR director will then
request that the technology office set up a new e-mail account, copy code, and Moodle account. Adjunct instructor
contracts are issued near the first week in August and adjusted at the end of the drop-add period based on student
attendance (most classes must have at least 8 students for the instructor to be paid in full). Adjunct faculty can find out
whether their course is likely to be under-enrolled through SNC-SIS or by asking the department chair. Contracts are
mailed to the adjunct instructor’s home addresses or e-mailed. The adjunct instructor should examine the contract, clarify
any problems with the department chair ASAP, sign, and return the contract to the provost’s office within 10 days.
When, how, and how much do I get paid?
The pay scale is based on type of class (lab, studio, or lecture), highest degree of instructor, and semesters taught at Sierra
Nevada College. Pay is bi-weekly on Friday, starting the second pay period after the beginning of the semester; a schedule
of pay periods can be obtained from Wendy Wilson in the business office (2 nd floor David Hall). Instructors can elect to
pick up their checks from the business office, have checks mailed, or have checks direct deposited into a bank account.
How do I figure out what should be taught in my course?
The department chair should discuss course content with a new instructor. A brief course description is located in the
SNC catalog. Student outcomes for courses are available on a Course Approval Form generated when the course was first
proposed and refined by department faculty to meet the academic goals and mission of the college. SNC courses also are
tied by the common thread of four core themes derived from the SNC Mission statement: 1) liberal arts, 2) professional
preparedness, 3) entrepreneurial thinking, and 4) economic, social, environmental, and educational sustainability. Course
and program assessment hinges on these core themes and some course outcomes are tied to core themes. A new
instructor will often have access to syllabi from previous sessions of the course to guide content, although academic
freedom is guaranteed as long as student outcomes are achieved. You should also check with your chair if your course is
used to assess college achievements, e.g. if certain assignemtns are obligatory and if scores should be forwarded to the
chair.
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How are texts and materials for my course chosen and made available to students?
Instructors submit textbook requests for their courses at the end of October for spring and summer courses and at the end
of April for fall courses. A reminder about text requests and a copy of the Text Request Form is e-mailed to faculty a few
weeks prior to the text request deadline, but instructors need to be planning ahead in order to review potential texts in
time to meet the deadline. A new instructor can elect to use the same texts as the previous instructor or choose new texts,
usually in consultation with the department chair. Most publishers will either send exam copies of texts to instructors for
preview or will arrange for instructors to have access to digital eBook forms of texts through www.coursesmart.com.
Some publishers help instructors to assemble a custom text using materials from several sources, including instructorgenerated materials. The bookstore manager, Joanne Devine, is a good source of information for text options. Some
questions to consider in choosing texts: 1) is the language accessible to undergraduate students at the level of the course,
2) what supplemental online materials does the publisher provide to go with texts, 3) how much do texts cost, 4) are more
recent editions worth the additional costs for the students, 5) if you only plan to use one or two chapters, can these be
separated from the book in a more cost-effective option, 6) will students need to purchase access codes for online
materials, or is this optional for your course?
How do I prepare a syllabus?
Instructors can find a Model Syllabus on the Faculty/Staff forms link under the “Academics” or “Student Life” menus on
the SNC web site. The model syllabus is updated regularly and lists/describes everything that should go into a course
syllabus. Instructors can cut and paste information from the model syllabus into their syllabi, or customize the model
syllabus for their class. All of the information in the model syllabus should be in your syllabus, but the order can be
changed and additional material can be added. Syllabi are named according to a convention (listed at the end of the model
syllabus) and digital copies sent to the department chair for posting on the SNC web site. Syllabi are due to department
chairs at the beginning of the semester. An instructor may revise the syllabus during the course as long as this is clearly
communicated to students. Instructors can find the academic calendar for the semester at the end of the SNC catalog. This
will include dates of instruction, holidays, and various student and faculty deadlines. A final exam schedule will be posted
on the “Academics” page of the SNC web site; instructors should include final exam date and time in the syllabus if it is
published before the semester begins. The registrar usually publishes the final exam schedule during the week before
classes start. An organized and complete syllabus makes a course go more smoothly for both instructor and students,
eliminating much anxiety and confusion about assignments, due dates, and expectations for the course.
Must I hold office hours?
For each 3 hours of class, instructors should hold one hour of office hours. Most departments have space (an office or
cubicle) that can be shared by adjunct faculty for office hours. Office hours can be held in the classroom when it is not
booked for another class, or in the library or Patterson Hall dining area. Instructors should post office hours on their
syllabus, where they will hold them, and then faithfully attend them.
What are the expectations for the instructor during the course?
1) Prepare a syllabus, choose a text and course materials, and plan the course outline
2) Hold class during scheduled time. If you must be absent, you can arrange for a substitute instructor, guest speaker, or
provide an instructional activity to occupy the students in your absence. For unexpected emergency absences, contact
the department chair so that your absence can be communicated to the students. (More on snow closures below.)
3) Teach the course: a variety of instructional techniques can be used, including reading assignments, lecture, class
discussions, active learning activities during class, group or individual assignments outside of class (students can
expect to spend 2-3 hours outside of class on reading and assignments for each hour they spend in class), field trips,
guest speakers, case studies… A faculty brown bag lunch occurs about once per month where faculty can exchange
ideas about instructional strategies.
4) Make assignments, assess by a transparent rubric, and return feedback in timely manner (the sooner students receive
feedback, the more they learn from it)
5) Use SNC common rubrics if they are available, for example, use the SNC common writing rubric to score written
assignments (available at http://www.sierranevada.edu/resources/faculty-and-staff/forms/ with the name
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6)
7)
8)
9)
“Common rubric”). Don’t worry – common rubrics can be customized to the particular discipline and assignment.
You can see examples of how to customize the common writing rubric at the SNC governance Moodle site http://moodle.sierranevada.edu/moodle/course/view.php?id=78 with password mtrose).
Report students in trouble to chair, advisor, student assistance coordinator: Henry Conover
Collaborate with advisor and student assistance coordinator when asked about students in course
Assign midterm and final course grades and enter these into SNCSIS prior to grade submission deadlines
Uphold the SNC Faculty/Student Honor Code (found in its entirety in the catalog or on the “Disciplinary Process for
Plagiarism or Cheating” form at http://www.sierranevada.edu/resources/faculty-and-staff/forms/).
- Reminding students regularly that they are expected to write answers in their own words, do their own work on
individual assignments, and that you know enough about the discipline to distinguish between typical
undergraduate voice and that of an experienced practitioner (like the people who write Wikipedia) will reduce
most incidents of copying or cutting and pasting
- If a student copies from a glossary, the text, a lab or assignment partner, or cuts and pastes from a web site in
their freshman year and you believe the student didn’t know this was plagiarism, you may use your discretion,
give a zero grade on the assignment, and teach the student about the honor code. Subsequent infractions should
be reported using the Disciplinary Process for Plagiarism or Cheating form. In an upper division course, students
know that this is plagiarism and any infraction should be reported.
- You should have students submit written assignments through Turnitin, an online service that reports to you
about the originality of student work in comparison to everything on the internet that can be searched and all
other student writing submitted to Turnitin.
o SNC Turnitin Account ID: 47397 Join password: eag1es
o For instructions on how to create a user profile and join the SNC Turnitin account, click on
http://turnitin.com/en_us/support/help-center/joining-an-account
o For instructions on how to create a class, click on http://turnitin.com/en_us/support/helpcenter/creating-a-class
o For more information about using Turnitin, click on http://turninin.com/en_us/support/helpcenter/instructor-articles
What if I have to miss a class?
If you must be absent, you should arrange for a substitute instructor, guest speaker, or provide an instructional activity to
occupy the students in your absence. Your department chair will have ideas about who might be a good substitute. SNC
faculty cover each others’ courses on a favor basis (I’ll do a favor for you and ask one of you when I need it) rather than
paying each other to substitute. For unexpected emergency absences, contact the department chair or someone else at
SNC so that your absence can be communicated to the students. It’s a good idea to create an e-mail group to more easily
notify students of changes in assignments and class meetings.
Must I give a final exam in the scheduled final exam period? What if all students can’t take it then?
All classes should meet during their scheduled final exam periods, but you are not required to use this time for a
traditional comprehensive final exam. Some instructors use the 3-hour session for student oral presentations, a poster
session, to review the answers for a take-home exam, or for a culminating field trip or activity, such as a case study. If you
or the students want to reschedule a final exam, you may only do so IF ALL STUDENTS HAVE NO CONFLICTS with the
alternative time. It is difficult to meet this criteria, so it is wisest to not try to move the final exam. If you move a final
exam time and one or more students have a conflict with your exam and another course final exam, you should work with
the student so that he/she can attend the other course exam at its regularly-scheduled time. If you have not moved a final
exam and a student complains of another final exam conflicting with yours, be sure to consult the final exam schedule with
the student; there should not be any conflicts between scheduled undergraduate final exams. If a student asks to take the
final exam at a different time than the rest of the class, you have discretion to refuse or accommodate the student’s
request.
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How do I know if classes are cancelled due to snow?
Decisions about snow closure are made by the Provost following an approved protocol and occur when it is dangerous for
staff, faculty, and students living off campus to travel to SNC from surrounding areas. Decisions to open the campus late or
close the campus due to snow are made by 6 a.m. for daytime classes and by 2 p.m. for classes that begin at or after 4:00
p.m. A snow closure means that the campus is closed and all staff, faculty, and students are not expected to report to work
or class. A snow delay means that the campus will open at 10 a.m. and all classes that meet at 10:00 a.m. or later meet at
their regular time (classes that start before 10 a.m. are cancelled). Snow closures are communicated to the SNC
community through the e2campus emergency text messaging service. Staff, faculty, and students can enroll in e2campus
from http://www.sierranevada.edu/resources/campus-closure-policy/e2campus-messaging-system/. A text message
will be sent to your cell phone informing you of a snow closure or other emergency situation (such as evacuation due to a
forest fire) via this service. Snow closures are also communicated via SNC e-mail. Even if there is not a snow closure, if
you feel that it is genuinely dangerous for you to travel to campus because of winter weather, you have the right to cancel
your class and inform your chair and students.
Should I teach my class if I am sick?
No – keep your germs to yourself. Please inform your chair or someone else at SNC so that you can get help arranging for
a substitute or at least inform your students of your absence. Please also work with your students when they are
genuinely ill so that infectious diseases are not unnecessarily spread around the SNC community.
What data must I collect and report to SNC?
1) Student attendance: Although instructors are not required to enforce particular attendance policies in their courses,
SNC must keep attendance records in order for our students to qualify for federal financial aid. Attendance
Verification Forms are submitted by instructors to the registrar after the first week of class, at midterm, and at the end
of the term. Also, instructors must report the date that a student stops attending, if this happens. Attendance
Verification Forms and deadlines are distributed to instructors by e-mail at least a week in advance. They may be
returned to the registrar by e-mail or in hard copy.
2) Third week referrals: Instructors are asked to report students who are not doing well early in the course (around
week three) so that advisors and student support services staff can intervene early enough to make a difference.
Third Week Referral reports can be sent (at any time during the semester) to Henry Conover of student support
services. Henry Conover, Erika Cole, an academic advisor, or department chair may contact instructors asking for
information about how students on probation, provisional admittance, or who have received poor midterm grades are
performing in a course. Instructors are encouraged to provide this information, as SNC makes an assertive effort to
help students develop better study skills, organizational skills, and motivation so that they can be successful.
3) Midterm grades: SNC students receive midterm grades, which do NOT appear on their final transcripts, but provide
them with feedback on how well they’re doing in time to make a difference. Midterm grade due dates are published in
the academic calendar. Midterm grades are entered directly into the SNC-SIS course database by instructors
(directions below).
4) Midterm and end-of-term course evaluations: Instructors teaching their first course, or teaching a particular course
for the first time, will receive a mid-semester evaluation. Its results will be shared with the instructor very soon by the
department chair. The survey’s purpose is to assist the instructor in successful teaching, with feedback that can be
used immediately. All classes will also participate in end-of-semester surveys, to assess the success of the class, the
instructor, the text, and the classroom. These surveys also help us satisfy the requirements of SNC’s accrediting body,
so are very important to complete. They may be administered in hard copy or online via Survey Monkey. Class time
should be devoted to these surveys. Students will provide more and more useful information if you explain to them
that their responses will help improve the class for them (midterm) and others (end-of-term).
5) Final grades: are submitted via SNC-SIS about one week after the end of final exams. The due date is on the academic
calendar in the SNC catalog. Incomplete (I) and In Progress (IP) grades cannot be submitted via SNC-SIS, but must be
submitted on a petition that requires the student’s, instructor’s, and department chair’s signatures. These petition
forms are available on the “Academics” and “Student Life” pages of the SNC web site. A grade change form also exists
to report an error in a grade resulting from errors in calculations, such as MS Excel formula errors. This should NOT
be used to change a student’s grade after the end of the term because the student completed work after the course had
ended. There are separate forms (different from the Grade Change form) to change I or IP grades to letter grades.
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6) Reports on probation or provisional admit students: You may have students in your class who are on academic
probation. You should vigilantly note their progress and attendance patterns, and cooperate with any requests from
the office of student assistance (Henry Conover)
7) Other assessment data: Some classes will feature assignments that are used to assess department-specific or corespecific outcomes. For example, a capstone business class may include a Major Field Test, and Ecology includes the
application of specific statistical tests. These assignments will be explained by the department chair at the beginning
of each semester.
What teaching methods can I use at SNC?
A variety of instructional techniques can be used in your class, including reading assignments, lecture, class discussions,
active learning activities during class, group or individual assignments outside of class (students can expect to spend 2-3
hours outside of class on reading and assignments for each hour they spend in class), field trips, guest speakers, case
studies… Scholarly research on how students learn tells us that active learning (learning by doing activities, talking to
other students, solving problems, debating controversial topics…) is much superior to traditional college practices of
reading, listening to lectures, and taking a few exams in regards to increasing student learning and retention of learned
content and skills. Thus, SNC encourages its instructors to embrace active learning and a variety of assignments and
course activities and many SNC students will complain when an instructor lectures consistently. In some semesters there
are faculty development activities around active learning and effective teaching and adjunct faculty are welcome to
participate in these; your chair can let you know about such opportunities. Prim Library also contains numerous books
and resources about teaching methods that instructors can check out. Instructors have academic freedom to use
whatever techniques are effective to meet student outcomes for their courses. You may speak with your department chair
to find out about the availability of honoraria for guest speakers and funds for field trips. Funding is also available to
obtain supplies and resources that you need to offer an engaging and informative course. Some SNC faculty attend
professional conferences on effective college teaching, such as the Lilly Conference, and have ideas and resources to share.
What do I do if a parent or someone else from outside of SNC inquires about a student’s progress in the
course? By federal law (FERPA), an instructor may release absolutely no information about a student outside the college
unless the student specifically gives permission. The registrars (x 7435 Jane Rainwater or 7443 Rose Beenk) can identify
students who have relinquished their FERPA privileges. Beware of wily helicopter parents! If a parent calls or e-mails to
ask about their kid, you should explain that you appreciate their concern, but their child is an adult and has federal privacy
rights guaranteed under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, so that you must check to see if the student has
signed a waiver to release information to parents and then you will get back to them. Most parents understand this law
and are respectful of your need to comply by checking for their child’s FERPA release status. Students are asked to sign
this waiver to release information to parents when they arrive at SNC, so many have done so and you are likely to be able
to discuss course progress with the parent eventually. If you know that a student has waived their FERPA rights, you may
contact parents and enlist their help in motivating their child. You can obtain a long-distance calling code through your
department chair that will allow you to make long distance calls from an SNC phone and charge them to your
department’s budget. You should use your SNC e-mail account when communicating FERPA-protected information to
parents or students.
Can I elicit parent help in motivating students?
By federal law (FERPA), an instructor may release absolutely no information about a student outside the college unless
the student specifically gives permission. The registrars (x 7435 Jane Rainwater, x7548 Jacqui Provost, or 7443 Rose
Beenk) can identify students who have relinquished their FERPA privileges. Students are asked to sign a waiver to release
information to parents when they arrive at SNC, so many have done so and you are likely to be able to discuss course
progress with parents. If you know that a student has waived their FERPA rights, you may contact parents and enlist their
help in motivating their child. You can obtain a long-distance calling code through your department chair that will allow
you to make long distance calls from an SNC phone and charge them to your department’s budget. You should use your
SNC e-mail account when communicating FERPA-protected information to parents or students.
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How do I communicate with my students?
1) By e-mail: You can expect that students will get information about your course that you send via e-mail. Student email addresses can be accessed through SNC-SIS and Moodle (if you have a Moodle site for your course). Both SNC-SIS
and Moodle have links that allow you to e-mail the entire class at one time (provided the students have not prohibited
this use of their e-mail address from this source). The following statement is inserted on all SNC syllabi and explains
the SNC e-mail policy:
“The SNC email system is the official communication vehicle among students, faculty members and
administrative staff and is designed to protect the confidentiality of student information as
required by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 Act (FERPA). Students should
check their college email accounts daily during the school year.
Students have a right to forward their SNC e-mail to another e-mail account (for example,
@hotmail or @gmail). However, confidentiality of student information protected by FERPA cannot
be guaranteed for SNC e-mail forwarded to an outside vendor. Having email redirected does not
absolve a student from the responsibilities associated with official communication sent to his or
her SNC email account.”
You should use your SNC e-mail account in communicating private information to students, such as grades or
information about course progress. On campus you can have the IT helpdesk set up your laptop to access MS Outlook
via wireless access to the SNC server. You can always access e-mail at a link in the upper right hand corner of any
page of the SNC web site, although this Outlook Lite version is somewhat more limited than direct access to the server.
Like students, you have a right to forward your incoming SNC e-mail to another e-mail account. The SNC e-mail
system accepts attachments of less than 20 MB. If you work with larger files you may prefer to use other e-mail or
Moodle course management (see below). Instructors will be given an e-mail account after first meeting with the HR
Director. The initial user name for instructors is first initial, last name (for login, John Doe would be “JDoe”, password
is “Password1”, case sensitive, which must be changed on first log-in). John Doe’s SNC e-mail address would be
jdoe@sierranevada.edu. If Jane Doe has already been assigned this e-mail address, your address might include a digit
following your name. A mailbox is limited to 300 MB capacity, with a warning notice at 200 MB, so attachments
should be downloaded and saved, and e-mails should be deleted, in a timely manner. E-mail passwords must be
changed every three months; you will see a text box prompting you to change your e-mail a few days before your
existing password expires. If your password expires, you must contact the IT helpdesk to have it reset. Help for email is available on a variable schedule at the help-desk in the basement of Prim Library. Or go to
http://hdauthority.sierranevada.edu/hdaccess/ to request help with e-mail or passwords. (The IT help request
system works only with the Internet Explorer browser, not with Firefox, Chrome, or Mac browsers. If you can’t use
internet explorer, you had best plan to visit IT in person or request help from your department chair.)
2) By phone: Students frequently use cell phones to communicate with you and return calls to the student cell phones
will often be long distance calls. You can obtain a long-distance calling code through your department chair that will
allow you to make long distance calls from an SNC phone and charge them to your department’s budget.
3) Other methods: You can set policies with your students about whether or not you will receive and respond to their
calls to your cell phone, home phone, text messages, Moodle site, and Facebook (or other social networking)
invitations.
How do I set up my computer to work at SNC so that I can connect to the wireless network on campus, run
classroom projectors, run software used in my course, print, open student files…?
1)
Wireless internet access on campus: The IT staff can help you configure your laptop to connect to the SNC server
through wireless access from anywhere on campus. This will give you internet connection, direct access to MS Outlook
e-mail, access to Prim Library databases without the need for passwords, and access to shared drives that can be used to
access shared files or back up your course files. Contact the IT staff to arrange for this at
http://hdauthority.sierranevada.edu/hdaccess/ . Even without special configuration, your laptop should be able to
run projectors.
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2)
MS Office 2007: SNC has a license to load MS Office 2007 on staff and faculty computers. Since many you are likely to
receive files from staff, faculty, and students generated with this software, you may want to have it on your computer if
you do not already. You are entitled to ask the IT help staff to install it on the computer that you use for teaching.
3)
Running projectors: Instructions, cables, and remotes for running projectors are located in each classroom, usually
attached to the wall near the cable port. Most faculty have had no difficulty running projectors with PC laptops using
these instructions. If you have a problem, please contact the IT staff at
http://hdauthority.sierranevada.edu/hdaccess/ . If you use a Mac, you will need to provide your own adaptor to
attach to the cables provided in classrooms to run projectors. Some departments may have adaptors that you may use –
ask your chair. IT does not provide these adaptors.
4)
Printing on campus: Instructors can print to student printers or faculty/staff printers. The drivers for student
printers can be downloaded from the SNC web site. Click on the E-mail link in the upper right corner of any SNC web
page. Under the “Students” e-mail link there is a link for instructions to download student printer drivers, which are
supposed to work on any computer. When using a PC, it really is necessary to use the Internet Explorer browser to
locate the printer drivers; it doesn’t work with Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Again, if you have trouble, contact the
IT helpdesk, as some people cannot get this to work. There are student printers located in every building. One in Prim
Library even prints in color. The default setting is for double-sided printing, so if you want to print on only one side of
each page, you must change the printer property settings. If you want to use faculty/staff printers, IT help staff will have
to configure your laptop to do that, but you have the right to request this access. If you notice that a printer is not
working or needs paper or an ink cartridge, please report this to http://hdauthority.sierranevada.edu/hdaccess/.
5)
Course software: Students are supposed to have to MS Office 2007 software, whether they run it on a PC or Mac. You
can assume that you and they can use Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for class assignments as they should have received
training in CORE courses at SNC (you may need to provide more training for Access). Faculty may require other
software, such as Studyworks, Minitab, LoggerPro, or Stella. Often students are asked to purchase this software (SNC
purchases the instructor’s software), but sometimes SNC purchases software licenses to be used by students on campus
computers. Discuss your course software needs and the budget for software purchases with your department chair.
How do I get materials for my classroom?
White board markers and erasers are provided and classrooms are stocked weekly. Your department chair probably has a
supply in an emergency. Ask your chair about other office supplies for class, such as binders, tape, metric rulers, staplers,
paper… Printer paper for printing and copying is restocked regularly by IT staff, although you may occasionally find it
lacking. If you report paper needs to http://hdauthority.sierranevada.edu/hdaccess/ , they will respond within the
hour. Your chair will probably have a small amount of printer paper stashed for emergencies. Projector bulbs and
remotes can be supplied by http://hdauthority.sierranevada.edu/hdaccess/ . You may check out other audiovisual
equipment (TC/DVD or VCR set-up, Elmo document reader, slide projector, overhead projector…) from the IT department
and may request to have it remain in your classroom for the semester, depending on availability. Your chair can request
classroom maintenance, such as replacement of light bulbs.
What do I do if something in my classroom or that I need for class isn’t working?
The office of student assistance, Henry Conover (hconover@sierranevada.edu ) oversees such basics as whiteboard
supplies. Problems with the LCD projectors or other technology should be sent to the technology helpdesk,
helpdesk@sierranevada.edu, or X7500 or http://hdauthority.sierranevada.edu/hdaccess/. The helpdesk also responds
to add paper to copying stations. If more serious matters occur, the instructor can submit a maintenance request:
a)
b)
To make a repair or work request:
Open internet explorer and type http://www.sierranevada.edu/resources/faculty-and-staff/facilities-work-order-
request/
c)
d)
Follow directions to set up an account and request facilities work
If you have difficulty, elicit help from your chair in reporting a problem
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How do I get permission to spend money for my course and purchase supplies?
Advance permission from the business office, Provost, and SNC President is required for all but the smallest expenditure,
and even then the expense must be consistent with the current departmental budget. Do not purchase supplies without
consulting with your chair unless you are willing to pay for them out of your pocket.
Department chairs oversee budgets for course-related expenses. There are funds budgeted for purchasing instructional
supplies and equipment. You should discuss purchases with your chair, who will inform you of the procedure used by
your department to make decisions about how to spend course funds and order supplies. It is essential to plan ahead in
requesting supplies so that there is time to request all approvals, place the order, and have the order shipped. Your chair
is likely to authorize and seek approval for you to purchase inexpensive supplies locally and submit an expense report for
reimbursement. Receipts must be saved to attach to the expense report. Expense reports are submitted electronically and
receipts scanned to pdf for submission. You may use a check request (authorized by your chair) to request advance funds
for expensive course-related travel or purchases for which a purchase order cannot be used.
How do I take students on a field trip?
Field trips (both day trips and longer overnight trips) are a valuable contribution to an SNC education, but may be
expensive or involve risk to student health. Such trips must organized with the cooperation of the Department Chair, using
risk management forms and procedures, so that transportation and travel expense reimbursement can be arranged and
risks minimized. These procedures are not intended to discourage field trips, but to help instructors plan sufficiently to
maximize learning while minimizing risk and having plans in place for how to respond if there is an incident. Here is a
thumbnail description of the forms and a link to the initial trip planning form:

TRIP REQUEST form: This form is used to inform SNC of your field excursion. It is important that SNC knows the
location of your whereabouts and the names of the students that will be participating on your field trip. Please, also,
use this form as a means to organize your trip planning. You may find the form at:
http://www.sierranevada.edu/1762

Participant Agreement & Medical History Form: This form MUST be thoroughly read, filled out, and signed prior to
the field experience. Please keep copies of this form with you at ALL TIMES (in the field).

Student Self-Transportation Waiver: This form should be signed prior to any student traveling. Please keep these
forms with you in the field (along with your PA & Medical Form).

Travel Reimbursement Receipt: This form is used to reimburse student drivers. Details for reimbursement are
clearly explained on the form (this form is only for ODAL and PHED instructors). Please note that student drivers are
ONLY reimbursed if the course requires them to travel beyond the Incline/Mr. Rose locale.

Expense Report: This is an expense receipt for any expenses that you may incur on your field trips. Please keep all
receipts and turn return this to me, directly.

OA Equipment Check Out Form: This form is only to be used if you need SNC equipment. This may not be pertinent
to all of you.
An extensive and very expensive trip should be planned prior to listing the course in the course schedule so that student
travel fees can be assessed by the business office (instructors should not collect fees for travel from students) and
students understand whether their participation is optional or mandatory when registering for the course. Prior to the
field trip, students should have signed a general liability waiver (kept on file at the Patterson desk), also available from the
activities coordinator and a trip form and participated in a pre-trip meeting where trip expectations and policies are
reviewed (and can occur during class). SNC has a drug and alcohol policy (described on the form, available on SNC web
site) that should be invoked for field trips (and any SNC event) so that the instructor and students understand SNC policies
regarding appropriate behavior on field trips, especially overnight trips. The polite instructor will try to schedule field
trips when they do not conflict with other courses his/her students are taking and help students to communicate with
other instructors about missing class and making up work if there are unavoidable conflicts.
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The college has two 12-passenger Sprinters that may be driven by pre-approved drivers (approval takes a few days and
requires that the driver prove he/she has a valid license and undergo a background check into his/her driving record).
The Sprinters may be reserved through the activities coordinator (Will Hoida, x7450), who also authorizes drivers. Will
Hoida may be able to help the instructor find approved drivers. If students are providing carpool transportation, all
drivers must have valid driver’s licenses and insurance, and all passengers must be in seatbelts.
How do I get a key for my classroom or building?
SNC buildings, and some classrooms, are locked on nights and weekends. If there is cause to enter the classrooms in these
periods, for example to set up a lab class, the instructor should ask the Department Chair to request a key from the
facilities department. The key will either be a card (Prim, Patterson, TCES) or a normal key (David Hall).
What is Moodle and how do I use it?
Moodle is an internet-based course management system that can distribute files, administer quizzes, manage e-mail and
discussions, post grades, and link to web sites. The SNC site is at http://moodle.sierranevada.edu/moodle/ . An
instructor interested in using Moodle can get a course shell created by the IT staff
(http://hdauthority.sierranevada.edu/hdaccess/ ). Various tutorials are available from the SNC Moodle home page,
which is located at http://moodle.sierranevada.edu/moodle/ or under the “Current Students” menu on the SNC web
site. Steve Ellsworth (sellsworth@sierranevada.edy; x 7457) is also willing to provide tutoring and help with Moodle.
When students (or a new instructor) log into Moodle for the first time, their login ID is the first initial of their first name
and last name (jdoe for John Doe) and their password is exactly the same. Students and instructors can change profile
information once registered for Moodle to facilitate communication. Faculty and staff also use Moodle to communicate
about governance issues using the “SNC Governance” Moodle site. Enrollment in the SNC Governance site is password
protected so students won’t enroll; the password is mtrose (Mt Rose).
What if things aren’t going well with teaching?
If an instructor is not comfortable with how things are going in the classroom, from class behavior to test creation and
assessment to personal command of the subject, the instructor should immediately talk to the Department Chair for
advice or assistance. This assistance may vary from offering to do a guest lecture, to counseling students privately, to
observing classes and making confidential recommendations. SNC students expect high quality, organized classes, and can
become dissatisfied and talk with the chair or provost themselves pretty quickly, so it’s best to be as proactive as possible.
Students respond positively when (perceived) problems are addressed and fixed quickly, but may not be so forgiving if
they drag on.
Students who are doing poorly should also be directed to other resources beyond the classroom when learning is
inadequate. Especially, they should be told about the tutoring center and other support: Henry Conover, x7534,
hconover@sierranevada.edu .
How do I deal with students who are floundering or students on probation?
Instructors are expected to work with students who are floundering, to try to help them figure out how to be successful.
Students who are doing poorly should also be directed to other resources beyond the classroom when learning is
inadequate. Especially, they should be told about the tutoring center and other support: Henry Conover, x7534,
hconover@sierranevada.edu. Students admitted provisionally and students on probation are already working with Henry,
who will approach their instructors for information about their progress. Instructors who are aware of non-course
related student problems (such as depression, drug use, aggressive behavior towards others) are encouraged to report
this to Henry Conover so that SNC student life staff can observe and intervene appropriately. If instructors observe illegal
behavior from a student, the instructor should call SNC security (775-772-7771) or 911 and is authorized to request that
the student leave the class immediately, even if the illegal behavior occurs on a field trip (see Drug and Alcohol Policy).
How can I find out information about my students to help me understand their performance in my class?
You can access some information about students (their schedules, contact information) by clicking on their names in your
class list on SNC-SIS. You can contact a student’s advisor to get access to their transcript or find out about standardized
test scores, which may help you understand their performance. You can find out who is a student’s advisor from your
department chair. You may also discuss your students with Henry Conover at student assistance services.
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What is SNC-SIS and how to I use it?
The SNCSIS is an information system used by faculty to enter grades, by students to examine grades, and advisors to
advise students and plan for graduation. It draws real-time information directly from the Banner database used to store
student records.
SNCSIS (SNC Student Information Services)
GO TO THE SNC WEBSITE
Go to the SNC website at http://www.sierranevada.edu/ , click on the Faculty and Staff button, and click on the blue
SNCSIS link.
ENTER YOUR USER ID AND PIN
In the User ID field, enter your SNC identification number. (You can get this from the SNC registrar.) If you have
previously logged into SNCSIS, use your existing PIN number. If you are a new SNCSIS user, your PIN will be your sixdigit birthday (MMDDYY). When you are done entering this information, click the "Login" button. If you receive a
message that your PIN has been disabled, please contact the Registrar's Office for help by calling (775)831-1314
extension 7435 or 7436.
SET UP YOUR ACCOUNT
Once admitted, new SNC users will be told their PIN has expired and will be asked to select a new six-digit numeric
password. New users also will be asked to set up a Security Question so you can automatically reset your own PIN in the
future if you forget your password.
EXITING THE SYSTEM
For maximum security and to ensure privacy, please exit the system when you are done. To do this, click on the "Exit"
link in the upper right hand corner of the web page when you have completed your tasks.
Viewing Schedule Information (Including Room Assignments)
Once you are logged in, click on "Faculty Services" and select "Faculty Detail Schedule" from the menu.
After you select a term from the drop-down menu, your entire schedule for that term will display and you will be able to
view days, times and classroom assignments for all of your courses in the "Scheduled Meeting Times" area of the
detailed schedule.
If you do not wish to enter the Secure Area, you can use the SNCSIS system to display current course information by
clicking on “Academics” from the home page and the "Class Schedule (SNCSIS)" link. You can perform a class search
using the subjects you are teaching and your last name as parameters.
Viewing Rosters
You can view the Class Rosters for the courses you are teaching any time during the term. After logging on to SNCSIS
click on the “Faculty Services” link. Select a term from the pull-down menu for the roster you want to review and click
on "Submit." Click on the "Detailed Class List" or the "Summary Class List" and then select the CRN for the course you
would like to review.
If you have any questions about SNCSIS, please contact the Registrar's Office by calling (775)831-1314 extension
7435 or 7436.
What resources are available to me and my students in Prim Library and how do I use them?
The library collection includes over 27,000 books and videos primarily acquired to support the curriculum areas the
college serves. Paper journals as well as full-text online access are available through a variety of electronic databases.
Interlibrary loan, plus the capacity to put materials on reserve is also available. You don’t need a card, just register at the
library desk the first time you use the library. From on or off-campus, you can access electronic resources by starting at
libguides.sierranevada.edu/library. For off-campus access to the specific databases, please email the library
(library@sierranevada.edu) to request the current password sheet. All electronic resources are seamlessly available
through the campus wireless network while on-site. Class textbooks are not usually available in the library as the campus
does not purchase copies. Instructors are all encouraged to make suggestions about library acquisitions. The library has
several desktop computers that can be used by students or anyone else.
The library director, Dr. Betts Markle, x7511, (emarkle@sierranevada.edu) and her staff are able to assist instructors and
students in finding and using the library’s resources. Library staff can be scheduled to visit your classes to provide direct
instruction to students about library resources. Prim library is open seven days a week during the school semesters and is
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open to the public as well. The north side of the building houses classrooms, faculty offices, administrative offices, the SNC
bookstore, as well as the tutoring center and IT support staff. Redfield Café on the east side of the library is a good place to
get a cup of Peet’s coffee or latte and a snack during the morning and early afternoon. Three printers (including one color
printer) are available for student use in the library at no cost. Additionally there is a copy machine for students to use with
a copy code purchased from the bookstore or the library circulation desk. Please feel free to contact the library director
with any questions or concerns.
Both students and faculty can access Prim Library electronic databases remotely. When you need to access SNC's licensed
database content from off campus, you will need the following information:
·
Students: Use your first initial and your last name as the username and your 9 digit student ID number as the password.
·
Faculty/Staff: Use your SNC email username as the username and your Banner (SNCSIS) ID number as the password.
If you have questions or problems, please contact the library at library@sierranevada.edu.
Students may also receive borrowing privileges from the Incline Village branch of the Washoe County Library System.
How do I find out about SNC policies and procedures?
Policies and procedures that affect students, such as policies about course enrollment, grades, academic dishonesty…, are
described in the SNC catalog. The catalog is posted on the SNC web site on the “Faculty and Staff” page, the “Academics”
page, and on the “Current Undergraduate Students” main menu under the “catalogs” link. Governance of Sierra Nevada
College (who makes decisions and sets policies) is defined in the Faculty handbook, available on the “SNC Governance”
Moodle site. It describes institutional organization, administrative and faculty positions, and procedures for various
academic tasks. Forms are posted on the SNC website and can be accessed from the Faculty and Staff” page, the
“Academics” page, and on the “Current Undergraduate Students” menus. Each form has instructions about how to fill out
the form and who to direct it to. Many forms also explain policies related to that form. Your department chair is your
advocate and your supervisor at SNC. Your chair should be able to explain policies or direct you to the correct person to
answer your questions about policies and procedures. There is also an open door policy at the Executive Office (SNC
President, Lynn Gillette and Provost, Shannon Beets) on the 3rd floor of Prim Library; the executive assistants there can
schedule an appointment for you if the President and Provost are occupied when you stop by.
Why all the surveys and course assessments?
Sierra Nevada College is accredited by the NWCCU (Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities), which asks each
member college/university to prove up its accreditation worthiness regularly through “self study”, that is, gathering
assessment data to show that the college is meeting its educational goals and fulfilling its mission. The SNC mission is
below, with four core themes highlighted in bold type.
Sierra Nevada College graduates will be educated to be scholars of and contributors to a sustainable world.
Sierra Nevada College combines the liberal arts and professional preparedness through an
interdisciplinary curriculum that emphasizes entrepreneurial thinking and environmental, social,
economic and educational sustainability.
These core themes state who we are as a college and shape the goals that we have for our graduates (student outcomes).
We gather a variety of assessment data that are used to measure our progress toward our goals. These include carefully
constructed course evaluations, senior exit surveys (given to graduating students), standardized tests, and measures of
student skills and knowledge embedded in courses, as well as tracking employment and graduate study undertaken by
our alumni. Chairs and peer faculty observe each others’ courses to provide feedback and opportunities to improve
teaching skills. The culture of assessing our performance and striving to improve the educational outcome for our
students makes SNC a college that changes lives in a positive way.
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Is SNC an accredited college?
Yes – SNC is and has always been accredited by the NWCCU (Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities). SNC’s
accreditation was probationary for a few years because of NWCCU concerns that the college was not financially stable
enough to guarantee that students would be able to finish degrees. However, these concerns have been resolved and SNC
is now fully accredited (not on probation). Like all accredited colleges and universities, SNC (as all accredited colleges and
universities) undergoes periodic accreditation visits from NWCCU representatives and provides “self study” reports to the
NWCCU in alternate years. A full accreditation report, submitted every seven years, occurred in spring of 2012. SNC
received a very favorable report and was granted full accreditation again. A year-one accreditation report will be
submitted in spring of 2013.
Where can I park?
Faculty, staff and students share SNC’s parking equally, except for a few assigned parking spots. Students pay for the
privilege of parking on campus, but instructors receive a free SNC parking hang tag, available from assistant registrar Jane
Rainwater. Occasionally the SNC lots are full; instructors can park legally along Incline Way (west of campus), at the IVGID
recreation center parking lot off of Incline Way (take the path and foot bridge across the creek to campus) or in the Life
Point Church parking lot on the corner of Tahoe Blvd. and Country Club Rd. (although the lot is currently closed for
construction). Please resist the temptation to park off the pavement on the SNC campus, as this causes erosion that
contributes to reduction of clarity in the beautiful waters of Lake Tahoe.
Where can I get a cup of coffee, a snack, or a meal?
During the school year, students, staff, and faculty can get something to eat in Patterson Dining Hall during posted meal
hours. Lunch and dinner are all-you-can-eat meals for a fixed price (about $6,50 for lunch and $7 for dinner for faculty).
Faculty receive a substantial discount in comparison to the general public when paying cash and can purchase a meal card
with even more discount built into pricing. Lunch and dinner may not be available when school is not in session; periods
of more limited services are announced by e-mail. The food is excellent with lots of healthful choices, making Patterson
Cafeteria one of the best value restaurants in Incline Village.
The SNC bookstore also sells some snack foods, including nuts, ice cream treats, lunchables, and coffee. Your department
chair can help you find a refrigerator in which to store your lunch from home and a microwave to heat it up.
Off campus, there are several restaurants and cafés along Country Club Blvd., including several at the Hyatt Resort.
Everyone in Incline Village loves T’s Rotisserie near the movie theater at Tahoe and Village Blvds.
The Redfield Café (coffee shop) in Prim Library has been closed, but SNC is entertaining proposals from some
entrepreneurial students and outside vendors to re-open this semester. I’m sure this will get press if it happens.
What safety policies and procedures do I need to know about?
In case of a serious accident or medical emergency in a class, an instructor should call 911 (or have a student call). AEDs
are located in every building; send a student for one after calling 911. Even minor accidents/injuries should be reported
to the department chair.
SNC contracts with a professional security agency to provide campus security. The SNC security switchboard (x7596 from
on campus or 775-626-3000) is monitored 24/7. You should call 911 in an emergency.
Each department chair will be aware of safety issues unique to their classes. For example, science instructors will need to
be informed about safety policies regarding hazardous chemicals and science equipment.
Instructors should always assume that a fire alarm means there is a fire and the building should be evacuated
immediately. Take students to the nearest parking lot and keep everyone together so that we can check to see that
everyone made it out of the building. Instructors are encouraged to use fire extinguishers to put out a trash can-sized fire
while the fire department is responding.
SNC encourages ill staff, faculty, and students to stay home and get well, rather than sharing germs. Please work with your
students if they are ill so that they can make up missed work and catch up. Students who become very ill at the end of a
semester may be granted an Incomplete (I) grade and given time to make up the work after the course has finished.
Instructors are also encouraged to seek a substitute rather than come to class ill.
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The SNC Drug and Alcohol policy states that faculty, staff, and students are expected to obey local, state, and federal laws
and can be immediately dismissed from events or trips for breaking the law. All are expected to be sober and ready to
participate in scheduled activities. Intoxicated behavior, even if not illegal, is discouraged and may be grounds for
disciplinary action. Disciplinary action can include being dropped from a course if the offense impacted instruction.
Any class research project involving animals, or people outside the faculty member’s presence, requires approval by the
Institutional Review Board (IRB). This board inspects projects for ethics violations, safety, and confidentiality, but does
not critique the actually viability or rigor of a proposed experiment. The instructor should consult with the department
chair when applying to the IRB.
Any off-campus activity, including course-related field trips, should be planned using risk management forms and
procedures that you can obtain from your department chair, starting with a planning form online at
http://www.sierranevada.edu/contacts/pre-trip-proposal/. This process will help you to think ahead about what kinds
of risks SNC students or you might encounter, how you can plan to minimize them, and how you should respond to them if
there is an accident, injury, or problem.
May I use chemicals in the classroom at SNC?
Chemicals are used in many classes in the Fine Art and Science Departments. Before ordering them, the instructor should
consult with their department chair that the chemicals are used safely, specifically:
a) No safer substitute exists for the chemicals
b) The chemicals can be stored safely
c) The class workspace is set up to handle the chemicals, e.g. suitable ventilation exists
d) There is correct on-side temporary storage of wastes, and a plan for permanent disposal after the semester ends
e) All students have adequate safety gear
f) Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS’s) are present, and available for students and faculty
g) Spill clean-up kits have been purchased and made available.
h) Instructors have had safety training
How can I become more involved at SNC?
1) The SNC Faculty Council meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 8:00 – 9:15 a.m. Adjunct instructors are
welcome to attend, although participation is not required. Academic departments hold regular faculty meetings; ask
your chair if you are interested in participating.
2) All instructors are encouraged to be involved in extracurricular activities at SNC. Information about upcoming events
is located on the SNC Event Calendar (posted on the website) and on many fliers posted around campus, usually at the
main entrances to buildings. Any instructor can be approved as an SNC driver and then help with transportation to
student activities events, such as weekend Outdoor Adventure trips.
3) Adjunct faculty may serve as faculty sponsors for student organizations and clubs.
4) Adjunct faculty seeking salaried employment at SNC should talk about this with their department chairs and are
encouraged to apply for any posted staff or faculty position. Job openings are posted at the Jobs link on the “About
SNC” web page.
5) The SNC Board of Trustees has working groups and committees that may involve non-Trustees who want to support
the college.
6) New course proposals should be discussed with department chairs and other department faculty.
Can I or my family members take courses at SNC for a reduced rate?
Adjunct instructors can take an SNC course without tuition (fees still apply), as long as there are seats left in the course
after degree-seeking students have registered. However, this tuition benefit is not extended to family members.
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