The Bridgewater College
Frequently Asked Questions
By way of introduction, this list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) is designed
to help new faculty address some questions they may be leery to ask other
individuals or may not have considered yet but would be helpful to know.
However, what you will notice is that there are some overarching themes
surrounding our responses to these questions. We encourage you to talk with
other faculty, they are willing to help! This is a friendly, supportive community, so
do not be afraid to seek assistance. There are procedures and some red tape but
mostly things work to support you. Above all communicate, with students,
colleagues,
and
various
administrative
staff
members.
1|Page
Contents
Student Concerns ............................................................................................................................ 4
1. What resources are available to students to ... A) learn critical thinking, B) learn to
write better, C) learn about socialization in their new environment? .................................... 4
2. A student comes to my office and I discover some serious emotional issues – what do I
do, my Ph.D. did not prepare me for this!? ................................................................................ 4
3. A student comes to my office and tells me about seeing stolen materials in the dorm,
what do I do? .............................................................................................................................. 5
4.
A student comes to my office with very tough roommate issues, what do I do? ............... 5
5. A student stops coming to class, and doesn’t respond to a quick email from me, what do
I do?............................................................................................................................................. 5
6.
A student will be absent for an exam or asks to reschedule a final exam. What do I do? 5
7. What are some guidelines for how to get first-year students on the right track towards
fulfilling all of their General Education requirements? ............................................................ 6
8. If I have a fantastically brilliant class of students and they all work really hard and
achieve at a high level, will I get flack for giving all A’s and on the other hand if I give a lot
of failing grades will I be called on the carpet? ........................................................................ 7
Bridgewater Structure ..................................................................................................................... 7
1. Which Dean is in charge of what…..how do I know if I’m taking my questions to the
right person? .............................................................................................................................. 7
2.
What role and authority do various Faculty Committees have on campus? .................... 8
3. What is Founder’s Day?....................................................................................................... 8
4. Does IT provide help for faculty personal computers? ...................................................... 8
5. How do I contact IT for set up and in emergencies? .......................................................... 9
6.
What access if any do I have to administrative assistance – to a secretary? ................... 9
7.
Where can I make copies on campus? Is there a budget for that? .................................... 9
Classroom/Teaching Concerns ..................................................................................................... 10
1.
How can I best create group activities for students in the classroom? ........................... 10
2.
What's the contact information for the current head of the Honor Council? ................. 10
4. Where can I get help when I have a teaching problem to solve? .................................... 10
5.
What teaching methods seem to work best for different kinds of students? .................. 10
6.
Are there good class/course development resources available and what are they? ..... 11
7. How do experienced teachers go about creating a syllabus and design a course? ........ 11
2|Page
8. Are there standard expectations about classroom manners – food, cell phones, arriving
late, etc.? ................................................................................................................................... 11
9. Are there midterm grades or reports or just finals? ........................................................ 11
10.
Is there a standard grade scale? Can we assess pluses and minuses? ......................... 11
11.
How important are final exams typically in a BC class? .............................................. 12
12.
What is the procedure for ordering textbooks through the bookstore? ..................... 12
Equipment/Supply Concerns ........................................................................................................ 12
1.
How do I get a van for a field trip? ................................................................................... 12
2.
How do I arrange to show a movie on campus outside of class? .................................... 13
3.
How do I place an order? .................................................................................................. 13
5.
How do I purchase work supplies from the campus bookstore? ..................................... 13
Resources/Funding Concerns........................................................................................................ 13
1. Is there money for field trips? ........................................................................................... 13
2.
How long can faculty check out books or other materials from the library? ................. 13
3. How do I place items on reserve in the library? What if it is my material I want on
reserve? What if I want to put something from the library on reserve? ............................... 14
4. Will the library purchase books, journals, films, etc. that I want access to (or I want my
students to access)? .................................................................................................................. 14
5. How do I get keys to the building and rooms where I teach or work? ............................ 14
6. What does Bridgewater offer for faculty development? I have heard about travel
money, sabbatical and even college grants, do these things exist and how do I access these
resources? ................................................................................................................................. 15
7. Does my department have a budget? How do I find out about buying lab or lecture
supplies?.................................................................................................................................... 15
3|Page
Student Concerns
1. What resources are available to students to ... A) learn critical thinking, B) learn to
write better, C) learn about socialization in their new environment?
A. Learning how to “think critically” is central to the mission of the liberal arts
program at BC. PDP 150 is meant to help students begin to think more critically
and get acclimated to the liberal arts. However, given the central nature of
critical thinking to our mission, faculty members are encouraged to nurture and
refine critical thinking skills within their courses. If you are in need of assistance
in this endeavor, please contact the Teaching Resource Group.
Additionally, academic assistance, tutoring services, and study groups for
students who are struggling with academic, particularly students with learning
disabilities, are available through the Academic Support Center in the Bicknell
House. The Director, Chip Studwell, can be reached at
cstudwel@bridgewater.edu or extension 5370.
B. The Writing Center, located in Bowman 310, is available for students 24 hours a
day and is staffed by student tutors Sunday through Thursday evenings as well
as Friday afternoons. Any student may drop in to discuss a writing assignment.
Dr. Alice Trupe (atrupe@bridgewater.edu or extension 5604) is the director of
the writing center and is extremely helpful!
C. Residence Life Staff (RDs and RAs) living within the residence halls are a
valuable source of information and support related to socialization. There are
also a number of clubs and organizations available to students, covering a wide
range of interests including athletics, religious groups, honor societies, and
leisure/recreation clubs. All clubs and organizations are listed in the handbook
and the college hosts an Activities Night twice a year, at the beginning of each
semester.
2. A student comes to my office and I discover some serious emotional issues – what do I
do, my Ph.D. did not prepare me for this!?
The counseling center is always available to students and is staffed by two
counselors, Randy Hook and Amy Ghaemmaghami . If you are concerned about a
student, you may complete the online referral form by visiting the Counseling
Services webpage at www.bridgewater.edu/counseling and clicking on the “I am
concerned about a student…” link found on the left. The counseling center will
handle things from there and they will likely give you a call to get additional
information from you. Between 8:00am and 4:30pm, you can also contact Ursula
Dinkel, Secretary in the Office of Counseling Services (extension 5692) and she will
facilitate the connection with one of the counselors.
Randy Hook, Director of Counseling Services, x5358
4|Page
Amy Ghaemmaghami, College Counselor, x5379.
3. A student comes to my office and tells me about seeing stolen materials in the dorm,
what do I do?
You can direct the student to Campus Police and Safety Department.
Chief Nicholas Picerno – x5761
Campus Safety Officer – x5317
4. A student comes to my office with very tough roommate issues, what do I do?
Depending on your comfort level with the student and with the situation, you can
listen and help the student work through the issue. If you don’t feel comfortable,
you can direct the student to his/her dorm’s Resident Director and/or Resident
Assistant to handle such issues. If the problem seems particularly serious or you
sense that they are part of broader problems the Counseling Center is once again a
good resource.
5. A student stops coming to class, and doesn’t respond to a quick email from me, what do
I do?
The Associate Academic Dean’s office in collaboration with Student Affairs is
prepared to help! Noticing a student’s absence from class may be the first sign of
academic stagnation or deeper issues, so if you are concerned, get in touch with Ed.
An email or phone call to Dean Ed Huffstetler (ehuffste@bridgewater.edu, campus
extension 5332) will start a process to find the student that may involve a member
of Student Affairs going to the dorms to find the student. One other note, if you
contact Ed about a student missing class, his office can generate a letter for the
student that is cc’ed to you about the importance of attending class. This letter can
be a nice piece of support if the student or parents dispute grades later!
If there is any indication that a student’s absence from class may be part of larger
problems, you can use the on line counseling referral:
http://www.bridgewater.edu/StudentServices/CounselingServices/Iamconcerneda
boutastudent. Or during business hours call the Counseling Center directly.
Someone from the Rebecca Hall staff will get in touch with you to close the loop so
that you know the contact has been made.
6. A student will be absent for an exam or asks to reschedule a final exam. What do I do?
Generally, this is really up to the professor. Depending on the situation, many
professors would require the student to take the exam before the regularly
scheduled exam time. You can decide how best to handle any unique situation.
However, please note that for final exams a different standard prevails. During Final
Exam Periods the rule is that there are no changes – students must take final exams
as they are scheduled by the Registrar’s office. However, in practice exceptions may
be made for real hardship cases. These exceptions cannot be made unilaterally by
the professor but instead must be approved by the Dean of Academic Affairs. If a
5|Page
student wants to take a final exam at a time other than the one on the Exam
Schedule, he or she must appeal via email to the Dean, who will be governed largely
by whether or not you, the faculty member, are willing and able to accommodate the
student’s request. There are two big issues here. The first is communication among
the three parties: you, the student, and the Dean. Make sure lines of communication
are open. You may want to email the Dean with your take on the request. In any
case, she will c.c. you when she communicates with the student. Secondly, there is
the issue of supporting your colleagues holding the line on this no changes rule. If
the student has a valid reason for moving an exam and you are able to make another
arrangement, the Dean will allow you and the student to work it out. If, on the other
hand, the student is asking for an unfair or unwarranted change or you cannot
accommodate their request, the Dean will hold the line for you – she’ll be the “bad
cop,” not you.
7. What are some guidelines for how to get first-year students on the right track towards
fulfilling all of their General Education requirements?
This process varies by department so you should talk with your faculty mentor or
department chair about how to schedule General Education courses given the
structure of the department major. However, some general guidelines are listed
below:
1. Download the General Education Requirements (available at
http://www.bridgewater.edu/StudentServices/Registrar/Registrar-Forms look
for General Education Requirements) to review with the student. Encourage
them to take ownership of meeting the requirements throughout their time at
Bridgewater.
2. For first year students encourage them to complete the Core Skill Courses during
their first year or at the very latest during their second year. In general they
should complete at least 6 General Education Courses during their first year.
(Caveat: Some majors will complete 2 General Education Courses in their first
year, for example, biology majors usually only complete PDP150 and one other
course their first year. So again be sure to check with your department). With
21 courses in the General Education Curriculum they will have completed more
than 25% of the requirements in their first year. So as a general rule of thumb in
the remaining 3 years students would need to complete 5 General Education
Requirements each year to fulfill all requirements. However, students and
faculty must be aware that some courses may not be offered every year or may
not fit a student’s schedule so care should be exercised in laying out the courses
over the remaining three years. Some faculty encourage students to create a full
three year plan in the spring of their first year when registering for classes for
the sophomore year to make sure that they stay on track.
3. If first year students state that they have placed out of some courses, transferred
courses in, or have completed the Core Skill Courses check their transcript in
WebAdvisor.
a. If a student has placed out of a course (e.g., by taking a Math or Foreign
Language placement test, or achieved a high SAT writing score and
submitted a portfolio to the English Department) it will appear on
6|Page
WebAdvisor with a “P” in the grade category. To place out of a course
means that the student has met the General Education Requirement
although the class credit does not count as credits earned toward
graduation.
b. If a student has transfer credit a “T” will appear in the grade category.
This means that the student either had dual enrollment credit in high
school or took a course at another college that has met a similar course
offered at Bridgewater. Transfer credit counts toward meeting a General
Education Requirement and the credit counts towards credits earned for
graduation; however, the course does not impact the grade point average.
After checking WebAdvisor, if students have completed the Core Skill Courses
ask them to explore the other General Education Requirement Categories and
identify courses that would be of interest to them or that would complement
their major. Be sure that students have the necessary pre-requisites to take the
course by consulting the Course Catalog.
8. If I have a fantastically brilliant class of students and they all work really hard and
achieve at a high level, will I get flack for giving all A’s and on the other hand if I give a
lot of failing grades will I be called on the carpet?
This does not seem to be a problem on our campus. In both cases – when there are
an unusual number of excellent grades or a similar abundance of failing grades faculty with long experience at the college report that they have received support
rather than censure from their department chairs and the Dean for Academic
Affairs.
If you are at all concerned about the way the grade curve seems to be working out in
your courses, talk frankly with colleagues. Ask your chair and other colleagues
about whether the grade profile you see in your class is significantly different from
other sections of the same course or other similar courses. If the grades earned in
your courses are different, the question becomes why this is so, and the answers will
be focused on how to increase student learning not on blaming you.
Bridgewater Structure
1. Which Dean is in charge of what…..how do I know if I’m taking my questions to the
right person?
The organizational structure at Bridgewater College is pretty straight forward. The
good news is people will always redirect you if you aren’t in the right spot.
Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs: Dr. Carol A. Scheppard—oversees all
issues relating to Academics at Bridgewater. You can discuss honor council
violations, class room expectations, tenure and promotion concerns, conference
attendance, and research support with her. In addition, address these concerns
with your Department Chair first, so your Chair is part of the conversation and can
provide additional assistance for you.
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs: Dr. Ed Huffstetler—assists the Dean with
Academic Affairs and oversees the Personal Development Portfolio Program. Dean
7|Page
Huffstetler is the frontline person for students in academic distress; this includes
attendance, disruptive behavior in class, honor council violations, grade disputes,
and parent conferences and concerns, etc.
Dean of Student Life: Dr. Bill Miracle—oversees all student life issues including
residence halls, Eagle Productions, Student Government, and disciplinary issues
relating to behavior, social life and communal common trust.
Associate Dean of Student Life: Crystal Lynn—directly responsible for networking
faculty to student life support persons. When you post a note to “I have a concern
about a student” on the Student Life Website (see web address on page 5), Associate
Dean Lynn ensures that contacts are made with the appropriate staff members. In
short, she’s your front line person when wanting to discuss co-curricular and
student life issues.
Director of Counseling Services: Randy Hook—directs the Counseling Center and
works directly with students in need of services. Randy is an excellent resource
whenever you are concerned or sense a “red flag” going up for a student.
NOTE: There are two disciplinary boards at Bridgewater College—
The Honor Council—which is student lead and has three faculty advisors. This body
hears all violations related to Academic Lying, Cheating, Plagiarism and Theft.
The Judicial Hearing Board—is a council that is composed of selected faculty,
student and members of the student life administration. This body hears all cases
related to severe cases and/or repeated cases of inappropriate behavior both on
and off campus.
2. What role and authority do various Faculty Committees have on campus?
For a complete listing of committees and their mission statement, see the Faculty
Handbook. It is worth browsing this list to see if there are committees which
specifically interest you. You are always welcome to let the Vice President for
Academic Affairs and a Committee Chairperson know of your interest. In addition,
every summer Dean Scheppard sends out a note asking faculty to let her know of
their expressed interest in various committee work
3. What is Founder’s Day?
On Founder’s Day, the College gathers to commemorate its Founders and to herald
the achievement of outstanding students and faculty, and give the senior class the
opportunity to process for the first time in their regalia. Founder’s Day is
traditionally the first Tuesday in April. On this day, Convo is held at 11:00am,
followed by a campus-wide luncheon. Consequently, all T/R 11:00am classes are
held at 9:30am on that day.
4. Does IT provide help for faculty personal computers?
The IT Center’s primary obligation is to the computers and computing system of all
faculty/staff/administrative college owned computers, as well as student computers
purchased through the College/Dell bundling purchase system. Consequently, the
IT Center can only process requests for help with personal computers with
sensitivity to pre-existing priorities and time constraints. You can certainly seek
8|Page
advice and assistance from the IT Center, but please know that they may not always
be able to meet your request.
5. How do I contact IT for set up and in emergencies?
Shay Kelley is the Help Desk operator, and will gladly set up a “Help Desk Ticket” for
you that ensures your concern is in the queue for assistance. To look for a solution
to a problem or enter in a ticket you can click on Support Center at
https://help.bridgewater.edu or Contact the Help Desk directly by emailing:
help@bridgewater.edu.
On campus: Dial H.E.L.P (x.4357)
Off campus and need Help: 828-4357.
6. What access if any do I have to administrative assistance – to a secretary?
Every department has access to an administrative assistant or “faculty secretary,”
but not all administrative assistants are in the building of the departments they
serve. Each administrative assistant will be happy to type tests and documents,
make copies, and assist you with other office activities such as making building
reservations. NOTE: each secretary’s time is shared with multiple faculty, so check
in advance with your designated assistant to ensure that she has time for your
project.
Bowman Hall: Jane Myers
McKinney Hall: Kelly Coverstone
Nininger Hall, Memorial Hall, and Moomaw: Gloria Bachman
Education Department: Lisa Houff
Foreign Language, History/Political Science, and Music Departments: Toviah Floyd
7. Where can I make copies on campus? Is there a budget for that?
There are multiple places on campus for you to make copies, and some may require
a “code” for your department. Billing does not come directly from your
department’s budget, but rather from a broader copy budget that is overseen by the
IT Center. Copy codes for each department help manage and audit use over the
year.
NOTE: if you have a significantly large copy order you may want to direct your
printing needs to Dale Rusemisel—Copy Center Manager in the basement of Flory
Hall.
--Check with your faculty secretary if you need help accessing your code.
Copy Machine Locations:
First Floor McKinney: see Kelly Coverstone
First Floor Bowman: see Jane Myers
First Floor Nininger: see Gloria Bachman
Third Floor Flory: see Lisa Houff
Second Floor Rebecca: see Ursula Dinkel
First Floor Library: see circulation desk attendant
8. How do I set up my office phone to receive messages?
Check out the IT Center’s website at https://help.bridgewater.edu, click on the
9|Page
“knowledge base link” and scroll down to the “telephone” link. If you click on “more
articles” you see any number of links to help you navigate your office phone.
Classroom/Teaching Concerns
1. How can I best create group activities for students in the classroom?
Talk to your colleagues! Most professors are more than willing to share their ideas.
The College also has a Teaching Resource Group that can provide ideas. Current
members of the TRG include Gavin Lawson, Betsy Hayes, Bill Abshire, Melanie
Laliker, Jamie Frueh, Verne Leininger, and Nan Covert.
2. What's the contact information for the current head of the Honor Council?
The Honor Council Chairperson for 2011-2012 is Dudley Strosnider:
[das005@eagles.bridgewater.edu]. If you have any questions about the process you
are welcome to contact Ms. Strosnider directly or one of the three faculty advisors to
the Honor Council: Cathy Elick, Betsy Hayes, or Ed Lickey.
3. What's the best way to network with other faculty?
It’s hard to come up with a single answer to this question. We are still a relatively
small faculty cohort and honestly a very friendly and supportive community, so
informal and ad hoc connections seem to work well here for us. Talk to colleagues.
The summer Pedagogy Lunch Discussions and this FAQ document started with
colleagues talking and deciding something needed to be done. The good news is
that if there are two or three faculty members interested in something, there is a
good chance something can come of this interest. Of course, this is especially true
when the thing doesn’t cost a lot or can be accomplished by the interested parties
working more or less on their own, but the message here is to speak up and actively
listen for others who share you interests or concerns.
4. Where can I get help when I have a teaching problem to solve?
As with all teaching related questions, don’t hesitate to talk to your
colleagues! Most professors at Bridgewater enjoy talking about pedagogy. The
Teaching Resource Group can also provide ideas or more direct assistance. For
example, if you’ve been struggling with an ongoing challenge, members of the TRG
are more than willing to observe your class, give you feedback, and help you process
viable solutions. You are also welcome to attend their classes to get a feel for how
other faculty approach issues. Current members of the TRG include Gavin Lawson,
Betsy Hayes, Bill Abshire, Melanie Laliker, Jamie Frueh, Verne Leininger, and Nan
Covert.
5. What teaching methods seem to work best for different kinds of students?
Big question! The answer is also broad. If you visit classrooms across campus, you’ll
find quite a range of teaching strategies - from traditional lecture style to free
ranging discussion and activity based methods. You are free to develop your own
approach. Think about what will work best in in order to achieve the outcomes you
seek; what will facilitate engaged learning among your students; what works best
10 | P a g e
with your subject matter; how might you vary your practices to address different
academic levels, number of students, and your own interests and skills. Talk to
colleagues. They’ll be happy to share what has worked here for them. Also, this is
another question that brings the Teaching Resource Group to mind.
6. Are there good class/course development resources available and what are they?
Another big question! A book you might check out is “What the best college
teacher’s do” by Ken Bain (2004), and while this is not specific about any discipline,
it does have an entire chapter on preparing to teach. You might talk to your
colleagues either on or off campus who have taught or developed the same or
similar course. Bridgewater also has a Teaching Resource Group to access for help!
7. How do experienced teachers go about creating a syllabus and design a course?
There are whole books on the subject, including Grunert’s “The Course Syllabus, A
Learning Centered Approach,” (1997). You might talk to your Bridgewater
colleagues who have taught or developed the same or similar course; for example it
might be helpful to talk to others who have taught world history at BC. Another
source of help can be other faculty off campus who teach the course you are
interested in developing. Bridgewater also has a Teaching Resource Group to access
for help!
8. Are there standard expectations about classroom manners – food, cell phones, arriving
late, etc.?
The college does not have a universal policy related to these issues and, for the most
part, it is up to you. Some professors do not allow any food while others allow
students to eat as long as it does not disrupt the class. Some professors close/lock
the door as soon as class begins while others allow students to filter in. Most
professors have a “no cell phone” policy and students are aware that the use of cell
phones during class is inappropriate. However, new safety policies require that at
least one person in the room – it may be you or a student you designate to have a
phone on but set to vibrate rather than ring – have a cell phone on so that
emergency alerts can be received. Regardless of your expectations, it is a good idea
to include them in writing in your syllabus.
9. Are there midterm grades or reports or just finals?
You will be asked to submit midterm grades as well as final grades. Due dates for
midterms are published in the College Catalog and are usually due at 8:00am of that
date. Midterm and Final Grades should be posted on WebAdvisor. You can either
give a letter grade at midterm or an S/U to note satisfactory/unsatisfactory progress
in a course. NOTE: No “Incompletes” can be given at midterm. It is always best to
“round down” at midterms to “flag” that a student is currently on the cusp of two
grades—it is much easier for a student to go from a B+ to an A-, than from an A- at
midterms to a B+ as the final grade.
10. Is there a standard grade scale? Can we assess pluses and minuses?
11 | P a g e
There is not a Bridgewater standard scale, though many faculty use a 10 point scale
of 90 and above for an A, 80-90 B, etc. Bridgewater does support the plus/minus
designations for grades, and it is up to individual faculty to decide how and when to
use them! Some departments have developed a department policy for grading so if
you are unsure of how you want to proceed, check with your department members.
11. How important are final exams typically in a BC class?
This is another question that must be answered with “it depends” and varies from
professor to professor. There is not a campus wide standard for how much final
exams count or whether they are comprehensive tests covering the whole
semester’s work or just the last test of the semester. Different professors work
under very different assumptions about the use and value of finals. On one extreme
are those professors who take finals very seriously, viewing these tests as necessary
summations of the whole semester. In these courses final exam grades are big
factors in calculating semester grades and often cover material from the whole
course. At the other end of the spectrum are colleagues for whom finals play a
relatively minor role. Some even exempt students with high averages at the end of
the semester. You are free to find your own place in this continuum. Be sure to make
your stance on final exams clear to your students so that they know what to expect,
and how to prepare for your finals.
12. What is the procedure for ordering textbooks through the bookstore?
For the best information for ordering textbooks you should contact Jon Overacker or
Betty Hall at the Bridgewater College Bookstore (campus extension 5334). The
general procedure for ordering course textbooks is that the bookstore will send you
an order form for each course approximately one month into the semester
proceeding the semester for textbook adoption. You will fill out the form with the
textbook information and submit it to the bookstore by the designated time period.
Textbooks can also be ordered through the bookstore webpage
(https://www.bkstr.com/Home/10001-10416-1?demoKey=d) using eDoption.
There are also links to custom publishing and course packets available on-line.
Equipment/Supply Concerns
1. How do I get a van for a field trip?
To drive the large passenger vans, you need to watch a safety video with campus
safety (campus extension 3758) and take a short exam. To set up a date/time for a
van or car, you will need to set up an account with the BC maintenance department
using this procedure:
Your password to submit work requests is "password".
1) Click this URL: http://www.myschoolbuilding.com. (To make the process faster, you
may want to bookmark this URL.)
2) Type in this account number 178401883
3) Click "Submit Organization" button and the request submittal page will appear.
4) Type in your request information along with the other required information such as
your name and submittal password and click the submit button. (Your password is
12 | P a g e
indicated above in this message.)
5) Your new request will then appear in a list on the left. You can edit new requests until
they have been assigned.
You may want to check with Diana Miller (campus extension 5751) to confirm you
have the van or car reserved.
2. How do I arrange to show a movie on campus outside of class?
Bridgewater College has a local Cable Channel (Channel 15) that can be used to
show movies outside of class. Begin by checking the library calendar to find a free
time to show your movie (see http://www.localendar.com/public/alexmack).
Contact Laura Adams (ladams@bridgewater.edu) and let her know the title of the
movie (The title must be available at the Library for it to be shown on campus) and
the date and time you would like it to be available for students to view (the viewing
time must be during library hours and can only be shown one time).
Alternatively, you could schedule a room on campus with an available audio-visual
system, checkout the movie from the library, and show the movie anytime.
3. How do I place an order?
This varies by department. In some departments, faculty have budget
responsibilities and so they directly write purchase orders (PO’s) in the Datatel
system, the PO is then approved and either the business office places the order or
the individual faculty member places the order. Some departments have the
building secretaries enter PO’s. Your department chair and colleagues will be a
valuable reference point!
4. How do I use the projection system in my classroom or report a problem if I notice one?
Again, the IT Center manages all telecommunications, computer networks, the cable
television services, and classroom projection systems. You can access information
or report problems via the IT Center’s website at https://help.bridgewater.edu.
5. How do I purchase work supplies from the campus bookstore?
Departments have differing procedures for ordering supplies through the
bookstore. Check with your Department Chair for details on how to order supplies.
You may be asked to submit orders directly to your chair, to the departmental
secretary, or obtain the materials yourself using a department account number.
Resources/Funding Concerns
1. Is there money for field trips?
Check with your Department Chair about the budget, money may have been set
aside for trips! Otherwise, you can figure the cost of a trip, divide this sum up
among your students, and collect the money.
2. How long can faculty check out books or other materials from the library?
13 | P a g e
Faculty can check out books for 120 days and audiovisual materials for 2 weeks.
Special collections, periodicals and reference material can only be viewed in the
library. Faculty can renew books one additional time by phone (campus extension
5413) or by emailing circulation@bridgewater.edu.
3. How do I place items on reserve in the library? What if it is my material I want on
reserve? What if I want to put something from the library on reserve?
The staff at the desk will help you with the forms for a reserve if you go to the
library. If the library owns the material you want to reserve, here is the web link
you can use to set up a reserve:
http://www.bridgewater.edu/StudentServices/AlexanderMackMemorialLibrary/Li
braryServices/ReserveForm
If you want to reserve your own materials (videos, books, etc.), take them to
Helen Semones (Circulation Supervisor) or the staff at the desk. They will help
you with the forms, and they will even send your materials back to you via
campus mail at the end of the semester! Additional questions? The library has
its own FAQ page:
http://www.bridgewater.edu/StudentServices/AlexanderMackMemorialLibrary
/LibraryInformation/FAQsForFaculty.
It is no longer advantageous to place an article on reserve; we encourage you to use
Moodle as an excellent repository for your course documents. This also allows you
to follow appropriate copyright law, by limiting readership to just the students
enrolled in your course. See Kristy Rhea in IT for Moodle tutoring, but you can begin
the process by scanning articles into a PDF file (a scanner is available as part of most
copy machines in classroom buildings) and place it on your course BCMoodle page.
4. Will the library purchase books, journals, films, etc. that I want access to (or I want my
students to access)?
YES! Each department has a separate budget line at the library for purchase of
materials. Again, when interested in placing an order, check with your Department
Chair in advance as different departments follow different protocols for putting
together an order. If your Department Chair has given you the “green light” for
submitting an order, the library staff can help you place an order! You can also use
this web link to make a request:
http://www.bridgewater.edu/StudentServices/AlexanderMackMemorialLibrary/Li
braryServices/PurchaseRequests
5. How do I get keys to the building and rooms where I teach or work?
To get keys or submit other work orders, you will need to set up an account with the
BC maintenance department using this procedure:
Your password to submit work requests is "password".
1) Click this URL: http://www.myschoolbuilding.com. (To make the process faster, you
may want to bookmark this URL.)
2) Type in this account number 178401883
14 | P a g e
3) Click "Submit Organization" button and the request submittal page will appear.
4) Type in your request information along with the other required information such as
your name and submittal password and click the submit button. (Your password is
indicated above in this message.)
5) Your new request will then appear in a list on the left. You can edit new requests until
they have been assigned.
6. What does Bridgewater offer for faculty development? I have heard about travel
money, sabbatical and even college grants, do these things exist and how do I access
these resources?
Yes, they do exist!
A. Faculty members, who are presenting a paper or serve on the board of a
professional organization, can request funding by filling out a Professional
Meeting Application Form available at the following url:
http://www.bridgewater.edu/FacultyAndStaff/FacultyAndStaffForms. The
form can then be submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs (See your Faculty
Handbook for specific details). If funding is approved, a Professional Meeting
Report form is submitted following the conference with the receipts attached.
B. Summer scholarships are available for pursuing an advanced degree or
broadening your knowledge in the teaching field and must be submitted to the
Vice President for Academic Affairs five months prior to the summer program
(See your Faculty Handbook for specific details).
C. College grants are also available. Each year the Vice President for Academic
Affairs (VPA/A) announces an internal faculty grant program which faculty
members apply for up to $1200 to pursue professional development. Look for
details from VPA/A each September. Also throughout the year the VPA/A will
announce research grant opportunities made available through the VFIC and the
Mednick Foundation. Be sure to keep your eyes open for these opportunities.
Also faculty members interested in pursuing grant funding for professional
development projects should contact Jada Blinn, our Grant Writer (campus
extension 5498) for assistance.
D. After six full years of service tenured faculty members may apply for a sabbatical
leave of absence. Specifics regarding this program and its requirements are
available in the Faculty Handbook.
7. Does my department have a budget? How do I find out about buying lab or lecture
supplies?
Check with your Department Chair about the budget. The usual time frame for
setting up a departmental budget is for the department chairs to submit tentative
budgets and new requests in December. After various meetings and approval by the
administration, the budget becomes available on July 1st, the start of Bridgewater’s
fiscal year.
8. How much does it cost to eat at the campus dining hall? How do I put money on my
BC card so that I can swipe it at the dining hall? Is there anywhere else to eat on
campus?
15 | P a g e
The faculty cost for lunch at the dining hall is $4.00 per meal. They do not accept
credit/debit cards so you need to pay with cash or check or put prepaid meals on
your BC card. If you put blocks of 5 prepaid meals on your BC card, every 5th meal is
free! You can put prepaid meals on your card by going to the Chartwells Office
located inside the dining hall (on the raised platform on the right hand side). For
hours of operation, menus, and nutritional information go to
http://www.dineoncampus.com/bridgewater/. There is also food available at the
Eagle’s Nest located on the basement floor of the Kline Campus Center but they do
not accept your prepaid meals. Crimson Café, located in between the Wright &
Heritage Hall on the 1st floor offers cold & hot coffee drinks as well as sandwiches,
shakes & smoothies. You can also get sandwiches, fruit, chips, and cookies in the
lobby of Bowman Hall.
In conclusion, we hope that you have found this list of Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs) to be helpful. Of course, we are sure that we have not answered all of your
questions and we encourage you to talk with other faculty, department chairs, and
administrators. Everyone is here to help! Finally, for further reading we suggest
Advice for New Faculty Members: Nihil Nimus by Robert Boice. In the section on
teaching, Boice elaborates on his eight rules of moderation (p. 99):
1. Wait, reflect, and learn--rather than rush, working impatiently and
impulsively.
2. Begin early at truly important tasks, before feeling fully ready.
3. Work in brief, economical sessions.
4. Stop in a timely fashion, before diminishing returns set in.
5. Moderate over attachments to what you prepare, present--and
overreactions to criticism.
6. Moderate negative thoughts and excessive emotions.
7. Let others, even critics, do some of the work.
8. Teach with compassion, communicate with immediacy and
comprehension, and thus decrease student (and faculty) incivilities.
Happy reading!
16 | P a g e