UT Dallas Faculty Handbook

Resources for Instructional Faculty

Whether you're a faculty member, a teaching assistant, or a teaching associate, facing a classroom of students can be a challenge. Below is a collection of documents and websites designed to help you better prepare for the task that will likely consume the bulk of your time as a member of the instructional staff.

Syllabus Templates

In April 2006, the Committee on Educational Policy and the Faculty Senate approved a template for UTD’s syllabi. The template has been reproduced in different formats; choose the format that works best for you.

• Syllabus_Template_Word_Document_2009: This template uses Word 2003 compatible formatting and allows you to insert information under each heading. This is the template most used across the campus.
• Syllabus_Template_Excel_Document_2009: This template uses Excel 2003 compatible formatting and allows you to insert information in each cell. You may need to adjust the size of cells after information is entered.
• Syllabus_Template_Word-Distance Learning_2009: This template provides more targeted headings for distance education courses.
• Syllabus_Template_RTF-document_2009: This template is saved as an RTF document and is usable across word processing software programs.
• Syllabus_Template_Word_Table_2009: This templates uses the Word Table functionality.
• Syllabus_Template_Word_Form_Document_2009: This template uses the Word Form functionality.

Please be advised that the recent passage of House Bill 2504 will require the review and modification of syllabus templates. This activity will take place during Fiscal Year 2010.

Orion/PeopleSoft

General help for navigating through Orion, the Student Information System powered by PeopleSoft, is available through the Orion Training Web Site. However, the Office of the Registrar has produced a 1.2 MB PDF version of the training material for the Faculty Self-Service module to which all faculty should have access. In the Faculty Self-Service module, faculty have access to their schedule of classes, class rosters, and grade rosters. With Adobe Reader, you can access the Faculty Self-Service Manual for review at your convenience.

PDF Documents for Download

• Classroom Diversity
• College Teaching
• FERPA Manual, from the Office of the Registrar
• Grading Efficiency
• Improving Classroom Discussion
• Questions in the Classroom
• The Teaching Portfolio
• Time Management
• Working with Students One-on-One

UT Dallas Websites of Interest

• 2009-2010 Graduate Catalog
• 2009-2010 Undergraduate Catalog
• Academic Calendar
• Academic Dishonesty
• ADA Contacts at UT Dallas
• Advising Contact Information
• BAIT: Behavior Assessment and Intervention Team, from the Senate website
• Campus Maps
• Contact Information about Sexual Harassment
• Counseling Center at UT Dallas
• Dean of Students, Student Life
• FERPA Violation Report Form
• Final Exam Schedule
• Help with Orion
• Judicial Affairs
• McDermott Library
• Office of Educational Enhancement Teaching Resources
• Office of International Student Services
• Office of Student Success and Assessment Online Resources
• Office of Student Success and Assessment Rubrics
• Office of the Registrar
• Orion, the Student Information System from PeopleSoft
• Sexual Harassment Complaints
• Student Learning Resources / GEMS
• UT Dallas Bookstore

External Websites that Address Instructional Issues

• Center for Teaching Excellence, University of Kansas
• Classroom Assessment Techniques
• Course Design
• First Day of Class
• Lecturing and Presenting
• Motivating Students
• Teaching Large Classes
• Tips for Writing Exams