Teaching Requirements, Policies & Procedures

The Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and the Director of the PhD programs assign faculty to courses each academic year. For MSW courses, the Director of Academic Affairs will collect teaching preferences in January for the upcoming academic year. 

Course schedules for each semester, UMB’s academic calendar, the SSW registration calendar, and important dates can be found at: Calendars & Course Schedules

Course coordinators are faculty members responsible for overseeing certain multi-section courses within the SSW. They can share slides and other teaching materials, provide guidance on required assignments, and serve as a resource on course content. If you are teaching a course with a course coordinator for the first time, please schedule a time to meet before the start of the semester.

Instructors do not need to provide a separate PDF or Word document - all students can access the Concourse syllabus from your Bb course.

All MSW instructors are required to use Concourse, a cloud-based syllabus management system that helps the School of Social Work manage and maintain consistent, up-to-date, accessible syllabi that are responsive, viewable, downloadable, and printable from most any device. Faculty and students access the Concourse syllabus from within their Blackboard courses. For more information about Concourse syllabus, please visit the IDEA Team tutorial page.

Syllabus and Course Requirements

While the Concourse syllabus includes information that cannot be changed by the instructor (including course description and learning objectives, school-wide information, and UMB policies), instructors are responsible for providing accurate information about meeting times and location, contact information, course policies, assignments, and the class meeting schedule.

• All courses must include at least two graded assignments, with one being graded and returned before the drop deadline.
• The syllabus must also provide information about ways that students can contact you, whether through regularly-scheduled office hours or by appointment. Instructors have discretion over whether to meet in person, on Zoom, or by phone.
• The semester schedule of classes should include class meeting dates, specific topics covered, assignment due dates, and required readings.

Please review attendance and inform the Office of Records and Registration if a student misses the first two classes of the semester and has not communicated with you.

Students who miss five (5) class sessions or more (both excused and unexcused) cannot pass the course.  If you have a student that is at risk of missing 5 class sessions, we encourage you to send them an email reminding them about the attendance policy. Instructors may also include additional attendance guidelines and expectations in your syllabus (e.g., policies on arriving late or leaving early). If a student has missed 5 classes, email the Office of Records and Registration.

Asynchronous Online Courses Attendance Policy

Students’ participation and attendance in asynchronous courses are assessed through their engagement and completion of weekly course activities, including discussion boards and other assignments. They are expected to log into the course on a weekly basis at a minimum. As an Instructor, you can view students’ log in activity to ensure they are actively involved in the course (e.g., time spent in module, listening to or viewing lectures, etc.). Set guidelines for late assignments and encourage students to maintain communication with you if they’re having trouble completing their work.   Students who miss five (5) weeks of class in an asynchronous course will not be able to pass the course, despite any ability to make up coursework.

Religious Observance Policy

Absences excused for religious observance count toward the maximum number of absences permitted by the SSW attendance policy but cannot impact participation or other measures of course assessment.

An assignment must be graded and returned to the student no later than the ninth week of class (or the 9th class in summer) so that the student may drop a class by the drop date if necessary.

The letters A through C- and F are used to evaluate performance in classroom courses; the letter P (Pass) is the passing grade for field courses and SOWK 610.  Each course grade should be based on at least two grading mechanisms.

Final grades should be submitted by the grade submission due date established by the Office of Records and Registration. Instructors submit final grades via Faculty Web (see below) in SURFS and grades should not be changed once they are turned in unless a mistake was made or other special circumstances. Grade submission due dates are posted on the SSW Registration and Important Dates calendar.

Faculty Web (Grading & Incomplete Grade)

Instructors submit their grades through Faculty Web on  SURFS, the self-service Banner system. The SSW Office of Records & Registration sends an email to all instructors once Faculty Web is open for grading. This email includes detailed instructions on using the system, important due dates, and the incomplete grading policy. If you have any questions about submitting final grades, email that office at sswregistration@ssw.umaryland.edu.

Emergency and Weather-Related Closures

Sign up to receive campus alerts in the event of inclement weather or other emergency conditions:

• Baltimore: http://www.umaryland.edu/alerts/or by calling 410-706-8622.
• USG: https://shadygrove.umd.edu/campus-resources/public-safety/campus-alerts or call USG at 301-738-6000

Announcing Contingency Plans

• Clearly state in your syllabus what students should expect if the campus is closed during a regularly scheduled class time. This could include meeting online or completing alternative assignments.
• If the campus announces a closure, promptly communicate any alternate plans to your students. Use the Announcements tool to post on the course home page and send simultaneous emails.
• Provide students with enough notice to prepare for virtual classes, ensuring they have checked announcements and tested their setup (audio, video, connection speed) before the scheduled class time.
• In situations where you need to quickly inform students and lack internet access, call the IDEA Helpline at 410-870-9663. Leave your name, course number, and section so the IDEA Team can assist you efficiently. Note: after-hours or weekend requests may be addressed the next business day, depending on the team’s availability.

Faculty Absence

• In the event you cannot attend a scheduled class, you must have a plan to notify students. This could involve canceling the class, arranging for a colleague to teach, or providing an alternative assignment.
• Consider creative alternatives like an online module, a film viewing with a reflection paper, or attendance at a campus lecture as a substitute for the missed class.
• In cases of personal emergency, notify students and Dean Lehning if you will be away from the course for more than a week.

An incomplete grade may be given under exceptional circumstances for a student who has made satisfactory progress in the course but because of illness or circumstances beyond the student’s control is unable to complete the course requirements by the end of the semester. 

The grade of “I” may only be considered for a student who:

• Has met the attendance requirements, AND
• has completed half of all coursework with at least a grade of “B” (or a grade of passing for a pass/fail course), AND
• There must be a reasonable expectation that the student will pass the course by the conclusion of the incomplete period.

The instructor retains the right to make the final decision on granting a student’s request for an “I”, even though a student may meet the eligibility requirements for this grade. An instructor may not grant an incomplete unless the eligibility requirements are met.

Incomplete Grade Procedure:

• Students must obtain permission in writing from you for an incomplete “I” grade to be entered. This is evidenced by the submission of an Incomplete Grade Form
• Determine a deadline no later than six weeks from the last day of the semester in which the course was attempted and enter this date into the Incomplete Grade Form. It is the student’s responsibility to complete and submit the remaining coursework before the assigned deadline.
• Submit the grade change, converting the “I” to a letter grade, no more than one week after receiving the student’s completed work. All grade changes must be submitted to the Office of Records and Registration using the Supplemental Grade Form.
• If the course is a pre-requisite for a course in the next semester, submit the Supplemental Grade Form no later than “the last day to cancel registration with 100% refund,” for the following course. This can be found on the Registration and Important Dates Calendar. If you have any questions about incomplete grades, contact the SSW Office of Records & Registration at sswregistration@ssw.umaryland.edu
• If the student does not meet the deadline, the “I” will automatically convert to an F.

Academic Probation: Occurs when a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.0. Students on academic probation are not eligible for an Incomplete, except in Field courses.  Please contact the SSW Office of Records & Registration to determine if a student is eligible for an Incomplete. Students are dismissed after two concurrent semesters on probation, except in special circumstances.

Suspension: Students may be suspended for up to one year for severe violations but can return without reapplying.

Dismissal: Students demonstrating academic failure or problematic professional behavior will be dismissed. This includes multiple failing grades or ethical violations.

Course evaluations are a way for UMSSW to gather feedback that can be used to enhance the curriculum, improve instruction, and celebrate excellence. Please promote course evaluations by allocating time inside or outside of class to highlight the importance of course evaluations. Faculty can access their course evaluations through SmartEvals. The Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs reviews all course evaluations and may reach out to discuss any concerns shared by students.

In rare cases, the SRC reviews allegations of academic dishonesty, unprofessional behavior, illegal actions, or criminal convictions. Instructors may be asked to be involved.  Full SRC policies and procedures can be found here.

The Student Grievance Committee (SGC) is a faculty standing committee that reviews student grievances related to faculty, administrators, or staff actions. It is not responsible for discrimination complaints, which are handled by the Office of Accountability and Compliance. 

SGC shall review any grievance brought to it based on one or more of the following:

1. arbitrary and capricious action on the part of a faculty member in, but not limited to, evaluations or grading. (As defined by the Board of Regents USM Policy II – 1.20, “the term ‘arbitrary and capricious’ grading means:
   • the assignment of a course grade to a student on some basis other than performance in the course;
   • the assignment of a course grade to a student by unreasonable application of standards different from the standards that were applied to other students in that course; or
   • the assignment of a course grade by a substantial and unreasonable departure from the instructor’s initially articulated standards.”)
2. violation of due process according to generally accepted norms of the University community by faculty, administrators, and/or staff;
3. any behavior that violates the University’s Policy on Faculty, Student and Institutional Rights and Responsibilities for Academic Integrity (III – 1.00)

Instructors should be prepared to engage in the grievance process by meeting with students, providing necessary documentation, and participating in mediation if required.

To access the full policy, review the Academic Catalog.

Academic Integrity and Professional Conduct

The School of Social Work (SSW) is dedicated to fostering an educational environment grounded in academic integrity and responsible professional behavior. This commitment aligns with the NASW Code of Ethics and the standards of our academic community. The policies outlined below address academic dishonesty, problematic behavior, and the procedures for managing such issues, with a focus on a restorative approach.  For a complete list of policies, please refer to the Academic Catalog.

Instructor’s Role

Instructors play a crucial role in maintaining academic standards by:

• Monitoring student performance and reporting concerns.
• Upholding academic integrity and reporting dishonesty or unethical behavior.
• Understanding our Academic Integrity Policy, including our Policy on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
• For any questions or if you have concerns about a specific student regarding academic integrity or Student Review Committee referrals, contact Dawn Shafer, Associate Dean for Student Affairs.

Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:

• False reporting of practice in field placement.
• Misrepresentation of classroom work.
• Bribery, seduction, or threats related to performance evaluation.
• Cheating and plagiarism in all forms.

Problematic Behavior

Problematic behavior refers to actions that are contrary to responsible professional practice and may include:

• Jeopardizing the safety or rights of the school community.
• Theft or destruction of property.
• Physical violence or abusive behavior.
• Illegal drug use or distribution.
• Falsification of documents or financial fraud.
• Non-compliance with field instruction site rules.

Restorative Approach

The SSW aims to take a restorative approach to academic dishonesty and problematic behavior. Rather than solely focusing on punishment, we seek to understand the root causes, educate involved parties, and restore the integrity of our academic and professional community.

Reporting and Resolution

Faculty are encouraged to report instances of academic dishonesty or problematic behavior using the reporting form. Dawn Shafer, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, will review reports to discuss and identify appropriate interventions.

Student Review Committee (SRC)

In rare cases, the SRC reviews allegations of academic dishonesty, unprofessional behavior, illegal actions, or criminal convictions. Instructors may be asked to be involved.  Full SRC policies and procedures can be found here.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) adheres to ADA guidelines to ensure equal access for students with disabilities.  UMB prohibits discrimination based on disability in all academic-related activities.

Accommodation Requests

• Direct students to the Office of Educational Support and Disability Services (ESDS) for accommodation requests.
• Accommodations are not retroactive and require approval from ESDS.

Instructor’s Role in Accommodations

• Understand the formal accommodations process managed by ESDS.
  • ESDS has a centralized system to assist students with requesting accommodations.
  • They collect information from the student, engage in individualized discussions, and then forward accommodation requests to me.
  • Dawn Shafer, Associate Dean of Student Affairs, as the SSW liaison, approves or negotiates accommodations, resulting in the final accommodation letter.
  • Students are responsible for providing their accommodation letter to faculty directly. This should include a discussion about its application in class.
  • Avoid informal accommodations and use the formal process for consistency and compliance. Avoid informal accommodations and use the formal process for consistency and compliance.

Supporting Students with Disabilities

• Review ESDS’s Best Practices for Classroom Accessibility for guidance on supporting students with disabilities
• Make course materials, such as PowerPoint presentations, available ahead of time.

Service Animals

• Service animals are recognized as a right under the Americans with Disabilities Act; they do not require ESDS accommodations and should be treated as assistive devices.
• Guidelines for Interaction:
  • Do not ask the student about the animal
  • Do not acknowledge the animal
  • Do not begin or engage in dialogue about the animal, either in class or in field placement
  • Do not attempt to pet the animal
  • Follow the student’s lead and engage differently with the animal if the student indicates that is their preference.
• Emotional Support Animals are not permitted in SSW.

UMB Faculty Policies

https://www.umaryland.edu/policies-and-procedures/library/faculty/policies/

Teaching Policies

• Teaching one course means being the instructor of a 3-credit MSW or PhD level course.
• Co-teaching a course is considered a ½ course load. Teaching a 1-credit course is considered a 1/3 course load. Compensation and workload credit will be adjusted in these cases.
• Faculty are not required to teach a night or weekend class, but the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs/Director of the PhD Program can ask faculty to teach certain sections when necessary.
• Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs/Director of the PhD Program does not guarantee that all courses can be scheduled based on faculty preference.
• All tenure-track faculty should teach at least 1 course per year unless special arrangements are made with the Dean.
• Independent study (SOWK 798) is done on a voluntary basis and is not part of the teaching workload.
• MSW courses are capped at 26 students, except in special circumstances. The Office of Records & Registration may need to add 1-2 students to a course so they can continue to progress through the program.
• A minimum of 12 students must be enrolled in MSW courses one month before the beginning of the semester or the course will be cancelled, except in special circumstances (e.g., the course is a requirement for a fellowship program).
• When a course is cancelled, full time faculty have the following options to meet their course load:
  • take a different course or section assigned to part-time faculty,
  • use an existing buyout or release in their bank,
  • teach a summer course, or
  • teach an additional course the following semester.
• Except in pre-arranged cases, summer courses are not part of full-time faculty workload. Full-time faculty at any rank and in any track can teach a summer course at the rate of $6000.

The following are effective as of 7/1/2022

Pre-Tenure/Assistant Professors (10 month)

• • 40% teaching = 4 courses
  • 50% research
  • 10% service
    • Pre-tenure faculty are expected to attend FO meetings and serve on 2 committees

Tenured/Associate or Full Professors (10 month)

• • 40% teaching = 4 courses
  • 40% research
  • 20% service
    • Tenured faculty are expected to attend FO meetings, serve on at least 2 committees, and take on leadership roles, such as chair, co-chair, course coordinator, or serving on a search committee.

Clinical Professors (any rank) if primarily hired as teaching faculty (10 month)

• • 80% teaching = 7 courses
  • 20% service
    • Clinical professors are expected to attend FO meetings, serve on at least 2 committees, and take on leadership roles, such as chair, co-chair, course coordinator, or serving on a search committee.

School of Social Work Professors (SSWP) if primarily hired as teaching faculty (10 month)

• • 80% teaching = 7 courses
  • 20% service
    • SSWPs are expected to serve on at least 2 committees (curriculum and/or FO) and to take on leadership roles, such as chair, co-chair, course coordinator, or serving on a search committee.

Faculty Role in Advising

Students are likely to seek out faculty for professional advising about their career aspirations and path. The Academic and Career Advisor assists students in developing a plan of study and understanding curriculum requirements. Please connect students to Alex Cosentino-Tich, at sswadvising@ssw.umaryland.edu.

The flow chart below provides an overview of the process for developing a new course. Except in very special circumstances, no new courses will be approved for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Download New Course Flow Chart

Important Process Considerations:

Curriculum Committees will be expected to review a syllabus and provide feedback in the very next meeting if:

• • a complete syllabus is provided to the Committee Chair at least a week before the next meeting, and
  • the proposing instructor can attend.

If the proposing course instructor can make requested revisions between meetings:

• • Curriculum Committees will be expected to review revisions by email, and
  • If revisions are acceptable to members, then the committee will be expected to officially approve syllabus by email.

Important Calendar Considerations:

Courses typically do not enroll if they are added after the course schedule is finalized.

• • The Summer and Fall course schedule is finalized in mid-March; and
  • The Spring course schedule is finalized in mid-October.

Course Buyouts, Releases, and Banks

Buyouts

Faculty can buy out of a course using funds from internal and external grants at a rate of 15% salary. Course buyouts must be used during the grant period. Any exceptions must be approved by the Dean.

Releases

Faculty at any rank or title can earn 1 course release per year for each of the following leadership roles:

• Chair of FEC
• Chair of APT
• Chair of Faculty Search Committee (tenured or tenure track search only)
• Chair of 3 completed dissertation committees (10 committees if member)

Faculty at any rank or title can earn 1 course release per year for the following reasons:

• Part of new hire package for tenure-track and tenured faculty
• Special circumstances as approved by the Dean, Sr. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, or PhD Program Director
• Coordinator of RA Scholars program
• Stats Consultant for SSW
• Chair of SSW Human Subjects Protection Committee

All course releases should be used within the same year but must be used no later than 2 years after receiving the release. Course buyouts and releases should be reported annually to the Office of Academic Affairs.

Banks

Course buyouts and releases should be reported to the Office of Academic Affairs through the annual workload survey. Any banked courses before July 1, 2022 are exempt from any new policies on time limits

• MSW courses are capped at 26 students, except in special circumstances. The Office of Records & Registration may need to add 1-2 students to a course so they can continue to progress through the program.
• A minimum of 12 students must be enrolled in MSW courses one month before the beginning of the semester or the course will be cancelled, except in special circumstances (e.g., the course is a requirement for a fellowship program).
• Faculty Field Liaisons and Faculty Seminar Instructors can visit the OFE’s website to review all policies related to these roles.

Online and Hybrid Course Technology Needs

For instructors teaching a course with any online synchronous course meetings, the SSW may be able to loan audio and other equipment. If you are interested in these resources, contact the Director of Academic Affairs, Scott Stafford.

Adjunct Faculty Levels

Adjunct instructors are critical to our educational mission. All adjunct faculty appointments are non-tenure track, are for one semester terms, and are terminable at the discretion of the Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. Below are the descriptions for UMSSW’s 3 categories of adjunct faculty:

Adjunct I ($4,500): Adjunct Faculty I are hired to provide instructional services and are neither tenured nor eligible for tenure and appointed to teach specific courses and compensated on a course-by-course basis. Adjunct faculty hired to teach practice classes shall hold the terminal degree in social work, the MSW, and their appointment does not have to be reviewed by the APT Committee.

Adjunct II ($5,000): In addition to the qualifications required for an Adjunct Faculty I, Adjunct Faculty II are determined by the University to have a consistent record of high-quality instruction, have a record of teaching at least three years at the SSW and a total of 12 courses of three credits or more, have a series of high-level performance evaluations over the course of at least twelve full semester courses at the University, and have made a written request to the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Adjunct III ($5,500): In addition to the qualifications required for an Adjunct Faculty II, Adjunct Faculty III have a consistent record of high-quality instruction, have a record of teaching at least ten years at the SSW, and have made a written request to the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

To apply for a change in adjunct faculty status, please complete this form. Adjuncts receive credit only for courses taught at the UMSSW when applying for adjunct status increases. After review and approval by the Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, we will confirm your status with an official letter and update your HR profile.

MHEC Policy Link:

All courses meet the Federal and Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) definitions and regulations for assignment of credit hours summarized as follows:

1)     In-person courses include a minimum of 1 hour of direct faculty instruction and two hours of out-of-class student work each week for fifteen weeks per credit. A 3-credit course, therefore, requires a minimum of 45 hours of direct faculty instruction and 90 hours of student work for fifteen weeks.

2)     On-line and Hybrid courses do not require as much “seat time” as in-person classes but the amount of student work expected in each is equivalent to an in-person course, as described above.

3)     Graduate seminar courses meet less than 1 hour a week per credit hour for fifteen weeks, but require a substantial amount of outside student research. Therefore, a 3-credit graduate seminar course requires the equivalent amount of work per semester as a regular in-person 3-credit class but fewer hours of direct faculty instruction.

4)     Field Practica: Foundation year field placements are two full days a week for 6 credits a year: a total of sixteen (16) hours each week for a minimum of fifteen (15) weeks each semester (a minimum of four hundred and eighty [480] hours for the Foundation year). Advanced year field placements are three full days a week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays) for 12 credits a year: a total of twenty-four (24) hours each week for a minimum of fifteen (15) weeks each semester (a minimum of seven hundred and twenty [720] hours for the advanced year).