Drury is an independent University, church-related, grounded in the liberal arts tradition and committed to personalized education in a community of scholars who value the arts of teaching and learning. Education at Drury seeks: to cultivate spiritual sensibilities and imaginative faculties as well as ethical insight and critical thought, to liberate persons to participate responsibly in and contribute to life in a global community, to foster the integration of theoretical and practical knowledge.

Use the above rotational week to create your schedule with weekly topics, chapters, assignments and other information as appropriate. A detailed and full schedule should also be posted separately on your course website.

Please note that the weekly schedule dates remains consistent for all classes. Week 1 for January 19 starting classes begin on January 19 and ends on January 24. It's also best to have weekly assignments start and end within these same dates wherever appropriate. Some assignments may span more time than this structure. (Example: papers and presentations)

Class Activities, Interaction, and Participation
Online learning occurs within interactive processes centering on discussions and other individual and/or collaborative activities. In order to benefit from this learning, students ideally need to actively participate 4-5 times per week in the class. A positive and direct correlation exists between frequency of student participation and learning outcomes. Because of that, students are expected to participate 4-5 times per week on class activities.

Contributions by students to these activities form a rich learning environment that is diminished when students do not participate at this level. Set aside the time to be a collaborative partner in everyone's learning.

Detail the course requirements for your class and specify the actual point amounts for each discussion or class participation point award. Specify the rotation process of your discussions.

Describe the course activities, rotational dates, and point awards for each learning activity or participation requirements.

Discussion Grading Rubric
Grading will be according to the following rubric for discussions. Insert any additional requirements for this class along with grading criteria for other projects.

Here's a good example of what to use. Please insert your own or use the following for your class.

Source: Pittsburg University: Assessing Effectiveness of Students Participation in Online Discussions

Summary Listing of Assignments/Grading Schedule

List major assignments, due dates and point values for the course. Align the course objectives with the assignments.

Be sure that your point awards total to your Course Grading Scale.

Note: GIVE specific points for each assignment along with specified dates!

• Group Project (Due Date) = 130 points
• Quizzes (Dates) = 120 points
• Drop Box Assignment, 6 Chapter Assignments @ 40 points each, due on Mondays = 240 points
• Class Participation/ Discussion, 30 points per week = 240 points
• Individual Final Presentation (Due Date) = 120 points
• Final Exam (Dates) = 150 points
• Total = 1000 points

Please note that discussions points in this model form 24% of students' final grade.

Course Grading Scale
This is the place where the faculty member provides the grade scale. The scale below is provided as an example only.

Remember to use actual POINTS...NOT percentages. You can include percentages also, but total points and point breakdowns are the most important statistics for students to better understand your grading.

1000-950 = A
949-901 = A-
900-850 = B+
849-830 = B
829-801 = B-
800-770 = C+
769-730 = C
729-701 = C-
700-670 = D+
669-630 = D
629-601 = D-
600 or fewer = F

Assignment Policy
Insert your policy for assignments. If you reserve the right to change an assignment, indicate it. Example, I will give a week's notice if an assignment changes.

Late Work / Incompletes
Insert your policy for late assignments and issuing an Incomplete. Be very detailed as to how you are going to handle this...no ambiguity.

See the grading schedule below for more information and for Drury's Incomplete grade policy.

Drury Grading Schedule, Standards and Academic Policies
Drury Grade Criteria and Guidelines

A A grade of A involves a level of performance that is completely excellent in the factors indicated in the definition of B.

B A grade of B indicates a higher level of performance than the satisfactory standard defined for a grade of "C." It involves excellence in some aspect of work, such as completeness, accuracy, detail of knowledge, or effective independent work.

C A grade of C represents a satisfactory level of performance which can be expected of any Drury student who gives a reasonable amount of time, effort and attention to the work of the course. Such satisfactory performance should include familiarity with the concept of the course as shown by an acceptable mastery of the information, concepts of skills involved and regular participation in the work of the class.

D A grade of D indicates below standard performance; it is acceptable toward graduation only if offset by superior work in other courses.

S A grade of S (satisfactory) indicates the attainment of a "C" level or better.

F A grade of F indicates an unacceptable level of performance.

I A grade of I is given for incomplete work only if illness or other unavoidable causes prevent the student from completing the course. The student is responsible for contacting the instructor and determining what must be done to remove the "I" grade. Coursework must be completed and the "I" grade replaced with a letter grade within six weeks after the beginning of the semester immediately following the semester in which the "I" was received, please see CGCS catalog for complete I grade policy

U A grade of U (unsatisfactory) indicates an unacceptable level of performance.

IP, DR, DP,DF, WP, WF Please see CGCS catalog

Note: Drury does not give A+ grades as a final, end of semester, grade.

Course Standards
Drury University maintains the highest standard for academic honesty and trusts that each student will perform ethically and professionally when preparing required work for this course. Each assignment must represent the student's original work, even for work designated as group work. Although Drury encourages collaboration between students, and faculty, in the sharing of ideas and experiences, individual work needs to represent the student's original thought and be distinguishably different from other student's work.

Academic Honesty
Academic dishonesty undermines the values of Drury University as well as the educational endeavor. Dishonesty and theft of any kind are not to be tolerated, but the act of cheating in academic work is detrimental to the educational process and ultimately cheats both the student involved and the entire community of scholars. All instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the dean of the college. Please refer to the CGCS catalog for more thorough review of the university's academic dishonesty policy.

Insert your specific policies and consequences for plagiarism -- e.g. zero on assignment with warning, course failure, etc. BE VERY SPECIFIC! Don't use failing grade since a failing grade could range from zero to 69 points. Use points such as zero.

Written Work
All papers are to be college level papers: typed, spell-checked and grammar checked, well written with a logical flow of thought.

ADA Students
Drury University is committed to providing a hospitable environment to academically qualified students with disabilities and to complying fully with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Accommodations will be determined, based on documentation, and communicated to faculty each semester by the College of Graduate and Continuing Studies, with the consent of the student. The dean of the College of Graduate and Continuing Studies is the first person to be contacted by a student requesting a review of accommodations or services. Services for students with disabilities enrolled in Continuing Studies are coordinated by Marti Marlin in academic advising. To begin the process of planning for success, students are encouraged to present appropriate and current documentation well in advance of their first semester of classes. The instructor cannot make any accommodations unless directed to do by the university.