University of Minnesota  FAQ

Teaching and Learning: Instructor and Unit Responsibilities (Crookston, Morris, Rochester, Twin Cities)

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Questions?

Please use the contact section in the governing policy.

  1. How do these instructor responsibilities apply to courses in which instruction is provided by more than one individual, for example, a course in which a faculty member and teaching assistants share responsibilities?

    The person in charge of the course (e.g., the lead instructor, course coordinator, faculty member supervising teaching assistants who work with the faculty member within a course) is responsible for ensuring that each instructor is applying consistent standards and policies in all sections of the course. The lead instructor is responsible for communicating this information to teaching assistants, responding to questions, and ensuring a common understanding among everyone who is part of the instructional team for the course.

  2. What does “sufficient promptness” regarding grading entail?

    Students have the right to understand their academic standing in a course in order to make adjustments to their learning approach or to make registration decisions. Instructors should return work within a reasonable timeframe (e.g. 1-14 days) and communicate the timeframe to students.

  3. A student does not have an accommodation letter from the Disability Resource Center (DRC), but is asking for an accommodation. What should I do?

    Instructors should consult the Administrative Policy: Excused Absences and Makeup Work. If a student is requesting a disability-related accommodation, instructors should direct the student to work with the DRC to obtain it.

  4. What are instructor responsibilities regarding disability-related accommodations for a student who has an accommodation letter from the DRC?

    Unless the accommodation request presents an undue hardship, instructors should make every effort to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the accommodation letter provided by the DRC. A reasonable accommodation could include the provision of additional time for assignments or exams; private or semi-private environments for test-taking; a modification to written materials to make them accessible; the provision of class notes; or the provision of readers, interpreters, or assistive technologies.

    Instructors should consult with Human Resources or the Office of the General Counsel before concluding that an accommodation would create an undue hardship.

  5. What are instructor responsibilities regarding accommodating makeup work?

    Instructors should refer to the Administrative Policy: Excused Absences and Makeup Work for more information. Additionally, instructors are encouraged to provide alternative accommodations such as short-term remote learning options, if reasonable to do so.