Resources
Academic Computer Center
Support services for courses which require the use of computers are provided by the Academic Computer Center, located in the Elva Jones Computer Science Building on the first floor.
Advising Resources
Information needed for academic advising will be found in the academic advising manual to be issued to each advisor and available in the Academic Advising Center in Carolina Hall. In order to provide effective advisement, faculty members should be familiar with general graduation requirements and the programs of their own departments, as listed in the university catalog. Since students have six years to graduate under the requirements of the catalog in force when they first enroll, advisors will need to keep previous catalogs and be aware of changes that have been made in requirements. Returning students are governed by the catalog that was in effect when they entered. Students must enroll under a new catalog after the 6th consecutive or interrupted enrollment. The Office of Admissions determines transfer of CORE credits. Department chairpersons determine transfer of all other courses subject to approval by the registrar.
Individual program substitutions must be recommended by the head of the department offering the program involved and approved by the division director.
All faculty members should exercise care to be sure that the information they convey as advisors is correct and clear. Generally, students should be referred to their own advisors or department heads for academic advice unless the issue is clearly one which involves another department.
Assistance for Impaired Students
The Academic Resource Center has funds for providing assistance, including readers and aides, for students with impairments. Some specialized materials are already on hand, and others can be purchased as they are needed. Faculty members are asked to encourage eligible students to discuss their needs with the Academic Resource Center director. Students who do so will receive useful assistance and expand the university's resources.
Classroom and Office Repairs
Overall maintenance and operation of university facilities and grounds is the responsibility of the Facilities Management Department. These duties include not only maintenance and repair but also moving and hauling, set-ups for special events and attention to occupational safety and health. For each university building there is a designated coordinator who assumes general responsibility, acts as the contact person for requests for Facilities Management services, and requests and issues keys.
When classrooms, offices, or other university facilities need repair, the need should be reported to the building coordinator, who completes a "Work Request Form" and submits it to the Facilities Management Department. Emergency repair needs, such as those that present imminent danger to life and limb or property, should be reported in the same way if possible, but if the building coordinator is unavailable they should be reported directly to Facilities Management.
Counseling Center
The Counseling Center provides vocational counseling, personal and social counseling, and counseling for students in academic difficulties. Withdrawals from the university are also handled by the Counseling Center. Faculty members should encourage students to make use of the center's resources, particularly if they suspect a student is seriously upset or has not realized that help is available. The following guidelines may be useful in recognizing that a student should be strongly urged to seek professional counseling:
- A faculty member should make the counseling staff aware of any student who behaves in a manner which could be interpreted as inappropriate or different from previous observations. The counselors will assess the individual and determine what steps are to be taken to provide assistance.
- If any student speaks or acts in a manner which suggests that he or she may inflict harm to self or others, that person should be referred immediately to the Counseling Center. This should be done even if only the slightest doubt exists in the faculty member's mind about the individual's stability.
- A student may be referred directly, or if the faculty member prefers, by notifying the Counseling Center so that counseling staff can make contact. In either case the counselors should be made aware of the nature of the situation. All information given to the staff will be held in the strictest confidence and in accordance with the privacy rights of both the individual and the faculty member.
Grant Proposal Assistance
The Office of Sponsored Programs provides services and review for faculty and other members of the university community seeking external funding for research or educational projects. Contact this office for additional information.
Academic Resource Center
The Academic Resource Center, located in the Hauser Building, is an innovative learning laboratory where students come (by referral or on their own) to use a variety of materials as aids or supplements to their learning. The center houses supplementary and programmed texts and workbooks, audiovisual resources, supplies and equipment for preparation of posters and other graphic materials, computers and typewriters for student use, and various aids for students with special needs. Teachers may place audiovisual materials on reserve, and records of students who use them can be maintained. Students looking for a quiet place to study are welcome in the center. Some free tutoring is available in the Academic Advising Center, and schedules for this service are posted early in each semester.
Departments also provide peer and faculty tutoring on a regular basis. Please confer with the chair of the department in which the course is offered for further information.
PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automated Teaching Operations).
PLATO is a computerized learning system programmed to generate various courses, all of which supplement classroom activities or may be used for independent study. The system maintains a record of students' progress and prints up-dated, comprehensive reports about each student or an entire class. PLATO system is located in the Hauser Building in the Academic Resource Center. For additional information, contact the Academic Resource Center Director.
Library Support
The resources of the C. G. O'Kelly Library are discussed in Chapter VI of the Faculty Handbook. This section highlights several services of special interest to faculty members planning classes and assignments.
The library's Reference Department arranges bibliographical instruction to meet the needs of particular courses. Faculty members are encouraged to ask about orientation sessions, special bibliographies, research assistance, and other special services tailored to the requirements of both introductory and advanced classes. Books and articles, including photocopies, may be placed on reserve for student use at the Circulation/Reserve desk.
Reference books and unbound periodicals may also be placed on reserve. Faculty are asked to help protect the accessibility of items that are in heavy demand. The library requests prior notification of major research or other library assignments. This will allow the library staff to help clarify assignments and broaden students' understanding of the research process.
Several rooms and areas in the library may be reserved for individual class meetings or for group study sessions.
Identification Cards
Identification cards for both faculty and students are made in the Ram Card Office, 203 Thompson Student Services Center.
Supplies
Many office and educational supplies are available from the department secretary, and others may be found in the various facilities discussed in this chapter. To request the purchase of materials not already on hand, faculty members should use the requisition and purchasing process described in Chapter III of the Faculty Handbook. It should be noted that misuse of state property is a very serious violation of state law, and faculty members should be careful to avoid even the appearance of impropriety in this area.
Library orders are placed through the department head and the library's Acquisition Department through a procedure that will vary slightly from department to department. Confer with the department chair to place orders for library materials.
Textbooks
Students purchase textbooks from the WSSU Bookstore. Departments receive adoption request forms from WSSU Bookstore. Additional books and periodicals may also be stocked.
Use of University Facilities
Facilities in Kenneth R. Williams Auditorium, Cleon F. Thompson Jr. Student Services Center and campus classroom buildings may be reserved for use for special events. In each case, the reservation must not conflict with previously scheduled uses, including class meetings, and must be made in advance with the person responsible for the building. Regulations governing the use of Kenneth R. Williams Auditorium and the space in the Thompson Student Service Center are found in the current Student Handbook. To reserve a facility in a classroom building, call the person responsible for the building. For example, to reserve an audiovisual classroom in Hall-Patterson one calls the office of the chair of the Department of English and Foreign Languages.
Facilities of various types are available in the Albert H. Anderson Center. For details call the Director of the Anderson Center.
Computer Access
Winston-Salem State University is committed to encouraging faculty computer literacy. Faculty workshops are offered at varying levels of sophistication, and regular data processing and computer science courses are open to faculty on the same basis as other courses.
The major computer facility is the Virginia K. Newell Academic Computer Center, located on the ground floor of the Elva Jones Computer Science Building. Other facilities include the Rayford A. Means Computer Laboratory located in the R. J. Reynolds Center, the multimedia computer lab located on the second floor of O'Kelly Library, and the teacher education laboratory found in the Curriculum Materials Center, Anderson Center. Computers of several types may be used at various places on campus, and a number of different software packages are available. Call the Newell Academic Computer Center and other appropriate offices for current information.
In addition to these computing facilities, each departmental and program office is equipped with a terminal connected to the mainframe located in the Administrative Data Processing Center. This terminal allows access to the Student Information Systems (SIS), which contains information needed to advise students during the pre-registration, registration, and advisement conferences. Information about training and operations can be obtained from the SIS Coordinator, Office of Information Technology Systems.
Winston-Salem State University Teleclass/Conference Facility
The John and Lillian Lewis Microelectronics Center houses the campus Teleclass/Conference Center Facility which maintains multi-channel connections to the state's two interactive video/data networks, NC-REN (North Carolina-Research, Education Network) and NCIH (North Carolina Information Highway). The networks provide Winston-Salem State University faculty, staff, and students with access to a growing number of educational and research resources across the state and beyond. Participants at the university facility can interact face to face with individuals at multiple locations across the state. Network sites include four-year institutions, community colleges, middle schools, high schools, libraries and state agencies. Interactive activities offered through the facility include credit courses, seminars, workshops, and conferences that cover a wide range of subjects and disciplines. The facility also operates a satellite dish that is equipped to receive programs from both C and KU band satellites and, via uplink transmission dishes attached to NC-REN, originate programs that can be distributed nationally by satellite. Other facility services include in-class video-taping playback, tape duplication, Internet/Web access and training. In addition, the facility can provide dial-up connections to thousands of videoconference centers worldwide.
The facility, located on the ground floor of Anderson Center, consists of a 20-seat classroom, a six-seat teleconference room, and a control area. Both rooms provide real time, interactive video connections with multiple sites. In addition to the primary facility, video/audio signals can be routed to three, 30-seat conference rooms and two conference rooms in the Continuing Education wing of the Anderson Center.
Travel
When faculty members travel on university business or receive assistance to attend a professional conference, they must first secure authorization through the department head, the division director, and the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The appropriate travel authorization form (see Attachment J) must be filed at least one week in advance for in-state travel and in-state travel requiring a tuition/registration fee in excess of the state maximum.
Authorization for travel assumes that transportation will be by university-owned vehicles or by common carrier. Travel, by air, when it is necessary will be reimbursed at the tourist rate. If a state car is requested but is unavailable, the university may authorize the payment of a mileage allowance for the use of an employee=s privately owned car. State cars must be used for university business only, and employees to whom vehicles are issued will be held accountable for misuse. State cars must be returned to the maintenance/garage area immediately upon completion of each trip. For further information, contact the Accounting Office. Claims for subsistence are not paid unless the expense is incurred when overnight travel is involved. The employee will be reimbursed only up to the amount allowed by state regulations for in-state and out-of-state travel. Lodging expenses are reimbursed at the full amount incurred. The employees must submit a travel expense voucher (see Attachment L) supported by receipts for all reimbursable expenses except meals within five calendar days after the trip is completed. If only a partial reimbursement has been approved, receipts need be submitted only up to the approved total. For more information, contact the Accounting Office.
Leaves, Vacations, and Absences
Faculty members may arrange for leaves of absence without pay for one or more semesters, not to exceed two years in succession, for certain purposes. Appropriate purposes may include research, visiting lectureship or teacher exchange, advanced study or professional enhancement, and public and military service. Leaves may also be granted to accommodate personal and family needs of the faculty member. Such leaves will not prejudice the family member's position regarding future promotion in rank, tenure, or other forms of advancement. Cost-of-living raises will be given for the next year, and merit will be determined in the same way as for faculty not on leave.
Written requests for leave will be made through the department chairperson, who will forward the request along with a completed Personnel/Budget Action Form to the chancellor through the established channels of communication: the division director, the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the Budget Office, the Personnel Office. The faculty member will receive an official response from the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs within 10 working days of receipt of the request. In some cases, the faculty member may arrange to continue retirement and health insurance benefits. The Personnel Office will determine the status of benefits for each case based on current state guidelines.
Faculty members employed for 12 months are entitled to earned sick leave as provided by the State Personnel Act. Those employed for shorter contract periods are not entitled to sick leave or to vacation leave. For further discussion of absences due to illness, see below:
Emergency leaves for serious illness or death in the immediate family, quarantine of the home where the faculty member resides, or other such emergencies may be granted if the regular duties of the individual are assumed by other staff members without additional expense to the university.
Parental leave, without pay, may be requested by the natural parents of a newborn infant and the parents of a newly adopted child under five years of age. The point at which a natural mother's maternity leave begins and the time at which she returns will be determined in consultation with the employee, based upon the advice she has received from her physician. Faculty members are encouraged to attend educational and professional meetings in order to keep abreast of current ideas and trends in their fields. To obtain leave the faculty member should make arrangements for any classes to be missed and turn in a completed Faculty and Staff Absence Report sheet (see Attachment I) at least one week in advance. The cost of attending a meeting is normally the faculty member's own responsibility, but some assistance may be available from the academic department or from the Faculty Development Committee.
Other absences from regular campus duties also require permission at least one week in advance, requested on Faculty and Staff Absence Report sheet and approved by the department head or the division director. The faculty member who wishes to be absent must make substitute arrangements for any classes that will be missed. As far in advance as possible, absences due to illness should be arranged for in the same way, but in case of emergency illness the faculty member need only inform the department head or division director immediately and complete the Faculty and Staff Absence Report sheet upon returning to campus.
Doctoral Study Leaves
Faculty who have been at Winston-Salem State for at least two full-time years may apply for study of up to two years in order to work toward a terminal degree. Renewal of such leave must be requested annually, and requests for extensions beyond the two-year period must be made at least five months in advance of the scheduled return date. Under some circumstances the university may be able to provide access to sources of funding. Contact the office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for further information.
University of North Carolina Tuition Remission for Faculty Members
Full-time faculty and staff members may take one tuition-free course each semester at any constituent institution of The University of North Carolina. They must be academically eligible to enroll, space must be available in the course, and the course must not interfere with the performance of their normal duties. Only courses taught during the regular term academic year are included, not summer school, extension courses, continuing education, or correspondence courses. To take advantage of this benefit, the faculty or staff member must complete an Application for Faculty/Staff Tuition Waiver (see Attachment K), have it properly endorsed, and deliver one copy to the employing institution, and one at the institution where the course is to be taken. Faculty members taking advantage of this provision may be required to pay activity fees and other non-tuition charges applicable to part-time students.
Faculty Development Committee
The opportunity for professional development is a key factor in attracting and retaining a strong faculty. The university provides many such opportunities through the Faculty Development Committee.
The committee sponsors on-campus workshops on various topics of professional or pedagogical interest. Additionally, the committee supports travel to professional conferences, provides stipends for instructional projects and study, and coordinates technology training for faculty. All full-time faculty members, at least half of whose salaries are paid from budget line 101-1310, are eligible to apply for grants. Each of these programs is designed to encourage personal growth and enhance effectiveness.
Instructional/Technology Grants may not be used solely for travel. Guidelines for application are as follows:
-- Applications should be submitted to the Faculty Development Committee by mid October (for spring grants) and mid April (for fall and summer grants).
-- The application should include the following: (1) the application forms; (2) a full description of the activity for which funding is requested, including how the activity will enhance a faculty member's effectiveness in teaching or research; and (3) a letter of endorsement from the department chairperson.
Each grantee must sign a document agreeing to the following conditions:
- to return to Winston-Salem State University for a period at least twice as long as the duration of the grant, but in no case for less than one academic year. (This stipulation does not extend or supersede the grantee's current contractual period.);
- to repay the full amount of the grant if the condition in item "1" above is not met;
- to use the funds to engage in activities that improve effectiveness in teaching or research; and
- to submit a report to the Faculty Development Committee upon the completion of the funded activity.
The Faculty Development Committee will review proposals and make recommendations for funding subject to the approval of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Notification of award status will be forwarded by May 1.
Guidelines for Faculty Travel Funds are as follows:
-- A Faculty Travel Grant Application Form should be submitted to the Faculty Development Committee at least 30 days in advance of the proposed trip.
-- The applicant must provide a statement of justification that explains how the proposed travel will benefit the department or the university.
-- The committee will recommend in each case what portion of the cost of the trip will be funded.
-- All recommendations are subject to the approval of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
Applications for support from the Faculty Development Committee must be submitted on the appropriate forms. These forms and additional information may be obtained in the office of the chairperson of the Faculty Development Committee.
Excellence in Teaching Awards
The university sponsors several annual teaching awards to recognize and reward outstanding teaching: The Board of Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, The Wachovia Excellence in Teaching Award, and several Master Teacher Awards.
Criteria for the Board of Governor's Award were established for the University of North Carolina system. Criteria for all Winston-Salem State University institution awards were established in 1994 by the Winston-Salem State University faculty.
The recipients of all excellence in teaching awards are determined by the Teaching Awards Committee, which is appointed by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Candidates for teaching awards may be nominated by students, faculty, alumni, and administrators. The criteria for excellent teaching established in 1994 are based upon:
Instructional Delivery Skills
Instructional Design Skills
Content Expertise
Course Management
Student Mentoring
Personal Attributes/Teaching Philosophy
To be eligible for nomination for the Board of Governors' University of North Carolina System wide Award a faculty member must:
have earned tenure at Winston-Salem State University
have taught at Winston-Salem State University
have demonstrated excellent or exceptional teaching ability over a sustained period of time (e.g., 3 years)
be teaching in the academic year selected
To be eligible for nomination for Winston-Salem State University Institution Awards a faculty member must:
have taught at Winston-Salem State University for at least two years (prior to nomination)
have demonstrated excellent or exceptional teaching ability over a sustained
period of time (e.g., 2 years)
be teaching in the academic year selected
No faculty member may be eligible to receive the Wachovia Excellence in Teaching Award more than once. Faculty may receive the Master Teacher Award more than once.
Each nominee must complete the formal application process to be considered for one of the teaching awards. The application requires the submission of a teaching portfolio and classroom instruction video. Additionally, classroom observations are conducted by the Teaching Awards Committee. The stipends for Teaching Awards are as follows:
Board of Governors' Excellence in Teaching Award ($7,500)
Wachovia Excellence in Teaching Award ($4,500)
Master Teacher Awards ($1,000 - $3,000 each)
Joseph Patterson Master Teacher Award
Bill Sheppard Master Teacher Award
John Fountain Master Teacher Award
Wilma Lassiter Master Teacher Award
Willie Burke Master Teacher Award
Campus Cultural Activities
The university's Lyceum Program offers a variety of cultural activities that include a Performing Arts Series, an Academic Series, the Joseph N. Patterson Lecture and Assembly Series, and other visual, performing and creative arts series. The Performing Arts Series brings in professional musicians, dancers, and theatrical groups to showcase their talents. Most performances are free to full-time students, while ticket prices vary for part-time students, faculty, staff, and members of the community. The Academic Series invites individual performing artists, chamber groups, or small ensembles to do presentations and conduct workshops for students. The Joseph N. Patterson Lecture and Assembly Series also invites guest speakers to lecture on a variety of topics designed to stimulate the cultural and academic atmosphere on campus and to provide motivation and inspiration to students. Faculty members are strongly encouraged to attend all lyceum events and to encourage students to do so as well. Faculty support of other cultural activities sponsored by various campus clubs, organizations, and departments, particularly student performances, is also strongly encouraged.
Library Services
The C. G. O'Kelly Library has a collection totaling more than 193,000 volumes, including subscriptions to more than 1,600 current periodicals, as well as a variety of CD ROM (compact disc read only memory) databases. Several databases can be accessed via the online catalog. In addition to serving the curricular and reference needs of the University, the library acquires books for the general book collection to meet the recreational, cultural, and general reading interests of students and faculty. Books are classified according to the Library of Congress Classification.
The library staff maintains an ongoing acquisitions program, but faculty participation in collection development is strongly encouraged and ensures a comprehensive collection that reflects the instructional programs. Each department has an allocation within the library budget, and books and periodicals are selected through procedures established by the department head.
Bar-coded identification cards issued to new faculty members (as well as to students) in the Ram Card Office function as library cards. These cards are required for all library services.
The library is fully automated. Books are checked out using machine-readable barcodes. Circulation records as well as the catalog are maintained by Innovative Interfaces Online system (INNOPAC). Patrons can search the INNOPAC catalog by author, title, subject, or keyword. For faculty members, the loan period for general collection books is six months. Reference titles can be checked out for short periods - one hour to one day.
Services offered by the reference staff include research assistance, online searches and as time permits, they will do extended reference searches to assist with classes or faculty research. The reference team can access a varied amount of information through the First Search electronic database and other library catalogs that can be searched via the Internet.
Over one-half of the journal collection is maintained in microform to ensure the reliability of the periodical holdings. Plain-paper copiers for microfilm or microfiche are provided to allow patrons ready access to printed materials. Several regular plain paper copiers are in the building for the public's convenience.
The library staff provides general bibliographical instruction, specialized orientations, research sessions, and bibliographies tailored to the needs of particular courses. Faculty should schedule their classes for the varied learning opportunities with the reference staff.
Besides access to its own collection, the C. G. O'Kelly Library staff offers a number of services to assist faculty research. Books and periodical articles not in the collection may be borrowed through inter-library loan; copies of articles may be ordered for the cost of photocopying. Full-time faculty members may obtain borrowing privileges at all the libraries of the constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina by securing a University of North Carolina Cooperative Library Privilege Card form the office of the Director of Library Services. A valid borrowing card may be required to do research in a library even if one does not wish to borrow any materials. The library has individual study rooms for faculty use. Several small group study rooms, as well as four conference rooms can be reserved for small and large group meetings.
The library is open 85 hours per week. The hours are 8:00 AM until 11:00 PM Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM on Friday, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Saturday, and 2:00 PM - 10:00 PM on Sunday. During semester breaks, the hours are normally 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM. Any changes or closings are posted on the outside library door.
Child Care Services
The Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) provides year-round preschool development experiences for children 3-5 years of age. It serves also as a clinical setting for students majoring in various programs including education, psychology, English and art. Activities include reading, math, science, music, art, language arts, computer exposure, drama, field trips, and physical education. ECDC hours are 7:15 AM until 5:15 PM Monday through Friday. The program is administered by the Division of Education. When vacancies are available, children with applications on file receive priority. A fee is charged. For more information, contact the ECDC Director.
