FAQs

General

How do I get contact information for someone on campus?

Try the Faculty/Staff Directory, which has email addresses and phone numbers for individuals (the Hayward campus telephone operator is 510-885-3000 and the Concord campus operator is 925-602-6700) or, if you don't know the name of the person, try the Campus Directories page.

A Faculty Expertise Directory is available here

What to do if a student is in distress?

Who do I call in case of emergencies?

From a campus phone, "911" will go to the University Police Department. From your cell phone, "911" goes to the California Highway Patrol in Vallejo. It is a good idea to program 510-885-3333 (the University Police Department Emergency Number for Hayward) or 925-602-6737 (the UPD Emergency Number for Concord) in your cell phone for emergencies on campus!

Who can I talk to about getting funding or grants?

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (Located SF 302) They assist faculty with finding sources of funding, the writing of proposals, and obtaining University approval for the proposals.

What is a Personal Holiday and how do I use mine?

Each faculty employee is allowed one personal holiday (a calendar day) during each academic year (it is forfeited if not used). It is presumed that, in the interest of the instructional program, teaching faculty and department chairs will exercise judgment in scheduling the personal holiday, and, except under unusual circumstances, a member of the faculty will not request scheduling of the personal holiday on a day when he/she has teaching responsibilities or will assist the department in finding a substitute. Information about personal holidays is in Article 33 of the CBA.

Where can I find information about internships for students?

The Academic Advising and Career Education office has some internship search pages. Those looking to create internship or fieldwork opportunities in exchange for academic credit should see the Center for Community Engagement on campus.

Professional Leave

PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA USED IN SABBATICAL LEAVE APPLICATION AND DIFFERENCE IN PAY LEAVE APPLICATION

Article 27 Collective Barganing Agreement

Sabbatical DIP procedures

What is service?

It is a faculty member being on committees or work groups within a department, a college, or the University. Service is documented in your dossier and is an element considered for promotion, tenure, and retention.

What is community-based learning?

Service learning is having students or a class learn lessons on the subject while serving the community. This might be through outreach to the community events, internships for individuals or small groups, or certain kinds of course fieldwork. Much more information is available at CSUEB's Center for Community Engagement

How can I meet faculty members outside of my department?

The Office of Faculty Development is one place to meet colleagues, through Faculty Learning Communities, workshops, the Mentoring Program, and social events. Performing service to one's College or the University, such as the Academic Senate is another way. Some campus-wide social events, such as the annual faculty/staff picnic in the Spring, are announced via MassMail.

Where can I find help teaching or about my classroom?

On the web, The Faculty Teaching page has numerous useful links, as does the Concord Campus Faculty Services Office. In person, the Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching (see FaCET in the glossary) has numerous references in its library and people to offer advice.

How do I set up or access voice mail?

Voice mail is maintained by telephone services. They have instructions for voice mail setup on the linked page. About halfway down that same page are instructions on how to access voice mail. At the bottom of that page are instructions for how to access voice mail remotely.

Will somebody walk with me to my car?

Advising

What is General Education?

General Education (GE) is the set of specific area requirements for all baccalaureate students (regardless of major). According to the CSUEB GE webpage: "The goal of General Education (GE) coursework is to give [students] a broad sampling of different academic areas. This sampling exposes [students] to varied disciplines, increasing the value and breadth of your total undergraduate education. G.E. coursework allows [students] to discover new interests that may open a whole new range of opportunities for further study or career choice." The GE subcommittee of CIC recommends new courses to satisfy GE requirements and periodically evaluates existing courses to ensure that they meet the GE standards of the University. Students might ask for advice regarding GE courses and unless the advisor is sure of the answer, it is best to direct the student to the GE Office.

What do I do when a student is in need of emotional support?

Be as helpful as you can, but, if the problems are not academic, you ultimately want to guide them to Counseling and Psychological Services(885-3690). You might walk over to CaPS with the student. If you believe that the student is a threat to him/herself or others, call 911 from a campus phone, 510-885-3333 from a cell phone on the Hayward campus or 925-602-6737 from a cell phone on the Concord campus. You should probably document non-academic discussions with your department chair, who might be able to provide more specific guidance for future occurrences. Student care team

What do I do when a student is claiming sexual harassment from another faculty member?

What are the policies and resources for Sexual Harassment?

Faculty members should keep their required trainings up to date and refer to the following:

CSU EB Policy

https://www.csueastbay.edu/orsp/files/docs/policy/sexual-assault.pdf

CSU Systemwide Policy

https://www.csueastbay.edu/riskmanagement/files/docs/eo-1096-rev-3-29-19.pdf

Confidential Advocate

https://www.csueastbay.edu/advocacy-services/confidential-campus-advocate/index.html

How do I advise a student within my department's program?

First and foremost, be familiar with your department's programs! The detailed rules for every major, minor, and certificate program are in the University Catalog. The Catalog changes yearly and students must meet the requirements of either the year they were last admitted to University (if they've come and gone and come back, this can be complicated) or the year they graduate (the student can usually choose). You should have a printed version of the Catalog. Some rules within some programs are flexible (that is, you might be allowed to tell students that they can take one class instead of another); some are not (for example, General Education rules cannot be altered). Speak with your department chair or program advisor before granting the student any changes. If you don't know the answer, tell the student you don't know, but will find out. Then, find out the answer and let the student know! You should probably give the student a "plan to graduate" (a list of courses and the quarters when they should be taken). You can find out which courses a student has taken through MyCSUEB (after logging in, go to "Faculty Center" and then choose "Advisement" and then "new drop-in advisees"; the "unofficial transcript" has the courses and grades, but the "degree progress" section still has problems for most majors and is therefore not recommended). Most departments still have a written "grad check" form. Along with the "unofficial transcript", filling out this form will help you write a "plan" with the student. Sitting in on a few advising sessions with a more senior faculty member is probably a good idea.

What is the University Writing Skills Requirement?

The UWSR is a requirement for all degree programs (including graduate degrees) in the CSU. Students may satisfy this requirement by taking courses, taking the Writing Skills Test (WST), or by getting a high enough score on a standardized college exam. Information about the UWSR and how it may be satisfied can be found here.

What is the Code/American Institution requirement?

For graduation with a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree at California State University, East Bay, students must satisfy the U.S. History, Constitution, and American Ideals requirement. Information about the courses or tests to satisfy these requirements can be found here

Classes, Grading, Schedules, and Rooms

When is my class Final Exam?

Check the "Important Dates" section, then "Schedule" (on the left-hand side), then "Final Exams" (on the left-hand side) in the Schedule of Classes for the quarter of interest.

What is the Campus Policy on Timely Adoption of Textbooks, Course Readers, & Course Materials Ordered through the University Bookstore

Faculty must meet the timely adoption of textbooks etc. deadline or request an extension in order to comply with the Higher Education Opportunity Act. The upcoming deadlines, usually in March for Fall and October for Spring appears on the policy. The dates are updated every three years. U.S. Department of Education Higher Education Opportunity Act - 2008 Academic Affairs Directive 2018-01:Policy on Timely Adoption to Assure Accessibility and Affordability of Textbooks

Where can I find help about my classroom?

What do I do when a student is being disruptive in class?

Disruptive behavior is defined as "behavior that impairs, interferes with or obstructs the mission, purpose, order, academic atmosphere, operation, process and functions of the University is considered disruptive behavior." Establishing an inclusive learning community in your classroom and creating communication guidelines with your students may reduce the possibility of disruptive behavior emerging. Information is available at Dealing with Disruptive Student Behavior.

What do I do when a student is cheating?

What doI do when a student is saying I am being unfair?

What should I know about teaching at the Concord Campus?

The Concord Campus has a wealth of information for faculty members through its Faculty Service Office, which has a FAQ page and a "faculty survival guide". A short list of phone numbers for assistance at Concord.

What should I know about teaching a one night per week class?

Many departments on campus offer one night per week classes to accommodate working students. You should try to schedule classes with particularly difficult content on days that will have at least 10 meetings during the quarter. In order to see how many days per week for each quarter, including schedule adjustments for quarters with multiple holidays, go to OAA and select "Syllabus Planning". Note that courses must meet at least 9 times during the quarter; you must find substitutes for personal holiday or other days you miss class. For advice on how to teach under 1-night-per-week circumstances, speak to colleagues or see an article such as Oscar Wambuguh's.

How much study time should I expect from students outside of class?

A basic assumption at CSUEB is that each student should spend two hours of outside preparation for every hour spent in class; therefore, a student enrolled in a four-unit class should expect to spend eight hours a week doing work for that class.

How can I develop a new course?

First and foremost, your department must agree to offer the course. A "new course request" form (instructions and associated information is in the Curricular Procedures Manual, under "new courses") must be submitted via your department chair to your college Committee on Instruction and Curriculum. Additional review may be needed, depending on whether your course is intended to meet general education requirements or might be viewed as impinging on another discipline's courses.

What do course numbers represent?

The most common course numbers begin with "1" (freshman), "2" (sophomore), "3" (junior), "4" (senior), and "6" (Master's). A more thorough description is in the Catalog (Policy on Course Requirement Information)

Grading: What is an incomplete?

(From the 2007-08 CSUEB Catalog, except for the bracketed notes:) The symbol "I", Incomplete (Authorized), indicates that a portion of required coursework has not been completed and evaluated in the prescribed time period due to unforeseen, but fully justified, reasons and that there is still a possibility of earning credit. [This means the student must be passing the course when an Incomplete is assigned. See WU below.] It is [the student's] responsibility to bring pertinent information to the attention of the instructor and to determine from the instructor the remaining course requirements that must be satisfied to remove the Incomplete. A final grade is assigned when the work agreed upon has been completed and evaluated. [The] instructor will specify the work needed for completion and will communicate the requirements to [the student] in writing with a copy to the department or program chair. An "I" must normally be made up within one calendar year immediately following the end of the term during which it was assigned. This limitation prevails whether or not [the student] maintain[s] continuous enrollment. When [the student completes] the required work and it has been evaluated, [the] instructor will submit a change of grade form and the academic grade will be recorded. If [the student does] not complete [the] work within the allowed time limit, the grade will be recorded as an "IC" (Incomplete Charged). [Note that a form must be filed along with the "I" grade. That form will be linked from the online grades when filed.]

Grading: What is a W?

A "W" is the grade recorded on a student's transcript when the student withdraws from a course between the drop deadline and the 8th week of the course. This notation is controlled by the University and instructors cannot change it. It does not affect a student's GPA.

Grading: What is a WU (and how does it differ from an F)?

A "WU" is a grade assigned to a student when the student fails to complete coursework and does not qualify for an incomplete. For the student's GPA calculations, "WU" and "F" are equivalent.

Grading: What grades can I give? Why can't I give an A+ or a D-?

The Catalog has information on grades (information about incomplete, W, and WU are available by clicking on the corresponding link). State law does not permit "A+" or "D-" grades at the CSU.

What do I do if I cannot make it to my class or office hours for personal reasons?

If you need to miss a class or office hour for any reason, notify your department chair. Whenever possible, arrange to have your classes covered during your absence. You must use your Personal Holiday or sick leave if you miss a course for non-University reasons.

What are office hours and how many do I have to have?

What do I do if a student says he/she cannot make it to my test for a religious observance?

According to the "Policy on Religious Observance" (linked from the Office of Academic Affairs' Policies and Procedures page), "California Education Code Section 89320 requires faculty to reschedule a test or examination, without penalty to the student, when the regularly scheduled test or examination conflicts with the student's religious observances. Students with other scheduling conflicts related to religious observance should bring these to the attention of the instructor in a timely manner, so that the student will be accommodated, if at all possible." If you wish to define "timely matter" as, for example, 2 weeks, you should do so on your syllabus.

What is a course syllabus or outline and what are the requirements for these documents?

(The Office of Academic Affairs has a "Policy on Course Requirement Information" on its documents page.) A syllabus gives the basic requirements of the course (books, tests, grading policy, etc.) and the contact information for the instructor (including office hours, email address, phone number). A course outline has all the information in a syllabus, plus more details such as the dates for all the readings and homework assignments (including the problems covered). The Student Disability Resources Center suggests adding a couple of sentences about accommodations in their Top 5 Best Practices for Faculty document. Many faculty members put a comment about cheating and plagarism, such as "Students are required to read and understand the CSUEB statement on Academic Dishonesty. The Catalog's statement is at the Grading and Academic Standards FAQ. Violation of any of the standards will result in an F in this course and will be documented in the Academic Affairs Office."

How do I learn to pronounce my students' names?

Colleagues or students themselves are a great resource for name pronunciation help. The Office of Faculty Development has a Guide to the Pronunciation of Asian Pacific Names.

Faculty/Shared Governance

What is the Academic Senate?

The Academic Senate (sometimes, just called "Senate") is the faculty governance body. Elected faculty members, as well as administrators, staff members, and students determine policies, such as General Education requirements, grading policies, and the Academic Calendar. Committees of the Academic Senate include CIC, FAC, COBRA, CAPR and CR . There is a statewide Academic Senate that sets rules for the CSU Systemand gives the faculty a systemwide voice. CSUEB sends 2 senators to that body.

What is faculty governance?

Faculty governance is the process of the faculty determining academic rules, whether for faculty conduct or student regulations. There are mechanisms within every department and college, but the main body for faculty governance is the Academic Senate. University-wide elections are typically held in the Fall and Winter Quarters. College-wide and group (e.g., lecturers and emeriti) elections are typically held in the Spring Quarter.

What is a 5-year review and why does my department have to do it?

CAPR reviews academic programs every five years, as mandated by the CSU. The process is outlined here. This process helps to ensure that a program is maintaining its academic standards and is getting the resources it needs to succeed.

Software

Where can I get software?

The University holds licenses for numerous useful software packages and may be able to purchase other programs that are needed by faculty across departments. Information about this is available starting with computing services. If the University licenses a program, but the department does not seem to have it and a faculty member wants it, go to the help desk or visit MATS (though some discipline-specific software is made available through the college). Programs that are licensed for student use may be obtained by faculty through MATS, as well.

FAQs

General

Advising

Classes, Grading, Schedules, and Rooms

Faculty/Shared Governance

Software

Additional Resources

Campus

Legal

Tools