IUPUI Policies and Procedures

IUPUI procedures

Do I have to order from IUPUI Barnes & Noble? Can I use an e-text if I want? Who can tell me about Courseload, an IU e-text platform? Which person in my department is the best person to talk to about this?

These are all good questions, but the answers cannot be found in one place. So, let’s attempt to answer them one by one.

About using the campus bookstore, there is an expectation that you will place your order with Barnes & Noble first, but that is not to say that students will not find their texts on Ebay, Chegg, Amazon, or a host of others. The price is the driving force behind our students’ decisions, so keep that in mind as you make your decisions. For some of you, the decision has already been made for you by your course coordinator or department chair.

If you are thinking about an e-text, then you should think about using IU eTexts. Indiana University has a contract with a number of publishers directly so that you can order your e-text through them at a substantial reduction in price. The best part of IU eTexts is that when the student registers for class, a book fee is assessed and the book is available to them in Canvas on the first day of class. Check out the Courseload link for more information.

Unsure what your options are as a new faculty member? Faculty Enlight is the program you can use to submit your book orders for upcoming semesters. 

The typical rule of thumb is to have one hour of time for office hours per 3 credit hour class. Saying that, some departments have their own guidelines, so be sure to check with your gateway coordinator or department chair.

If you know that you cannot make class and do not have someone stepping in for you, let your students know as soon as possible through Canvas. Let them know early in the day, if at all possible, because so many of our students drive an hour or more to get to campus. Arrange for students to make good use of their time by providing an alternate assignment via our learning management system. Also, make sure you contact your department so they can post a sign.

You can always find the most up-to-date information on campus closings on the Protect IU website, but before you will even think to look it up, your phone should notify you of a text or email message. If you have signed up for IU Notify, the university will let you know about closings as soon as they are announced. Remember that even if classes are canceled, students have the capability of continuing their work through Canvas. So be sure that you let them know beforehand what is expected of them if the campus is closed. Virtually, we are still in session!

What to do in an emergency

If you want to know what to do in an active shooter situation, then this is the office that handles it. What if there is a tornado warning or fire drill while you are in class? This office sends out the guidelines of where to go in each building on campus. What if you have a very disruptive student and you need the police to come and remove her? This is the office for that as well. Every emergency situation or possible disaster is handled by IUEMC.

If you have a disruptive student who does not respond to your request for order, then you can call campus police to have that student removed. If a student becomes violent, then this is the course of action to take (call 317-274-7911). You should also be familiar with the behavioral consultation team and campus safety procedures.

The Protect IU (IU Emergency Management and Continuity Team) have a wonderful website that can give you guidance on all kinds of situations—from tornadoes and what to do with your class to what your responsibilities are in response to student sexual assault. With the passing of the Jeanne Clery Act, it is a federal law to disclose information about crime on campus and in or on off-campus buildings. As a faculty member, you need to take this responsibility seriously.

Example: A student tells you that he or she was raped in high school. Do you have the responsibility to report this to the Office of Student Conduct?

Answer: YES! If you are made aware of such a crime, then it is your responsibility to report it so that this office can reach out to the student to provide services such as counseling. Faculty often think that if it isn’t directly related to their class then they do not have an obligation, but you do!

Other topics covered on the website protect.iu.edu include:

  • Building and facility safety
  • Annual security reports
  • Personal preparedness, including active shooter training
  • IU Notify—a service that keeps you updated on what is happening on our campus
  • Closures
  • Crime alerts
  • Online safety

There are too many topics to mention here, but every faculty member should take the time to look at the website to become familiar with where to go when you have any kind of incident where you need help.