Faculty Resources

• Welcome to Fall 2024!

  Here are some things you should know before the semester starts!

  Communicating with Students Before the Start of the Semester

  You have multiple options for reaching out to students before the first day. Here are some useful tools and steps you can use:

  • Use the “Course Spreadsheets and Student Web Sites” app in your eWeber portal to find and copy the email list of students to email your whole class at once.
  • Make your Canvas syllabus visible without opening your course in your course settings by customizing your course visibility.
  • If you need to open your course early, remember it requires additional authorization and may affect students who register late. Modify course start dates in Canvas if necessary, but keep in mind that rosters aren't finalized until the Sunday before classes start and students will be adding and dropping classes up until the first day of the semester.
     

  Student Course Roster

  Final enrollments are completed the weekend before the semester starts, which may cause discrepancies between Banner and Canvas rosters. Don't Panic! Students listed in your faculty dashboard will appear in Canvas once the semester begins.

  If you plan on opening a course early, double-check that the start date is correct and that your course is published for student access.

  Tutoring

  Weber State University provides free tutoring services both online and on-campus.

  • Students can register for sessions at weber.edu/tutoring or reach out to Learning Support & Tutoring Services for more information.
  • Direct students to eTutoring for online tutoring. Note: Only current students and tutors have eTutoring logins; Faculty do not.
     

  These resources are fantastic for students who need a little extra help!

  Important Updates for Fall 2024

  The Input Final Grades tool

  The Canvas tool has been updated! This tool allows direct grade submission to Banner. The tool automatically populates final grades based on the grading scheme you've set up in Canvas. However, it's crucial to Spot-Check all grades before submission to ensure accuracy, so make sure to enter zeros for missing assignments, as ungraded assignments won't automatically count towards the final grade.

  • While this tool simplifies grade submission, it's important to note that it currently does not handle custom sections, non-Banner sections, or multi-term submissions effectively. In these cases, you may encounter errors, so you'll have to use the Faculty Dashboard in eWeber to manually submit grades when necessary. View our 
     

  Once grades are submitted through the Canvas tool, they are locked and can only be changed through the Faculty Dashboard within 10 days of submission. After this period, any grade changes must be coordinated through the Records office. View our Input Final Grades Guide for more info.

  Contact Information Update

  Please update your records with WSU Online's new contact information: 

  • Phone: (801) 626-6188
  • Email: lmssupport@weber.edu
     

  If you still have the 6499 number or wsuonline email listed in your syllabus for technical support, please replace it with the info above. 

  You may also include our new after-hours support, available 24/7:

  • Phone: (877) 215-0831
  • Email: support@instructure.com
  • Live Chat: Accessible via the Help menu in Canvas.
     

  Proctorio

  Based on extensive testing and faculty feedback, WSU Online recommends using Classic Quizzes when implementing Proctorio for secure assessments. Classic Quizzes offers greater stability and fewer issues with Proctorio. Remember that using New Quizzes or other external tools with Proctorio may lead to unexpected issues, so plan accordingly to maintain a smooth assessment experience for your students.

  eReserve

  Library eReserve in Canvas helps you to organize readings and resources for your students to read. Add your lectures and papers to reading lists, provide digital learning materials, and manage copyright through the Library directly in Canvas.

  Feedback Fruits

  Good news! The polling feature in Canvas, powered by Feedback Fruits, will continue to be available for the 2024-25 Academic Year. This tool allows you to engage students through interactive polling directly within your course in real-time.

  'Assign To' Interface Update

  Can't find the Due Date section? The 'Assign To' interface in Assignments, Discussions, and Quizzes was recently updated with a new tray design, allowing you to manage differentiated due dates and availability settings in a flyout tray to the right of your assignment settings. To adjust the 'Assign To' settings, click on the 'Manage Assign To' link at the bottom of your assignment settings. However, based on community feedback, this update will be rolled back in Aug/Sep to the original layout for the Assignments and Quizzes pages.

  Feature Options in Courses

  The Feature Options tab in your course settings allows you to test out new and optional features on a course-by-course basis. Instructors can enable or disable these features depending on their course needs. To access this, navigate to Settings in your course and select the Feature Options tab. Here you'll find a list of features with descriptions and tags that indicate their stability. Features labeled "Feature Preview" are still in development and may change, but we are looking for feedback to shape their final implementation!

  Inbox Auto-Reply and Signature

  Instructors now have the option to add a signature and set an auto-response in the Canvas inbox! These features can help with communicating with your class and maintain professionalism in your messages. To configure these settings, click the Settings button in the Inbox, where you can create and save a signature that automatically appears in your messages. Additionally, you can set up an auto-response for specific dates, such as when you're out of the office or direct students to an alternate contact.

  Document Remediation Services

  WSU Online, Disability Services, and the Library have coordinated to make remediation services available to WSU faculty to be more welcoming to our students, including students with disabilities.

  If you would like help making your documents and images meet accessibility standards, you can submit documents via Box and we'll reach out with an estimated timeline for remediation. Email lmssupport@weber.edu for more information.

  Looking to see the newest releases for Weber's Canvas as well as some monthly tips & tricks? We try to keep it to just the essentials, so it's too short to be a newsletter! Subscribe to our Not-a-Newsletter to always be up-to-date on Canvas changes.

   

  Best of Luck in Fall 2024!

• End-of-Semester Tips

  As you are wrapping up your semester, here are some tips to finalize your Canvas Course.

  Apply a Zero to missing assignments to calculate your Final Grades.

  How-To: From the Gradebook, locate the Total column
  >> Hover over the column title  
  >> Select the three-dot icon
  >> Choose “Apply Score to Ungraded”
  >> Type ‘0’ for the percentage you want to apply to missing assignments
  >> Apply the Missing status to display the label on student’s grades pages
  >> Click the “Apply Score” button (Note: You can choose to only apply this grade to ungraded assignments that are past due or all ungraded assignments regardless of due date)

  Alternatively, you can apply scores to individual assignment groups instead of the whole course by selecting this option from the assignment group columns. You must repeat the process for each assignment group.

  Check if all assignment grades are posted to students in the Canvas Gradebook.

  The grades of an assignment(s) are still hidden if you see a slashing-eyeball icon  in front of that assignment title. Unposted grades are not included in the student’s final grade.

  To post grades: Hover over the assignment
  >> Select the three-dot icon
  >> Choose “Post grades”
  >> A panel appears on the right-hand side
  >> Select “Graded”
  >> Click “Post”
  >> Repeat the steps for each unposted assignment grade.

  Enable the grading scheme if your course final grades do not show in letter grades (e.g., A, A-, or B+).

  How-To: Go to Settings (last menu on the left-hand course navigation)
  >> Find the “Grading Scheme” label
  >> Check the box “Enable course grading scheme”
  >> Select the “view/set grading scheme” link to check if the default grading scheme matches for your course
  >> To edit the grading scheme, click on the pencil icon in the top right corner
  >> Make the changes
  >> Click on “Save”
  >> Select “Done”
  >> Click “Update Course Details”

  For more Canvas tutorials, visit the Canvas Guides.

  
  Input Final Grades through Canvas

  Use the Input Final Grades menu on the left-hand course navigation to submit your course final grades to the registrar's office. For more information view our guide page.

  Course Grading and End Date Policies

  PPM 4-19 3.2.1: Prior to the close of each semester, final grades shall be entered into the Electronic Grading System by instructors. Grades are to be entered online within three working days following the last scheduled examination of each semester. Upon request, the Office of the Registrar will supply the instructors with a copy of instructions for using the Electronic Grading System.

  A student must qualify for an Incomplete (PPM 4-19 3.5) to be granted extra time to complete coursework without re-registering for the class. Please reach out to the Registrar and WSU Online for more information.

  Live Training

  WSU Online hosts back-to-school workshops live, right before each semester. Visit our Live Canvas Training page for more information. Brush up on your Canvas skills, learn how to put your Canvas tests in the testing centers, and discover new features and products available through Canvas!

• Extending Student Access with an Incomplete

  If a student qualifies for an Incomplete, submit the Incomplete form (provided on the records website) to your department. After assigning a student the Incomplete grade, you can extend the course for the individual student by adding an Incomplete Section to your Canvas course.

  This process needs to be done before the start of the next semester, please reach out to WSU Online Support for additional support outside the normal grading period.

• Purple Folder Mental Health Resources for Faculty/Staff

  At Weber State University, we recognize that students may face various challenges and distress during their academic journey. As faculty or staff, you are in a unique position to notice signs of distress and guide students to the appropriate resources. However, your primary role is not to manage these situations but to connect students with professionals who can help.

  Visit our Counseling Center's Purple Folder for a comprehensive guide on:

  • Recognizing signs of distress
  • Responding appropriately and setting boundaries
  • Referring students to the right resources
     

  Remember, you play a crucial role in identifying and referring students in need, but you're not expected to manage these situations. The Purple Folder provides the information you need to navigate these situations with care while maintaining your primary responsibilities. If you have any questions, our Counseling Center and other campus resources are available to support you.

• WSU Disability Services Faculty Training

  At Weber State University, we aim to create a welcoming environment for all students, including those with disabilities. As faculty or staff, it's crucial to understand the following:

  Compliance with Policies: Be aware of university policies regarding accommodations for students with disabilities (see PPM 3-34) and anti-discrimination measures (see PPM 3-32).

  Campus Resources:

  • Disability Services: Offers faculty-specific training and answers to questions about accommodations.
  • Stewart Library: Helps with selecting and sharing accessible materials. Contact Jason Francis (jjfrancis@weber.edu) for support.
  • WSU Online: Provides resources for improving Canvas accessibility and document remediation.
     

  Faculty Responsibilities: Include a disability accommodation statement in every course syllabus, meet with students privately, maintain confidentiality, and consult Disability Services before denying accommodation requests.

  Student Rights and Responsibilities: Students have the right to reasonable accommodations but must self-identify and follow university procedures to request them.

  For detailed information and additional resources, visit WSU Disability Services Faculty Training. If you have questions, contact Disability Services for further guidance.

We are here for you:
On-site support is available during regular business hours, send us an email at: 
lmssupport@weber.edu or call 801-626-6188
Instructional Design requests are available via email or Google chat at: 
instructionaldesign@weber.edu