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Teaching Resources

  • Helping At-Risk Students

    Be Prepared

    Read the Referral Guide for faculty and staff on the Texas State Counseling Center website. This site helps you recognize signs and symptoms of distress and advice for determining when to refer to students to the Counseling Center and how to talk with students about going to the Counseling Center. 

    For further training, you can take the online training Helping Struggling Students: At-Risk Training, available at the Counseling Center Website.

    Take Action

    If a student expresses suicidal thoughts or plans, take the following actions:

    • If you have reason to believe a student is in immediate danger, call 911.
    • UPD or SMPD can conduct Well Check visits to student’s home. UPD 512-245-2890
    • If the student mentions suicidal thoughts or plans, contact the Texas State Counseling Center—they have an intake person who can answer questions about the best steps to take. Call 512-245-2208.
  • Please include in your syllabus:

    Punctuality and attendance are evidence of your commitment to your chosen profession and are required. Therefore, (A) you may receive a one letter grade reduction if you are absent for 10% of the sessions. Absences representing 20% or more of the sessions may receive a further letter grade reduction, (B) patterns of tardiness or early exits may be counted as an absence or absences.

  • Grades

    • Submit Change of Grade (Online System)

    • The university has instituted a new policy for final grades that includes a new grade of “U” which means “unearned failing.” Here’s some explanation and detail:

      • The grade of “U” (Unearned Failing) is awarded to students who did not officially withdraw from but failed to complete a course (e.g., did not take a final exam, stopped attending, etc.) and failed to achieve the course objectives.
        • This new grade is necessary because of changes to federal financial aid and use of federal Title IV funds.
        • If you award a “U” grade, you will be prompted to enter the last date of “academic engagement,” such as the last day of attendance or submission of an assignment. A default date may show up, but you will need to update this so the student gets credit for however long s/he was academically engaged—this will affect how much financial aid the student may have to repay.
      • The grade of “F” (Failing) is awarded to students who completed the course but failed to achieve the course objectives.
      • The grade of “I” (Incomplete) continues to be appropriate for students who experience extenuating circumstances that prevent course completion near the end of a semester, and the instructor agrees to allow more time for an exam or final project to be completed. NEW: Faculty will also be required to enter the last date of academic engagement when giving the grade of “I.”

       

    • The grade of “I” (Incomplete) continues to be appropriate for students who experience extenuating circumstances that prevent course completion near the end of a semester, and the instructor agrees to allow more time for an exam or final project to be completed. NEW: Faculty will also be required to enter the last date of academic engagement when giving the grade of “I.”

      Incomplete Contract (DOC)

  • Per the Texas Legislature and House Bill (HB) 2504, undergraduate course syllabi and associated instructor vita must be posted to a university website by the seventh day after the first day of classes of each semester or other academic term during which the course is offered.

    For more information and to upload the needed documents for your undergraduate courses, see the Texas State HB 2504 website.