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DOCUMENTS OF THE GENERAL FACULTY
EDUCATIONAL POLICY COMMITTEE
REPORT ON BEST PRACTICES FOR RETURNING GRADED PAPERS
On behalf of the Educational Policy Committee,
Co-Chairs Archie Holmes (associate professor, electrical and
computer engineering) and Paul Woodruff (professor, philosophy)
have presented the following report for discussion by the Faculty
Council at its meeting on January 26, 2004.
<signed>
Sue Alexander Greninger, Secretary
The Faculty Council
EDUCATIONAL POLICY COMMITTEE
REPORT ON BEST PRACTICES FOR RETURNING GRADED PAPERS
The committee was asked by the provost and by
the Executive Committee of the Faculty Council to prepare this
report. We asked all members of the Academy of Distinguished
Teachers for their advice. The committee discussed the matter
on December 8, 2003.
| A. |
Principles
As an ethical matter, instructors should treat students
and their work with respect.
As a legal matter, instructors must respect students’
privacy. We understand that no method for the public posting
of grades falls within current legal guidelines.
|
| B. |
Worst Practices
Leaving student work in a public place such as a corridor
for students to collect. Anyone can read grades or comments.
Students are very upset about this practice. It violates
both ethical and legal principles, even when the papers
are placed in sealed envelopes. This is a clear violation
of FERPA.
|
| C. |
Best Practices
| 1. |
Return papers directly to students in class, with
the help of teaching assistants. |
| 2. |
Do not put the grade on the front page of a test
booklet or paper. |
| 3. |
Use a service such as turn-it-in.com for marking
and returning papers on the web. |
| 4. |
Papers and tests not returned during the semester
are kept in a secure
location (such as a locked office) for one long semester
thereafter.
|
|
Posted on the Faculty
Council Web site on January 23, 2004. Paper copies are available
on request from the Office of the General Faculty, FAC 22, F9500.
|
