Policies
Who can teach?
Instructor positions teaching for Intersession are open to regular and adjunct faculty members and graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) approved by the department. Interested instructors are encouraged to get involved with this popular program and take advantage of the professional development opportunities it provides.
Instructor Salary Compensation/Development Reserve Account (DRA) Transfers
Instructor compensation for teaching Intersession classes will be paid pursuant to the K-State Faculty Senate policy.
Faculty Member General Information
Regular faculty members may choose to receive salary compensation or funds transferred into the Departmental/College DRA for teaching self-funded Intersession classes supported by the Division of Continuing Education (DCE). The DCE Enterprise Information System (EIS) allows the faculty member to designate either salary compensation or DRA with the approval of the Department Head and Dean's Office. Some Colleges/Departments require DRA, so please check with your Department before selecting salary compensation. Adjunct faculty will receive salary compensation and cannot designate DRA.
An agreement indicating the rate per credit hour will be sent to the instructor prior to the start of Intersession. Using the information in the agreement, a minimum salary compensation or DRA amount for which the class will be taught may be indicated in the blank provided. If this minimum is not assured by the "go/no go" decision date, the class may be canceled by mutual consent between the instructor, Department, and DCE. Salary compensation and DRA for Intersession classes is based on the final number of paid enrollments for the class. This number is based on enrollments the day following the date for receiving a refund if a student drops the class.
Faculty Member Salary Compensation
If the faculty member selects salary compensation, the compensation is added as salary to an existing payroll check or paid in a separate check as determined by Human Resources. If the faculty member has a full-time (ten-tenths) appointment during a pay period when the Intersession salary compensation is paid, the faculty member is considered to be on overload (see Faculty Member Overload Information below).
Faculty Member DRA Payment
If the faculty member selects DRA, DCE transfers funds into the Department/College DRA account. Funds from this account will be used solely by the Department/College for education directly related to their employee's present job skills or to fund other Department/College needs. A DRA is not salary compensation and therefore does not require overload approval.
Faculty Member Overload
Intersession overloads apply to nine-month faculty members who select salary compensation for teaching Intersession and have a full-time (ten-tenths) appointment during the pay period when the Intersession salary compensation is paid. Nine-month faculty who teach during the summer may or may not be on overload depending upon their appointment status at the time the Intersession salary compensation is paid. All full-time (ten-tenths) twelve-month faculty members who select salary compensation from DCE for teaching an Intersession class will be on overload. Overload salary compensation requires additional approvals (via EIS) from the Dean of Continuing Education and the Provost or appropriate Vice President depending on where the instructor's full-time appointment originates.
Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) Salary Compensation
GTAs teaching a self-funded Intersession course supported by DCE will receive salary compensation in the form of a departmental transfer based on the final number of paid enrollments for the class. This number is determined by counting the student enrollments the day following the date for receiving a refund if a student drops the class. The class may be canceled by mutual agreement between the GTA, Department, and DCE if the level of salary compensation is too low by the "go/no go" decision date.
Questions regarding tuition waivers or GTA appointments for DCE courses should be directed to the Department.
Classroom Assignments
Instructors are asked to provide the building and room number of the classroom they would like to use for Intersession. In most cases, it is possible to schedule the requested room. Keep in mind that it may be necessary to change the location of your class based on enrollment capacity or availability of space during the Intersession period. Room Scheduling, in the Facilities Department, has the final say on room assignments. If a room must be changed, DCE will notify both the instructor and the students by e-mail. In addition, the web page information will be changed to reflect the new room.
We do recommend that if a room is changed, the instructor place a sign on the old room's door directing students to the new room on the first day or two of class.
Rosters and Grade Reporting
Rosters and Grade Reports will be done in iSIS. The same process will be used as for all other classes. If a student does not appear on your roster, ask the student if he or she registered/enrolled for the class.
Changes to Your Course/Class
If changes need to be made to your class, please contact Ron Jackson, the Intersession program coordinator, to implement the changes in the EIS. In some cases, such as changes in instructor payment method, starting or ending dates, or credit level, the class will have to go through the approval process again. Other changes, such as materials fees, do not require reapprovals.
Textbooks
DCE works directly with Varney's bookstore to ensure that adequate copies of your requested textbooks are available to students. If you indicate that a textbook is required for your class, you will be contacted directly by Varney's. They will ensure that the correct book(s) is/are ordered for your class.
Board of Regents Guidelines
class Requirements and Credit
Detailed information about Board of Regents guidelines for class development is available on their website.
The specific minimum numbers of contact hours required for a class are as follows:
- 1 credit hour - 12.5 hours
- 2 credit hours - 25.0 hours
- 3 credit hours - 37.5 hours
Only 1 hour of credit can be offered in one week; therefore, a 3-credit-hour class must be offered over three weeks. A week is defined as Sunday through Saturday.
- classes numbered 000 through 499 are offered for undergraduate credit.
- classes numbered 500-799 are offered for both graduate and undergraduate credit.
- classes numbered 800-999 are offered for graduate credit.
Tuition and Fees
Students will be charged the posted DCE tuition and fees, which may include material fees, special and health fees, specific college fees, and online class fees.
Additional Fees
All Intersession classes are self-funded, non-base classes. Tuition and fees collected from the students must cover instructor compensation and class costs for a class to be offered.
Because the regular tuition and fees collected do not cover special costs related to Intersession classes, any class costs that an instructor expects to charge to the Division of Continuing Education (photocopying, labs, film, rental, computer time, and purchase of materials) must be covered by an additional per-student fee. This per-student materials fee is advertised in the Intersession tabloid and collected by the Division at enrollment. Absolutely NO REFUNDS will be made for per-student fees after the first day of class, unless a class is canceled. Also, please note that state guidelines prohibit instructors from collecting per-student fees in person. These materials fees must be collected at the time of enrollment. Any charges that are not approved by DCE will not be paid and will become the responsibility of the individual instructor. Please contact Ron Jackson if you have any questions regarding appropriate reimbursable fees.
Please indicate per-student copying and/or materials fees when submitting the class information to the Intersession program coordinator.
For example: $5 photocopying fee, $15 materials fee, or $50 field trip fee - all are materials fees.
Grades
Grades are due within five days after the completion of the class. Grading is done in iSIS just like any other classes.
Marketing
DCE will promote classes submitted and approved by the following dates:
- September 1, 2009 (for December 28, 2009 to January 13, 2010 classes)
- February 1, 2010 (for May 17, 2010 to June 4, 2010 classes)
- February 1, 2010 (for August 2, 2010 to August 20, 2010 classes)
Class information will be posted in campus offices, bookstores, libraries, and on the web on both the K-State line schedule and the DCE class offerings page. Class lists will be provided to all academic advisors. Ads will be placed in local newspapers. An Intersession tabloid will be inserted in the K-State Collegian the weeks before Thanksgiving and Spring Break. The tabloid will list the classes with their fees and descriptions. Posters will also be provided to each Intersession instructor. The poster provides a designated space for instructors to attach an 8.5 by 11 sheet of paper upon which they should print out their Intersession class(es). This posters/printout combination allows each instructor to advertise his or her class to current students, post the information on office doors and department bulletin boards, and do personalized advertising, which is most likely to attract students. New this year is the creation of advertisement buttons for online use. Use this graphic to link to your upcoming Intersession class(es) inside your K-State Online classes to attract students.
The enthusiasm of the individual instructor, however, is what actually convinces students to enroll. Please know the "target audience" for your class and promote it to those potential students. Tell students in your current classes about the class and ask your colleagues to mention your Intersession class in their classes.
If possible, the title of your class should catch students' attention. Be creative in your selection of class title and description so students will want to take part in your unique class.
Also, think about the target audience when you plan your class. Historically, the most successful classes have been offered in 3-4 hour class blocks as follows: 8 a.m. -12 p.m.; 1-5 p.m.; and 6-10 p.m.
"Go/No Go"
Each instructor will be contacted via phone or e-mail apprising them of the current enrollment in their class(s) during the weeks of:
- Week of December 7, 2009 (for December 28, 2009 to January 13, 2010 classes)
- Week of April 26, 2010 (for May 17, 2010 to June 4, 2010 classes)
- Week of July 14, 2010 (for August 2, 2010 to August 20, 2010 classes)
If the class is above the minimum enrollment indicated on the compensation agreement, the class will automatically be considered a "Go." If the number of enrollments is close to the minimum, the instructor will be consulted as to what he or she would like to do. Options include canceling the class at that time, waiting additional time so that a concerted marketing effort can be done by the instructor, or running the class at less compensation. Keep in mind that enrollment is permitted until the first day of class, so the figures available at the beginning may not reflect the actual enrollment. If the enrollment is very low, the class will be canceled at that time.
A minimum enrollment of 5 is generally suggested to run a class. If an instructor wishes to run a class with an enrollment less than 5, contact Ron Jackson. Special circumstances will be considered on a case by case basis.
Students will be notified by e-mail if their class is cancelled.
