• Directory for full-time faculty and staff; The Music Institute staff
• Map and resource locations
• Semester Calendar - General and Specific Dates

General Information

• Office hours
• Mail and e-mail
• Website Information
• Adjunct Faculty Offices
• HCC Express
• Class Cancellation
• Instructional Materials
• Academic Class Rosters - Correction Rosters
• Academic Class Contracts
• Applied Music Rosters
• Applied Music Contracts
• Suggestions for the First Day of Class
• Textbooks
• Data Projectors, ARTstor, NAXOS Music Library
• NAXOS Instructions
• AV Equipment
• Field Trips
• Field Trips
• Final Exams/Juries
• Final Grades
• Adjunct Faculty Development and Promotions
• Surveys

Music Department Procedures

• Schedule Book
• Studios
• Computer Lab
• Rehearsal Spaces/Recital Hall
• Lockers for Music/Art Students/Faculty
• Practice Rooms
• Safety procedures
• Legal issues in the classroom
• Classroom decorum

This handbook covers information for faculty of the Howard Community College Music Department as well as The Music Institute at HCC.  The non-credit division of the Music Department, The Music Institute at HCC offers a wide range of lessons, classes and ensembles for all ages and levels of experience to members of the college as well as the greater community. The Music Department includes the following college credit degree programs with detailed descriptions found in the college catalog or on the college website.  

Associate of Arts Degree Programs

·       Music
·       Music Therapy

This handbook is intended to help answer your questions about how, when, and where to do everything you need to do as a member of the faculty.  If you have any questions, contact the Director of Music or the appropriate person listed below.

Contact Information

Campus Maps

Semester Calendar

A calendar with dates for the current semester can be found on page 2 in the front of the Schedule of Credit Classes and on the website under calendars (academic).  It lists dates of which teachers and students should be aware, including holidays, course drop days, and final exams.  Some important dates for the faculty (please note your calendars):

•       First week: Syllabus is due to the Music Director and to the Division Office.
•       Third week: Correction rosters (yellow) corrected and returned to the office.
•       Tenth week: Book orders due for the following semester.
•       Eleventh week: Advising – full-time faculty post sign-up sheets.
•       Twelfth week: IDEA and YESS surveys are due in the office.
•       Fifteenth week: Grades are due.  Please be on time!

General Procedures

Office Hours

Full-time faculty are required to be available in their offices for five scheduled hours per week.  Those times should be posted outside the office.  Adjunct faculty are not required to keep regular office hours but should indicate to students that you are available to meet with them outside of class by appointment.

Mail and Email

All faculty should check their mailboxes in HVPA 260 regularly.  Your HCC email should also be checked regularly and periodically deleted, otherwise incoming email will be rejected because your “mailbox is full.”  Students should be given your HCC email address and they should expect that you will read and respond to their messages.  Even if you give students another, non-HCC email address, all faculty must check their HCC site as well. 

You may set your HCC e-mail to forward e-mails to another, non-HCC e-mail address.  If you chose to do this, please select the option that does not keep a copy of the e-mail in your HCC e-mail account.  Steps to complete this procedure are as follows: 

1. Login to your HCC e-mail account from the HCC homepage.
2. Select Rules on the bottom left-hand panel.  If Rules is not visible, there is an icon at the bottom of the panel.  Second from the right should be the Rules icon.  Select this icon.
3. Click on the New… icon across the top of the new frame.
4. You may chose to name the Rule (i.e., forward to gmail/hotmail/yahoo/etc) or you may leave the name field blank.
5. At the bottom of the dialog box, there is a section beginning with Then: and a list of options.  Select “Forward it to” and enter your private e-mail address. 
6. Be sure to deselect or uncheck the checkbox next to “Keep a copy in my Inbox.”  This will insure that your mailbox will not overflow or be closed due to too many e-mails in your inbox. 
7. Click “Save and Close” at the top of the dialog box.  Another dialog box will pop up with the question “This rule will be applied to every message you receive.  Are you sure you want to do this?”  Click OK.
8. Your mailbox should now be set to send every incoming email message from your HCC account to your designated e-mail account.

Students, faculty, school services, and administrators will communicate with you using your HCC e-mail address only.

Website Information

A wealth of information for faculty is available from the college website.  From the HCC Website (http://www.howardcc.edu/), select “Employees” located directly to the right of “You can get there from here.”  That will bring up the following page:

                                                     Faculty and Staff Resources
The following online resources are available to faculty and staff:

Email (HCC Windows login ID and password)
Intranet (login:  hccmain\login ID | password) Be sure to add "hccmain" in front of your login ID: i.e. hccmain\jsmith
Library
WebCT
Adjunct Faculty
Teaching and Learning Institute
HCC Express.net
Help Desk workorders
Audio Visual Reservation Form
Print Shop
Public Relations and Marketing
Human Resources

From this page, you can go to most of the sites you will need.  Please note the special instruction for logging on to the intranet.

Adjunct Faculty Offices

Adjunct faculty office space is available in HVPA 220.  Desks, computers, telephones, office supplies, and a copier are provided.  Storage is available in the metal cabinets located in several places around the music area.  See the Music Director about getting a key for a cabinet.  The computer in HVPA 260 is to be used for brief periods of time, i.e. checking e-mail.  Any extended work, particularly computer work should take place in 220.  There is a small refrigerator and microwave in HVPA 260, however please do not eat in HVPA 260.  Also, please use the blue recycle bins for recyclable paper only.  There are garbage bins in the hall as well as in all studios and classrooms.

HCC Express

If you are teaching an academic class (not applied lessons) this site will give you access to course availability, your roster, and the ability to email all of your students.  Use the first initial of your first name and the first seven letters of your last name followed by the last four digits of your Colleague number as your login (jsmith1234).  Your default password is your birth in month, date, year format (010580 for January 5, 1980).  You can then choose another password.  Technical directions follow:

Access and Security:

• Access to the System - Access is granted by the combination of a unique alpha-numeric loginID and password. (Note: Noncredit/Continuing Education students will receive a login ID and password immediately after completing their first online registration via HCCExpress.)
• Login ID - Your login ID is a combination of your first initial, your last name (up to the first 7 letters) and the last 4 digits of your Student ID number. You can retrieve your login ID using the What's My Login ID? feature in HCC Express.
• Password - Your password is initially set to your birth date in mmddyy format; for example, if your birthday is January 12, 1980, your initial password would be 011280. You will be prompted to choose a new password during your first login. (Note: Your HCC password will not change your Telephone Registration PIN.)
• Confidentiality - Keep your information secure. Never share your login ID or password with others.

If you want to register for a class or a faculty development course, use the following procedure:

HCC Express INTRANET Registration Procedures

• Go to our homepage – http://www.howardcc.edu/
• Click on HCC Intranet (bottom right on the homepage).
                                  Note: a Security Warning window may come up – click Yes
• Click on HCCExpress (on the HCC Staff Intranet Portal page) located along the top of the page.
• Click on “Log In” (in the red section-top right of page under HCCExpress.net).
• Enter your “User ID” (1^st initial of FN + 1^st seven letters of your LN + last 4 digits of colleague ID#, no spaces), then your password (see instructions on this page if you are doing this for the first time) – click “submit”.
• Click on “Employees” (red button-left side of page).
• Click on “Register and Drop Sections” (under Registration/PD).
• Click on “Click Here” (1^st item on page- To add classes to your Preferred Sections…).
• Enter the HCC Express # (under “synonym”). Tab over to “term” and select “Prof Dev Fy 2008” option from the drop down menu. Other fields remain blank. Scroll down the page and click “Submit”.  (Note: You can add multiple sessions at the same time.)
• Scroll down to the “Preferred Sections” (shopping cart) area.  Click on the drop-down option under  Action and select “Register.”  Scroll down and click “Submit” to process your selections and verify your registration.
• Click on Logout button when finished.

Class Cancellation

Call 410-772-4940 or email ahdivisionofc@howardcc.edu if you need to cancel a class.  The office staff will post a note on the door of your classroom.  Please copy the Music Director or leave a telephone message about the cancellation.

Instructional Materials and Procedures

• Syllabus – Teachers should give every student at the first class a syllabus that includes:

-         Your name
-         A means of contacting you (phone number, mailbox location, e-mail)
-         Course objectives
-         Grading and attendance policies need to be on the syllabus, in writing.
-         Textbooks and supplies
-         Semester outline with dates

Don’t forget to turn in a copy of the syllabus to the Division Office and to the Music Director.

• Attendance and Grade Policies – We expect teachers to require attendance and to make sure that there is a consequence for absence.  In applied lesson/rehearsal classes there can be a penalty for any day absent over one.  Emergencies and doctor’s notes can be considered before enacting any penalty.  The grade policy regarding assignments, tests, and attendance should be very clear and in writing on the syllabus.  If a student fills out an academic complaint form, the Music Director or the Arts & Humanities Division Chair should be able to determine clearly whether or not a student was given the proper grade.

• Instructional Handouts – Assignments given in writing are recommended.  The specifications, concepts, date due, and other factors that will affect the grade should be clearly stated.

• Photocopy/Printshop Procedures – For small quantities there is a copier in HVPA 260.  Please keep this area neat and be sure to refill the paper tray.  You may need to press the energy saver button to activate the control panel.  For 30 or more copies (total), place an order with the Print Shop:

1.      Go to the Print Shop (ST 020 H) in person

OR

1.      Go to the college home page
2.      Click on Employees
3.      Under Resources, click on Print Shop
4.      Select and copy the order form.  Paste this into a new e-mail and complete the form with the designated information.
5.      Be sure to ATTACH the file to be copied, and send to printshop@howardcc.edu.  The cost center number for the Music     Department is 11450; for the Music Institute, it is 33600
6.      If so indicated, your order will be delivered to your mailbox in HVPA 260.  If not, you may pick up your order from the office itself (ST 020H).

Academic Class/Ensemble Class Section Roster and Correction Roster

The Section Roster for academic classes will be in your mailbox the first day of classes.  It will have a list of the students and their registration status.  Credit students will have 1.00, 2.00, 3.00, or 4.00 under Credits/CEUs.  Non-credit students may be auditing the class or taking it under the custom-class option.  Confirm with these students that they are not taking the course for credit and that any errors in registration are corrected immediately.  The yellow correction roster comes out the second or third week and should confirm the correct registration and reflect any drops or adds since the first day.  Do not allow any student to attend class without documentation from the Registrar.  Be sure to sign and return the correction roster to the division office by the due date.  Financial Aid is dependent on the accuracy of your roster.

Academic Class Contracts

Academic Class Contracts will be in your HCC mailbox on the first day of class unless it is a low enrollment class and is being held pending late registration.  The Music Director will have notified the instructor if this is the case.  Please sign these contracts and return directly to the Division Office.

Applied Lesson Rosters

Because the students are being assigned to different teachers within a discipline, Applied Lesson Section Rosters will not be put in your box.  Rather, the Music Director will send the students’ name, phone number, class registration number and the number of credits to each applied teacher via HCC e-mail.  The teacher will then contact the student and confirm to the Music Director that the lessons have been set up.  Upon confirmation, the applied contract will be issued.

Applied Lesson Contracts

Applied Lesson contracts will be issued at two times during the semester.  The first contract will be issued soon after the first week of classes and will include the students with confirmed lesson times who registered on time and early in the first week of classes.  The second contract will be issued after late registration for lessons ceases for the remaining students with confirmed lessons times.  Upon receipt of the contract in your HCC mailbox, please sign and date the contract, make a copy to keep for your records, and return the original to the Music Director.  The contract will be turned into the Division Office for processing.

Suggestions for the First Day of Class

The first class counts as part of the state-mandated number of minutes that a credit class must meet, therefore it is important that the class meeting be productive.  This is especially true for classes that only meet once a week.  In studio classes the students may not have materials, but there are many activities that would be of value.  Here are some suggestions to consider:

• Pass out your syllabus and go through it with the students.  This can also include an overview of the course, including learning objectives, course requirements, grading policies, attendance policies, proper conduct, late assignments, etc.
• Review materials and supplies.  Examples are good and recommendations on the best places to buy can reduce student frustrations. 
• For studio/lab classes, review procedures for setting up, breaking down, furniture placement, and the proper storage of instruments/computer gear.
• Introduction by the teacher, including educational or artistic history, and information on office hours and ways to be contacted.
• Provide an opportunity for students to share their goals and past experiences.  It is nice to know what a student’s major and background is.  Make sure that students are invited to share personal information in private.
• Demonstration, lecture, review of prerequisite courses, or learning activity that gets the educational process going. 

Textbooks

The text is determined by the Director or coordinator of that subject, or in some cases, the instructor of a course.  All sections of a course use the same text.  If you have a suggestion for a different text, see the Music Director or the coordinator of that subject area.

Data Projectors, ARTstor, NAXOS Music Library

Most of the classrooms in the Horowitz Center have data projectors.  The power button is under the top of the cabinet and will be lit with a red light when it is on.  The computer is turned on with the button in front and the display monitor is accessed by pushing the back of the swivel-door on top downward.  Make sure that the monitor is on.  No password is required, just click ok, or if you want to access network information, you must log in with your Outlook username and password.  Teachers can use CDs, DVDs, or access the internet. 

HCC subscribes to ARTstor, a database accessed through the library website.  If you would like the training and instructor privileges to build files in ARTstor, see Karen Evans in L212, Teaching and Learning Services.  Call x4836 for an appointment.

HCC also subscribes to the NAXOS Music Library.  It can be accessed from the HCC Library website, Electronic Resources, Related Links, Database A – Z, Naxos Music Library; or you can type in Naxos Music Library in “Type Search Terms.”  Complete instructions are below and will be e-mailed to all music faculty.  There are no instructions on the Library website, so please print out or copy the directions from the e-mail to a place that is convenient and accessible to you.  The database is also accessible from off-campus by logging onto the HCC Library website.

NAXOS Instructions

This is the link to access NAXOS from both school and home computers:

http://libproxy.howardcc.edu:2048/login?url=http://HowardCC.NaxosMusicLibrary.com

Professor Username: 
Using this log-in (by entering the name and password sent to via e-mail onto both the username and password lines) enables a user to create and edit playlists (which are not editable from the general URL) and view static URLs to the tracks, repertoire, CD pages and playlists. 

Below are detailed instructions for creating a playlist (a function that is only available to professors) in Naxos Music Library:

1) Point your browser to www.NaxosMusicLibrary.com (instead of your unique URL)

2) Log in with the Username and Password - just enter it onto both the username and password lines at the top left-hand side of the page.

3) Once you are logged in to Naxos Music Library, you can search for a CD.  When you have chosen a disc, click on the link for the disc and the CD page will appear in a new window. 

4) From this page, in the section of command tabs above the Windows Media Player box, you will see a tab that says, "Add to playlist".  This is the third gray tab from the top.  Select the tracks you want to add and click the "add to playlist" tab.

5) A small window will open in which you can add the chosen track(s) to an existing playlist or to a new playlist for which you can create a new title.

6) Once you have added the chosen item(s) to your playlist, you can view the playlist by clicking the "Playlist" tab at the top of the Standard Search page.  These playlists are accessible to students who visit your Naxos Music Library website, but the playlists can only be created and/or edited by professors.

AV Equipment

To order AV equipment, follow the procedures found on the Faculty and Staff Resources webpage; call 410-772-4819 (x4819 internal); send an email to AVRequests@howardcc.edu or stop by N112 and fill out the request form.

College Closings and Late Openings

Emergency closings are announced on all Baltimore and Washington TV stations and many radio stations.  For a complete list, consult the Office and Service Hours of Operation page in the Schedule of Classes.  The Welcome Center at 410-772-4800 and the college website will also post college closings and late openings.  A class will be held if there are 30 or more minutes of class left after a late opening time.

Field Trips

Course related field trips are encouraged but participation outside the normal class time cannot be required.  Make sure that all students have filled out the Emergency contact and Waiver of Responsibility form that the teacher will keep in his/her possession. 

Student Behavior

The guiding principle for behavior is that no student should interfere with the education of another student or create a climate that reduces the quality of the educational experience.  Students have paid for a quality program and they are entitled to get what they paid for.  Some guidelines for promoting good behavior:

·        Clearly state your policy for behavior, cell phone use, and talking so that everyone in the class will know what it is. 

·        Repeat it for the entire class if someone seems to have missed it.

·        If you have a problem with an individual in your class, pull the student aside or into the hall and politely and respectfully reaffirm the policy, give the reason, and ask for compliance. That will usually solve it.  Do not reprimand, mock, ridicule, or show disrespect to any student in the classroom.  That will quickly become the bigger issue. The next time you see a student that needs a private reminding, be courteous and let him/her know that a mistake is forgiven and you hold no grudges.  Treat all students with courteous professionalism.

·        If your respectful conversation with the student does not solve the problem, see the Music Director.  Sooner is always better.  Do not wait; the further into the semester the more difficult it is to solve the problem.  The majority of the problems we have are situations in which the student was insulted by a teacher in front of other students.

For more specifics, The Student Handbook section on Policies and Procedures covers Academic Honesty, Standards, the Disciplinary System, Student Conduct, Procedural Protections and the Judicial Process. 

Final Exams/Juries

All academic classes are required to give an exam according to the final exam schedule in the back of the Schedule of Credit Classes.  Do not use another date.  A schedule for Applied Juries will be posted by each discipline on the bulletin board across from the Music Suite entrance at least two weeks before the Juries in order for students to sign up for a time.  Juries are usually during Final Exam Week.  All students registered for MUSC 117, 118, 119, 120, 217, 218, 219, and 220 are required to take a Jury.  Please make sure that you know what course your students are taking - the responsibility is yours.  A guide to Jury/Repertoire requirements is found on the music website under Student Resources as well as in the Student Handbook.

Final Grades

The grade sheets, grade books, and the F-forms should be photo-copied and turned into the Division Office as soon as possible.  The absolute deadline is usually the Monday, noon, following the Final Exam schedule.  An Incomplete should be assigned only when a student has completed 75% of the course successfully and has been prevented from completing the course due to an emergency situation.  The Incomplete Grade form is available in the Division Office and must be signed by the student.  Incomplete is not a grade given to a student that just got behind and failed to do all the work assigned.

Adjunct Faculty Development and Promotions

There are many opportunities for adjunct faculty professional development and advancement.  To learn more, go to the college website, click on Employees, the Teacher Learning Institute, and select whichever category is of interest.  An adjunct faculty member with three years experience here at HCC may apply for advancement but there are development requirements that should be considered before applying.  See the Music Director if you would like to go over your teaching and professional development experience to see what else might be needed.

Surveys

Idea and Yess Surveys are used by the college to measure student satisfaction with college operations, services, and instruction.  These are important to the college and to you.  Feedback is valuable as we all try to improve the quality of what we do.  Please follow the instructions carefully when you administer the surveys.

Music Department Procedures

Schedule Book

A notebook is located in the lobby area of HVPA 260 containing all of the room schedules in the music area as well as the classrooms located on the first floor.  For the first few weeks of a given semester, the schedule will fluctuate as schedules are locked down.  Please try to set your schedules as quickly as possible, as room availability is limited on some days.

Studios

Studios/classrooms will be assigned to faculty in as fair a system as is possible given the number of faculty who must use the facilities.  Faculty should notify the Music Director as soon as possible with days/times that a studio will be needed.  Faculty needing longer periods of time will be given preference over faculty who are only teaching for brief periods of time.  Some faculty will have to teach in practice rooms.  Because of our limited space, the V-Room, HVPA 260 J will now be designated as a teaching studio.  If one desires to record in 260J, please make prior arrangements with the Music Director and the faculty assigned to the space during the desired time.  Weekends, when there is less traffic, would be a good time to utilize recording capabilities.

Computer Lab

Over the past year, we have experienced a few problems with security in the music lab.  There have been computer keyboard keys removed and replaced, some links put on to questionable sites, and general lack of supervision of the lab by the teachers who are responsible for the room.  Remember, if you teach in the lab, you are responsible for the lab while you are in it.  If you suspect a student or another faculty member of showing disrespect to this lab, please see Dr. Kristina Suter, overseer of the piano and computer labs.  Because of these problems, we have initiated the following rules for teachers using HVPA 160:

• Make it a practice to walk the room occasionally so you know what your students are doing.
• After your class is over, make sure that all equipment is put back where it belongs as it is your responsibility to make sure the room is in order for the next person.
• Pay particular attention to mice and computer keyboards – please no mice left hanging by their cords and keyboards placed back on the shelf properly.
• Never allow students to stay in the lab without supervision.

We now have a large scanner and printer located in the Art computer lab, HVPA 215.  Access to that room is with your swipe card.  Please see Dave Beaudoin, HVPA 200, if you have any questions about using the equipment.

Students may work in the computer labs in the Horowitz Center only when a lab monitor is present.  The schedule of open lab times will be posted each semester.  For questions about the labs or the schedule, contact Dave Beaudoin in the Division Office HVPA 200.

Rehearsal Spaces/Recital Hall

Because there are multiple groups utilizing these spaces, it is mandatory that the rooms be reset following each use to the neutral, pre-ordained floor-plan displayed on the wall by the main entrance to the room. This includes moving pianos, chairs, stands, and any other equipment.  At all times, make sure that the pianos’ climate control systems are plugged into an electrical outlet – even if you have to relocate the piano to a different area. 

Lockers for Music/Art Students/Faculty

Students/Faculty that would like regular locker space should go to the Division Office. The Music Department has instrument lockers that can be assigned to music and art students depending upon the size and shape of the students’ needs.  The student should look at the lockers (located on the first floor), determine which locker is appropriate for his/her instrument/art equipment, then go to the Division Office to register the locker.  Locks must be purchased from the HCC Bookstore. 

Practice Rooms

Arrangements to use a practice room must be made in the Division Office, HVPA 200.  A Practice Room Pass, TMI ID Card, or College ID (with proof of registration for a music class) must be surrendered in order to obtain a key.  The following is a copy of the practice room statement that must be signed by anyone who wishes to use the practice rooms:

Practice Room Policies & Procedures

• These practice rooms are reserved for music department use and for those music students who wish to reserve a regular practice time.  They will be assigned with the following priority:

1.       HCC Music faculty/students
2.       The Music Institute at HCC (formerly  the Musical Arts Center) faculty/students
3.       Other approved users (for permission, please see Dr. Kent or Dr. Suter)

• Weekly practice times may be reserved in person in the Arts and Humanities Division Office, HVPA 200.  At that time, proof of status (i.e. HCC ID, The Music Institute ID, or practice room pass) will be shown.  This must remain with the office attendant while the key is gone and will be returned when the key is returned.  Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. M – TH, and 8:30 – 4:45 Friday.  Piano majors have priority to use Practice Rooms 250B and 260G. 

• Please reserve a regular time only if you intend to use the room every week.  The practice rooms are to remain locked at all times, and the user must sign the key out and in from HVPA 200 each time he/she uses a room.  If the practice time goes beyond office hours (7:45 p.m. M – TH and 4:45 p.m. Friday), the key must be returned before the office closes each evening, making sure the door will lock when closed.

• Special arrangements must be made to use the practice rooms on the weekend or late at night with Dr. Kent.

• The rooms are available for non-recurring practice time when not in regularly scheduled use.  Each room’s weekly schedule will be posted after the second week of school.  If you wish to use a room during free time, the procedure for obtaining the key will be followed as above and all rules apply.  No one is allowed to keep a practice room key in their possession unless they are occupying the room at the time.

• Do not leave personal possessions in the practice room if it is unlocked.  The college is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

• If, for any reason, a music faculty member or student needs a practice room while a non-scheduled or non-music affiliated person is using the room, the non-scheduled or non-music affiliated person must vacate.

• There is to be absolutely no food or drink in the practice rooms, except bottled water.  Water bottles must stay on the floor.

• Do not put anything on the pianos that could scratch or mar the surface, i.e., books, purses, backpacks, instrument cases, instruments, coats or any other paraphernalia.

• Scheduled activities always take precedence.

• If any of the rules are not followed, the offender will lose practice room privileges.

User Statement

I have read the above policies and procedures for obtaining access to and use of the HVPA music practice rooms.  I understand that I will be charged with full replacement/repair costs for equipment or instruments that are damaged while I am responsible for the room (while I have the room key in my possession).  By signing this form, I agree to comply with the above policies and will accept any and all consequences if I fail to do so.

Signature____________________________Semester______________Date________________

Safety Procedures

• Fire – Familiarize yourself with the placement of the fire alarm.  In case of fire or smoke, hit the fire alarm and tell your students to evacuate the building.  All art studio classrooms have fire extinguishers near the door and there are others in the hallway built-in cabinets.  Just pull the pin and squeeze the handle.
• Fire Alarm – If an alarm sounds, please follow evacuation instructions.  Evacuation maps are located inside each classroom and studio in the Music Suite.
• Medical Emergency – Call Security at x4882.  Advise them if 911 should be called.  Call 911 if you cannot get security at x4882.  There is a first aid kit in the Division Office for small medical concerns.

I.                  Legal Issues in the Classroom

Disability Support Services

Services that provide advocacy and awareness of the legal rights of the disabled are provided by DSS in Student Support Services, RCF 302 in the Student Services Building, 410-772-4624.  For the protection of  teachers and the institution, be sure to follow the accommodations as directed by DSS.  Always remember that it’s a good idea to have multiple ways to make a point.  Making an accommodation for a disabled student is not as challenging for teachers that always accommodate the different learning styles that all students have.  On the HCC website, under Students, the Academic Support Services pages will answer frequently asked questions.  Main points:

• Students cannot receive, and teachers should not provide, accommodations until the student presents the classroom accommodation form from the DSS office.  Once the student meets with and presents the accommodation forms to the Instructor, the forms are to be signed and dated by both the Instructor and the student within 24 hours.  Classroom accommodations begin the day they are signed and are not retroactive.  Please keep DSS discussions with students private and out of the presence of other students.
• Classroom accommodation forms are legally binding documents that must be followed as specified.  Contact the counselor if the accommodation poses a problem.
• Extended time accommodations for tests and quizzes should be sent to the Testing Center the week before.  “Pop” quizzes need to be planned for and accommodated.  Students are usually given 1 ½  or 2 times the normal time for a test.  Unlimited time for tests is NOT a recognized accommodation.
• Any changes in the delivery of accommodations must be agreed to in writing by the student and approved by the DSS office.
• DSS will work with faculty members to procure a note taker (usually another student in the class).  You can seek a volunteer without divulging the identity of the disabled student.  This just means that a student consents to copy his/her notes and provide them to the disabled student.  The copier in the adjunct area HVPA-220 or 260 can be used for this purpose.  This accommodation should only be given if requested by DSS.
• Questioning a student about a disability or an accommodation is against the law.  It is also a breach of confidentiality to disclose to other students that a student has a disability.
• Students with disabilities are to be held to the same course and college standards as all other students except for their identified course accommodations. 
• There are no accommodations for disruptive behavior.

Student Privacy and Confidentiality Reminders

·        Be sensitive to student confidentiality in classroom discussions

·        Keep confidential information, such as grades, out of sight

·        Remind students that final grades are posted online

·        Do not use Social Security numbers.  The student I.D. number is best.

·        Shred confidential information

·        Don’t e-mail grades to any address other than the HCC account.

·        Don’t give grades or information over the phone unless you know you are talking directly to the student.

·        Don’t post grades.  Students can usually figure out who got what.

·        Don’t give information about students to other classmates.

·        Don’t give confidential information to parents unless the student has provided you with a release allowing such information to be shared with the parent.  The release should be specific about type of information is authorized.

·        Don’t give students a copy of the class roster.

Classroom Decorum

Disruptive Students can be asked to leave your class, but this cannot be a permanent removal unless the proper disciplinary process is completed.  See The Music Director about any situation that needs to be resolved beyond a one-time infraction.  The Policies and Procedures section of the Student Handbook is the source for all disciplinary policies.

Safety Concerns:  Contact Security: 4225, non-emergency, 4882, Emergency

Establishing a respectful classroom environment

Your syllabus is your best tool for establishing classroom decorum.  Your rules, policies, expectations, and academic integrity requirements should be clearly written.  Make sure that all students get the syllabus and you have reviewed the content.  Have as few rules as possible but stick to them once you’ve made them.  Different rules for different people lead to frustrated students and grade challenges. 

A universal rule for all teachers and all students: Be nice.  Treat everyone with respect.  Treat everything about the course and the facility with respect.

Online Employee Information Self-Service

Budgeted employees have 24/7 access to a variety of important compensation and benefits information online!  These self-service options save paper and time, provide current data, and offer the ability to link to related benefits and policies for further information.  See the “Employee Profile” section on HCC Express via the Intranet.  Please contact the office of human resources if you have any questions.

View “real time” data for:

·        total compensation

·        leave balances

·        stipends

HCC Express Login Procedures

1. On the HCC staff Intranet home page, click on HCC Express located along the left of the page.

2. Click the appropriate link whether you are accessing HCC Express on campus or off campus.

3. Click on “Log In” (in the burgundy section-top right of page under HCCExpress.net).

4. Enter your “User ID” (1^st initial of FN + 1^st seven letters of your LN + last 4 digits of colleague ID#, no spaces), then your password (see instructions on this page if you are   doing this for the first time) – click “submit”.

5. Click on “Employees” (burgundy button-left side of page).

NA /Correction Rosters (yellow paper) will be sent on September 5^th.  NA/ Correction rosters are used to verify enrollment and are essential for updating the official records in both the Financial Aid and Registration Offices. The deadline for returning the NA/ Correction Roster is  Monday, September 10, 2007. Student aid will not be released until NA/Correction rosters are returned to the Records Office.

Final Grade Rosters (Grading Scanners) will be sent on December 7^th.  . Please submit the Final Grade Roster to your Division Office within 48 hours of completion of the final exam.

                    FYI

                    Deadlines for drop and withdraw from full term (15 weeks) 2007 Fall semester classes:

                    Drop/ 100% refund                                                                                  August 31

                    Drop/ 75% Tuition only refund                              September 7

                    Drop/ 50% Tuition only refund                              September 14

                    Withdraw from classes                                                                 September 15 –November 3

HCC Music Faculty Concert Series

The HCC Music Department encourages and supports its faculty to perform through the HCC Music Faculty Concert Series.  This has a two-fold purpose: to establish an audience base that supports our music series and to promote the outstanding musicians who form the HCC music faculty.  The Faculty Concert Series is organized annually, usually in the spring semester for the following academic school year.  The format of the concert can be a solo recital, a jazz concert, a chamber concert or a joint concert with several faculty members.  The faculty concerts will receive the following support from the music department:

Publicity and Advertisement

Printed publicity:

l          The Baltimore Sun Arts Guide

l          The Peabody Magazine

l          Candlelight Concert Programs

l          Baltimore-Washington area newspapers

l          Howard County Arts Calendar

l          Howard County Public School System

l          HCC Music Faculty Concert Series Brochure

l          HCC Student Activity Handbook

l          HCC Cultural Arts Calendar

l          Press Releases sent through the HCC PR Office

Printed Advertisement: Reviewed Yearly

Electronic Publicity:

l          The Baltimore Fun Guide

l          Event Announcement for HCC Music Department at Yahoo!Groups.

l          HCC Visual and Performing Arts Event Calendar site

l          HCC Event and Info weekly email

Flyers and Posters:

            Each faculty concert will receive 5 large posters for display around the HCC campus, and 50 (8.5X11) flyers for distribution through the Student Activity Services and in class to students.  More flyers can be printed but not to exceed a total of 100 copies at the request of the faculty.  If more are desired, the faculty member may reproduce the flyers at their own expense at a professional reproduction shop such as Kinko’s.

Production Support and Recording

1.      Faculty concerts will be audio recorded unless other arrangements are specified.

2.      Stage workers and ushers for faculty concert will be set up with production support by HCC music students, coordinated by Karin Orenstein.

3.      Programs for faculty concert will be made and printed.

Gratuity

A small honorarium may be available for guest artists only.  HCC faculty will not be paid for recitals.  Please discuss details with Dr. Deborah Kent.  Please be aware that there is no budget for this so funds are very limited.

Participation Procedure for Interested Faculty:

Booking of the Monteabaro Recital Hall for the 2007-2008 Faculty Concert Series usually begin in early part of Spring Semester to ensure faculty receive first choice on desired date.  The Hall will be booked on a first come first serve basis.  Though HCC Music Faculty Concert Brochure is usually mailed at the beginning of the fall semester, much publicity information is sent out as early as April.  Below is a table of timeline outlining the steps to be taken by the faculty in a timely fashion for the music department to assist you in the preparation and presentation of your concert.  Please understand that the timeline is set up to be sure that your concert needs will be met. If you are unable to provide information within this timeline, the Music Department cannot guarantee that all your requests will be met.

Cancellation:

In the event of unforeseen emergency or illness that prohibits the performance from taking place, please be sure to contact both Deborah Kent and Hsien-Ann Meng via phone and email.

Deborah Kent: dkent@howardcc.edu and 410-772-4914

Hsien-Ann Meng: hmeng@howardcc.edu and 410-772-4107

While all efforts will be made to ensure the cancellation information gets out to the public through available media, the music department cannot guarantee all audience would receive the information in time. 

Table of Timeline