Faculty Resources
sociology department
This page is intended to let faculty know about common procedures related to course scheduling and reimbursements, and some of the services that are available to them at BC -- equipment and grants, ect. For more basic information, such as commonly used contact information and dates, see the Orientation page.
- Information Related to Courses
- Advising Undergraduates
- Travel Reimbursements
- Other Expense Reimbursements
- Equipment
- Grants
- Important Links
Information Related to Courses
To view courses
Sign into Agora and click on Course Offering Schedule to get to a menu that's pretty self explanatory. You can also view courses on UIS. Click on the Q on the lower left of your screen, type 1 and enter, then type MC03 and enter.
To schedule courses
The Chair approves courses and Jean schedules them. The Core Liaison (currently Paul Schervish) also needs to review and approve the syllabi for any new core courses, or for any instructor who's teaching a core course for the first time.
Core courses
For extensive information on core courses, see the Core Curriculum website. Core courses in Sociology include SC001 through SC099.
To order books
- 98% of the faculty order their books online at the BC Bookstore web site. Each new user must enter her or his user ID and create a password to have access to online book ordering. Pages will come up requesting information about the department, course, and type of book. Fill out all the information and submit.
- Once you've already taught, the Staff Assistant will give you a copy of the official textbook requisition form, which you can, if you prefer, fill out manually instead of ordering the books online. Once it's filled out, you can fax it to the bookstore - 2-2808 - or hand deliver it to Carol Bisceglia. You can also email Carol at carol.bisceglia.1@bc.edu with the details of the order.
It's a good idea to physically check the order in the bookstore two weeks before classes start. If there are any problems, it will be too late to correct them once the semester starts.
Desk copies
Check the publisher's web site instructions to find out how these are made. To find the url and mailing address, check the publisher's list, although your publisher may not be on it, in which case you’ll have to search for them on the Internet. You can also plug your information into a sample letter and either snail mail or email the result.
Coursepack ordering
Most faculty use e-reserves. However, coursepacks can be ordered online, at the same bookstore web site used to order books.
E-Reserves
Electronic course reserves can be arranged at the library. Make sure you give them ample notice.
Course websites
Course websites generated through Blackboard Vista can be used in a variety of ways, for instance to give syllabi and other scheduling information to students in the class, to display materials that would ordinarily be put into course packets or on reserve, or to host discussions on class topics.
Syllabus
The syllabus should be sent to the office staff prior to class. Samples of syllabi are given on the Office Hours and Syllabi section of our website.
Granting overrides
To grant an override, send an email to the student giving permission and telling the student to print up the email and bring it to McGuinn 426. Copy the office staff on the email, and make sure it includes the name of the student and the name and number of the course.
To view course rosters
Sign into Agora and click on Course Rosters/Photos, or Agora Portal and click on the Roster button next to your class.
Emailing your class
Your main Agora menu provides a button entitled "Communicating with your class," which directs you how to create an email ID for your classes. The email address will include your course number, section number, and the first initial of the semester: SC#####S@bc.edu (for Spring) and SC#####F@bc.edu (for Fall).
Equipment support
For video equipment support related to your class, contact Classroom Support at 2-4219. To borrow equipment, they need a 48 hour notice. Many classrooms have a cabinet which contains equipment, and you can sign out a key from Media Technology to use it.
Exams
Written classroom exams must be administered, unless the instructor has permission from the chair to use a take home exam or some other method. Students must take the exams in the blue books, which should be obtained from the Staff Assistant prior to exam time. Exam schedules and rooms will be assigned by the University, and will be posted outside room 426. There's also a website that lists exam schedules by category.
Evaluations
Evaluation forms are distributed to students every semester. The completed evaluations are immediately placed in the sealed envelope provided and given to the Staff Assistant or the Administrative Assistant. They are returned to instructors after Student Services records the ratings.
Grading
- Grading guidelines are given on the Academic Policies and Procedures website maintained by Student Services.
- Grading must done online. Information on how to use the system is provided on the Grading Procedures website, also maintained by Student Services.
Advising Undergraduates
See the Advising Sociology Undergraduates handbook for tips on how to be helpful to undergraduate students majoring in sociology.
Travel Reimbursements
Travel to conferences may be completely or partially funded by the A&S office under certain circumstances. See A&S Faculty Travel Reimbursement and the BC Policies and Procedures Manual for more detailed information about criteria and procedures.
Before leaving, faculty members must submit a travel request form. The form needs to be turned in to the Chair for approval at least 6½ weeks before departure.
Within two weeks after their return, faculty should turn in their receipts to the main office, along with a boarding pass and an expense report that calculates the expenses. You can also request the expense report in excel format from the office staff. If you have a Mac, you should ask an office staff person for the form adapted for Macs. Receipts and boarding passes should be taped (NOT stapled) to a 8.5 x 11 sheet of copy paper.
Credit card statements alone are insufficient as proof of purchase, and any receipt you receive online has to show the last four digits of your credit card number.
Other Expense Reimbursements
Basically, all reimbursements are done like travel reimbursements, except that you don't have to request the funds 6½ weeks in advance:
- Tape your receipts to an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper.
- Fill out an expense report and submit it in the main office.
- Credit card statements alone are insufficient as proof of purchase.
- When you get a receipt online, the receipt has to show the last four digits of your credit card number.
Equipment
Equipment support
As indicated above, for support with any kind of video equipment related to your class, contact Classroom Support at 2-4219. If you want to borrow equipment from them, they need 48 hours notice. Many classrooms have a cabinet which contains equipment, and you can sign out a key from Media Technology to use it.
Departmental equipment
The department owns and will loan out an LCD projector, laptops, a zip drive, a limited number of transcribers, and tape recorders.
Grants
Internal
There are a number of University grants that are available to full-time faculty members. Be sure to check web sites to find out about various restrictions and application procedures.
Research Expense Grants (REG)
These are administered by the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), offered twice a year and max out at $2,000. View deadlines and additional information.
Research Incentive Grants (RIG)
These are administered by the Provost's office, are offered once a year and max out at $15,000. View RIG Guidelines and Deadlines.
Undergraduate Research Fellowship Grants
Offered by the College of Arts and Sciences three times a year, these grants permit faculty to hire undergraduate assistants to help on research projects. View deadlines and additional information.
Teaching, Advising, and Mentoring Grants (TAM)
Administered by University Council on Teaching (UCT), these very competitive grants are offered once a year and max out at $15,000. View TAM in the Faculty Handbook for deadlines and other information.
Teaching, Advising and Mentoring Expense Grants (TAME)
These are offered twice a year by UCT, and max out at $2,000. View TAME in the Faculty Handbook for deadlines and additional information.
Eighty Percent and Regular Sabbaticals Application
Faculty can apply for the very competitive eighty percent sabbatical to work on research projects. The sabbaticals are awarded by the office of the Academic Vice President (AVP) annually. View Sabbatical Leave in the Faculty Handbook.
External
All listed by the Office of Sponsored Programs
Links
Faculty Handbook
A guide to faculty in understanding and using University resources, including policies and procedures, faculty support services and programs, University-wide committees, benefits, and facilities and services. View Faculty Handbook.
AVP Faculty Resources and Services
Information on faculty awards, academic technology services, research expense grants, research incentive grants, organizational charts, etc.
A&S Faculty Services and Resources, a series of helpful links, for instance to the academic calendar, Academic Technology Services, a list of A&S Chairpersons, A&S faculty elections, libraries, and others.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Information
Office of Sponsored Programs Forms
ASA Web Site — ASAnet.org