QUIZ - 5/17/10

See if you can answer these questions about our program and Columbus State. The first person to respond with all the correct answers wins a prize.
1. What are Columbus State’s school colors?
2. What is the name of the Columbus State mascot?
3. What will happen to Basic Writing 1 next quarter?
4. Where do we expect to begin Basic English classes starting in Autumn 2010?

Summer schedule - 5/17/10

Attached with this e-mail is the schedule for summer classes. Please let me know as soon as possible (a) if you are interested in teaching this summer and (b) if so, what levels/times you would like. As always, I will do my best to accommodate as many preferences as possible. No course is confirmed until there are enough registered/paid students to run the class.

Final tests and evaluations - Rev. 3/9/11

Basic English instructors – You will find packets containing your final tests and evaluations in the milk crate on the counter across from the mailboxes.

Please review the following information:

Course evaluations. All packets contain course evaluation forms for your students to complete.

• Evaluation forms are provided in an envelope with your name and course on it. Please return the completed forms for each class in the appropriate envelope.
• I realize that your students may need some assistance with the instructions on the forms. Insofar as possible, please allow them sufficient privacy so that they can provide their true opinions and comments about the class. If possible, have another instructor assist your students while you do the same for that instructor’s class. (Thank you to Tafsir for this great idea!)
  

Labels. Your packets also contain labels for the students to use on their tests or answer sheets. Please have them use these. It makes it much easier for us to identify a test as belonging to a particular student in a particular class.
If you have a student who is in your class but does not have a label, go ahead and let the student take the test. Registration will be re-checked when final grades are entered. Please be sure that the student puts his name, CougarID number and course on the test or Scantron sheet.

Tests.

• Basic English 1, Basic English 2, Basic English 3, Basic English 7. Students will write on the tests, not a separate answer sheet.
• Basic Communication. You should fill out the assessment sheet for each student.
• Basic Reading 1. You should give the Reading section (pages 1 – 19) of the TABE (9E). Students will mark their answers on Scantron sheets.
• Other Basic English classes. Tests are in your packets. Students will mark their answers on Scantron sheets. NOTE for Basic English 6: These tests go beyond 50 questions, but the Scantron sheets have only 50 spaces. Therefore, you will need to use two Scantron sheets per student: #1 - #50 will be on the first Scantron sheet, and #50 through the end of the test will be on the second. Be sure that students write their names on the second sheet.
  

ALL – Please drop off the completed tests to me right away so we can get the results to the students without delay.

Scantron notes

• Scantron answer sheets must be completed using #2 pencil. The scoring machine will not read ink. Be sure your students know about this ahead of time so they bring pencils with them to the test. Before the test begins, show the students how to correctly mark their choices so the machine will read them.
• For those tests with Scantron answer sheets, students should not write in the test booklets – only on the answer sheets.
  

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Basic English course name change

Basic Writing 1 will become Basic English 7 as of Summer Quarter 2010.

Why are we doing this?
In order for Basic English students to take the COMPASS/ESL test in the Testing Center, they need to have successfully completed both Basic English 6 and Basic Writing 1. Because Basic Writing 1 has a different name and is not clearly a part of the numbered Basic English series, many students have not clearly understood the requirement and have become confused. Further, a number of students who have taken the COMPASS/ESL test without completing the writing class have not been successful, and have needed to return to complete the Basic English series.
We hope that this change will make it easier to understand the necessity of completing the Basic English series before proceeding to the COMPASS/ESL test, so our students will have a smooth and successful transition to credit coursework.


When will the change take place?
The new course is already set up in Colleague for Summer quarter registration.


What is the course number?
The course number for Basic English 7 is LILNG-710.


What materials will be used?
There will be no change in curriculum or materials. The current Basic Writing text - Ready to Write 1 - will continue to be used.


Currently, students can take Basic English 6 and Basic Writing 1 at the same time if they want. Will this change?
No, there will not be a change. If a student wishes to take BE6 and BE7 at the same time, that will be fine.


Will there be a change in the Basic English Placement Test to accommodate this new level in the Basic English series?
Yes, there will, although it hasn't been done yet.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Electronic time entry process change

In order to ensure that time reporting is done accurately, we will need to add an extra step in the process of electronic time entry. PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY!!

Here’s the situation —

• I keep a spreadsheet with the number of hours each instructor is scheduled to teach in a given pay period. This spreadsheet is available for Nancy to see to use as a guide when she goes in to approve time entries.
• I try very hard to make all the needed changes that come up — illness, car problems, snow days, make-up days, etc., etc. Sometimes I miss something. And sometimes an instructor makes a time entry error. Therefore, there are times when the hours on my spreadsheet don’t match the hours that an instructor has entered.
• It’s not always possible for Nancy to contact me to find out which number (mine or the instructor’s) is the correct one — and often there’s a very short window for her to approve the entries before the Payroll deadline. If there’s a discrepancy, there are only two options: (a) Approve the entry, which may mean the instructor will be underpaid (or overpaid) and not know it; or (b) Reject the entry, leaving the instructor to fill out a paper time card, and risk not being paid for the time until the following time period.
• So that we can be sure instructors are being paid correctly AND so I can keep track of expenses, we need an improvement in the process. I sincerely hope the following change will remedy the situation.
  

Here’s the new process —

• About five days before the end of each pay period, I’ll send each instructor an e-mail with a screen shot of the days and number of hours for that instructor from my spreadsheet. This is the spreadsheet that Nancy will use to verify that the time entered is correct.
• If everything is correct, just let me know and then enter your time as usual. Nancy will then know it’s correct and be able to approve it.
• If there is an error, let me know right away so I can update the spreadsheet before you enter your time.
• If I don’t hear from you one way or the other by the time entry deadline, I will assume that my spreadsheet is correct. At that point, if there is a discrepancy between what you have entered and what is on my spreadsheet, Nancy will reject the time entry. You will then need to complete a paper time card in order to be paid for that time period. PLEASE NOTE that once the electronic time entry deadline has passed, there is a good chance that a paper time card will not be processed by Payroll in time for the next pay, which means your pay would be delayed until the following pay period.
  

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to let me know. Thank you for your help as we work to improve processes and ensure accuracy in tracking expenses.

Testing with Scantrons

All classes except Basic English 1, Basic English 2 and Basic English for Business will use Scantrons in the final tests. Here are some important notes about testing with Scantron sheets.

• Let students know to come prepared for the test with two sharpened #2 pencils (or mechanical #2 pencils). They will need these to complete the tests.
• Be sure that students use #2 pencils to complete the Scantron forms.
• Students should not write in the test booklets.
• Give an example on the board of how to fill in the answer blanks correctly. Blanks should be filled in completely and neatly (not circled or marked with an X). Erasures should be clean and neat.
• If name labels are not provided (or if two Scantrons are needed), be sure students complete the information box on the Scantron with first name, last name, CougarID number and the course name.
• If there are more than 50 questions on the test, each student will need to use two Scantron sheets. #1 on the second Scantron sheet will correspond with question #51, #2 with question #52, and so on.
• If two Scantrons are needed for each for each student, do not staple the Scantrons together before turning them in.
• Turn in the completed Scantrons and test booklets right away after the tests are over so we can have the scores available for the students as soon as possible.
  

Calendar of Events: March - April, 2010

March
02 Thelma Bucy's birthday
08 International Women's Day
12 Time cards due for period of 3/1 - 3/15
14 Daylight Savings Time begins
15 Electronic time entry due for period of 3/1 - 3/15
17 St. Patrick's Day
21 Naw Ruz (Bahá’í New Year)
28 Fred Baker's birthday
28 Palm Sunday (Christianity)
29 Time cards due for period of 3/16 - 3/31
29 Spring Quarter begins
30 Passover (Judaism)
31 Electronic time entry due for period of 3/16 - 3/31

April
01 April Fools Day
02 Good Friday (Christianity)
04 Easter Sunday (Christianity). No classes today; campus will be closed.
08 Buddha's birthday (Buddhism - Japan)
11 Holocaust Remembrance Day
13 Time cards due for period of 4/1 - 4/15
15 Electronic time entry due for period of 4/1 - 4/15
15 Federal and state income tax deadline
21 Birthday of the Prophet Mohamed
21 Administrative Professionals Day
22 Earth Day
25 World Penguin Day
28 Time cards due for period of 4/16 - 4/30
29 Arbor Day
30 Electronic time entry due for period of 4/16 - 4/30