Frequently Asked Questions for Distance Instructors

Am I allowed to permit students into my class?

Students and members of the University community outside of the English Department (other advisors, etc.) may request that you permit a student into your class. Because it is important to our instructors and to our program to keep class sizes small and restricted to a specific adult-learner population, it is CWE policy that distance instructors not permit students into courses. You may use the following as a response to a student or other query:

"I can not issue any permits for this course.  If you are a part-time learner who is constrained by time and/or distance, you may qualify for this web-based course. To find out, you may contact the Office of Extended Learning at 1(800)2LEARN or 1-800-253-2762 and one of the customer service representatives will verify your eligibility and, if you are eligible, help you with the registration process.

If you do not meet these criteria, you can ask Mary Vasquez (mary.vasquez@wvu.edu or 293-3107 x33410) in the English Department to add your name to a wait list. Starting two weeks before each term, we will look at the wait list and start filling empty slots with qualified students. PWE minors or English majors will be given priority, as will students with most credit hours completed."

Who is eligible to take online courses in English?

The web-based writing courses we offer through the English Department are designed and offered for part-time students who are not able to take on-site courses. Online writing courses are particularly challenging and, in order to succeeed in them, students must have strong communication skills, a high degree of motivation, and an ability to work independently. These web-based courses are not meant to replace their on-site counterparts for students who can attend class on campus. Students who are enrolled for more than 12 hours at the start of the term will be administratively dropped from an online writing course.

Who do I contact if I have questions about course registration?

After your first time teaching the class, if you have a question about basic registration (how many hours a student has, etc.), contact the Office of Extended Learning:

WVU Office of Extended Learning
(800)2LEARN or 1-800-253-2762

What kind of attendance policy should I enforce in my class?

University policy allows instructors to establish specific attendance policies appropriate to the goals of the course and to use attendance records in determining a final grade. Because these courses are on-line, the course guidelines for each course identifies attendance as checking in with and reading materials on the course site regularly (every week day) and participating in course activities.
If a student has not "attended class" (contacted you or shown up on the WebCT course site), you may deny them access to the course since that I the web-based equivalent of not showing up during drop/add. If a student contacts you after that time because they see they have been denied access, you may make decisions about admitting them on a case-per-case basis.

How many office hours should I have?

All English instructors must hold at least 1 office hour per class taught. Distance instructors should plan on having at least some office hours online (in a chatroom) or by a phone in case off-campus students are unable to come to your regular office hours. Note your in and out of office hours on your course site, and turn your office hours in to Amanda in the main office.

Should I save student work?

Student writing can be an excellent resource for reflecting on your teaching and for compiling teaching portfolios. If you plan to keep a student’s paper, please ask them to sign a permission form. The permission form should include their name, the date, a statement of permission with your name included (i.e., I give permission for instructor to use my papers in future classes and/or research.), and their signature.

How should I handle student complaints?

Everyone gets complaints from time to time. Here is the procedure for handling a complaint.

1. First, talk to the student about their complaint. Many complaints are the result of miscommunication and can be resolved fairly easily.

2. Should the student want to register a course complaint or a grade appeal, the student may get from the main office (236 Stansbury) a Request to Register a Writing Course Complaint form. This form asks students to identify in writing the nature of their complaint and the resolution they hope for to provide CWE staff with an organized means to research and respond to student concerns.

The CWE is committed to supporting our instructors. We can best do this when instructors keep careful records of assignments, grades, absences, and other issues with individual students.

How should I handle plagiarism?

All of our writing courses are invested in helping students understand and engage the appropriate citation conventions for their documents. Learning to use source material is an important part of the writing process. As instructors, it is our job to support students in this learning, even and especially when they make mistakes.

The CWE supports the educational concerns, strategies, and recommendations described in Defining and Avoiding Plagiarism: The WPA Statement on Best Practices. Please refer to your copy of this document to help you think of ways you and your students can effectively negotiate concerns related to the use and documentation of sources.

Nonetheless, students do commit acts of academic dishonesty for which they must be held accountable according to University guidelines. To make formal charges of plagiarism, please see pages 47–52 in the West Virginia University Undergraduate Catalog, 2001–2003. The CWE has models of the plagiarism allegation and imposition letters that can help you draft appropriate responses. Please see the Professional Writing Coordinator or another CWE faculty member for additional assistance.

Who do I contact if I have questions about WebCT?

You may contact the OIT help desk if you have questions about WebCT Vista. Please also contact me (via email or face to face) to let me know what problem you are having/ have had so that I can keep track of any technical difficulties (even if it was user error) our DW instructors are coming up against:

OIT Help Desk
(304) 293-4444 ext. 1

What is WebDAV and how do I use it to manage the files related to my web-based course?

WebDAV is a file transfer protocol that is now compatible with WebCT. Essentially, WebDav allows you to upload files to your web-based course without having to use WebCT itself. You can use WebDAV on any PC computer running Windows 2000 or Windows XP, any Macintosh running Mac OS X or later, or any web design software package that is compatible with WebDAV, such as Macromedia Dreamweaver 4.0 and later. How you use WebDav depends upon what software you have. You can learn more about how to use WebDAV through the "Help" link in WebCT, or by visiting the WebCT support pages at http://www.itrc.wvu.edu/webct/faq39.html and http://telr.osu.edu/webct/newin38davov.html.

If you're using web design software, such as Macromedia Dreamweaver, you can access your course files by using the WebDAV protocol under the "Remote Access" link in the software's "Preferences." You'll need the correct WebDAV file path for your course to do so. To find the WebDAV file path for your course, go to your course's File Manager, navigate to the "My Files" folder, and then click on the "View WebDAV Info" button. WebCT will then provide the full path name for your course files. Copy this link and paste it into the appropriate dialogue box listed under "WebDAV" in the "Remote Access" link.