Penn State College of Arts and Architecture

Faculty Handbook

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES FOR STUDENTS AND FACULTY

Grievance Procedures for Students

Students are occasionally confronted with a situation that may cause them concern and/or inconvenience. Complaints may include grading procedures and grades in courses; failure of a teacher or administrator to uphold University policies, such as the prohibition of smoking in classrooms, the prohibition on scheduling comprehensive examinations during the last class period of a semester, and early termination of scheduled class sessions; and failure of an instructor to fulfill his or her instructional obligations, such as unjustified cancellation of classes, frequent absenteeism, or late arrival.

Resolution of many problems can be achieved by discussing the matter with the person or persons directly involved. But an undergraduate student who, because of the nature of the problem or for any other reason, feels this avenue is inappropriate should discuss the situation with Donald Leslie, associate dean for undergraduate studies, in116, Arts Building.

Confidentiality will be maintained as appropriate in writing. Only information required to pursue a requested course of action or that the student consents in writing to release will be disclosed.

Grievance Procedures for Faculty

If you believe that there has been a violation of your academic freedom, professional ethics, or procedural fairness, you should discuss the alleged violation with your unit head. Each college also has an ombudsperson, whose responsibilities are to enhance communication and clarify possible misunderstandings in situations involving potential disputes, to advise faculty members and administrators about appropriate courses of action, and to help settle matters before they develop into serious disputes.

Disputes that cannot be resolved through normal channels of administrative responsibility and procedure may be taken to the University Faculty Senate Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities. Upon receipt of a petition, the committee makes a preliminary determination of the extent of its review of the matter. The committee first reviews the matter informally. If this informal review does not resolve the situation, the committee may decide to establish a hearing board. Hearings before this board are not public. Conclusions of the hearing board are submitted to the President of the University, who then notifies the committee chairperson of the decision. For further details about this procedure and about the duties of ombudspersons, see University Policy HR-76, "Faculty Rights and Responsibilities.”

UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES: RESERVES, ON-LINE CATALOG (LIAS), ETC.

The University Libraries constitute a major resource for students and researchers in all fields of study. The Libraries contain more than 4.5 million volumes, 4.8 million microforms, and more than 40,000 serial subscriptions. At University Park, the Libraries include nine subject libraries in Pattee Library and Paterno Library and six additional subject libraries at branch locations, including the Architecture Library. You may recommend purchases of books and other library materials by contacting the Libraries directly by electronic mail at BUYBOOKS@PSULIAS.PSU.EDU or through the faculty member in your department who serves as the library representative. The Libraries’ subject specialists are listed on the Web at www.libraries.psu.edu/pubinfo/collctdvspc.html. For general questions about the University Libraries’ collection development program at all Penn State locations, contact Assistant Dean of Collection Development Bonnie MacEwan at (814) 865-0401 or by e-mail at bjm@psulias.psu.edu. Faculty at locations other than University Park can also contact their head librarian.

Access to holdings is obtained through a computerized catalog, part of the Library Information Access System (LIAS), available on the Web at http://www.libraries.psu.edu. LIAS is a dynamic, integrated information system that provides electronic access to a great variety of materials in many subject areas. A growing collection of over 350 databases, including 8,000 journals with full-text articles, is available on the Fast Track in LIAS at http://www.lias.psu.edu:80/alall.html. Introductory sessions, announced on the Libraries Web page, are offered on a regular basis to familiarize faculty, students, and other library users with LIAS. Instructional programs are listed at http://www.libraries.psu.edu/crsweb/instruction/ip/.

The Libraries maintain a comprehensive program of general and specialized reference and instructional services. The Libraries' faculty teach credit courses as part of the Library Studies Program, conduct topical seminars, and provide instruction on bibliography and library research to students in hundreds of University courses. Services offered to Penn Staters include computerized literature searches in a variety of databases and resource sharing networks available through Interlibrary Loan for materials not part of the Libraries’ collection. Through Penn State, faculty also gain on-site borrowing privileges to the collections of several major research libraries in the United States and Canada.

The tabloid, “Guide to the University Libraries,” offers additional information on these services and programs and is available at Libraries service desks and by calling (814) 865-0401.

TheArts and Humanities Library, one of thirteen subject libraries at the University Park campus, is a quick walk across the street from the College of Arts and Architecture building complex. The largest of the subject libraries, it provides collections and services related to classics, dance, film, history, language, literature, music, philosophy, religion, theater, and the visual arts. It is housed in the newly renovated Pattee Library and in the Paterno Library. For more information or to contact a librarian, see the library Web site at http://www.libraries.psu.edu/crsweb/arts/welcome1.htm

Technology and computing resources

Eighty networked public computer workstations within the Arts and Humanities Library provide access to the library’s catalog and over 200 on-line databases made available to Penn State students and faculty, as well as access to other information resources available on the Internet. Thirty of these workstations are multimedia computers equipped for audio and video playback. These workstations are supplemented by other public computers located throughout the Pattee Library and Paterno Library complex.

The Humanities Reading Room in the Arts and Humanities Library offers commodious space for up to 400 readers at tables equipped with dataports for laptop computer use.

The Digital Resources Center in the Arts and Humanities Library provides six multimedia computers and peripherals, such as scanners and other capture devices, that students and faculty may use to digitize library materials in all formats, in addition to create course-related multimedia research projects and Web sites in consultation with subject specialists in the Libraries’ faculty. The center is the home of library-based digital projects such as the Digital Music Library, which makes available over the Internet music audio studied in music courses.

Information resources

The Arts and Humanities Library comprises over one million print volumes, 2,000 periodical subscriptions, and 30,000 recordings. Sound and video recordings are located in the library’s Music and Media Center, which also provides audio and video playback equipment. More than fifty networked, Web-based databases are provided in the arts and humanities, supplemented by information resources on CD-ROM. Library staff at two service desks provide assistance in locating, using, and evaluating the information housed in the Arts and Humanities Library.

Human resources

Six faculty librarians, subject specialists in arts and humanities disciplines, are active liaisons with the collegiate departments. They ensure that the library is meeting the information and research needs of its user communities by developing the library’s collections, providing instruction for students in information finding and research methods, and offering in-depth reference assistance. Five full-time staff manage library operations and assist users with their information needs.

TheArchitecture Library is located in the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture in Engineering Unit C Building. It provides collections and services related to architecture and landscape architecture, and houses a collection of approximately 20,000 items, including videos, periodicals, and CDs on contemporary architecture (1850– present), landscape architecture, and related topics, including urban planning, historic preservation, drawing, design, architectural technology, etc. The collection is complemented by materials found in other subject libraries. The pre-1850 architecture collections are in the Arts and Humanities Library in Pattee Library, a short walk from the Architecture Library. The arts librarian and three full-time staff serve faculty and students in the College of Arts and Architecture, offer reference assistance and course-related instruction, and work to ensure that the library is meeting the information and research needs of its patrons. For more information or to contact a librarian, see the library Web site at

http://www.libraries.psu.edu/crsweb/arch/arch.htm

TELEPHONES AND USAGE

Telephone services are available to all faculty and staff for purposes of official University business. If personal calls are made from a University telephone, you must use a personal calling card. It is not permitted to direct personal charges to the University monthly telephone statement. If, on occasion, misdirection should occur, payment will be made to the finance staff in your academic unit upon receipt of the monthly statement.

The Office of Telecommunications offers no-fee initial and refresher training sessions and workshops on use of some OTC-provided services to all Penn State personnel. Training can be scheduled for individual or group sessions and can be presented at the work site or in the training room at University Support Building II on the University Park campus. Call 865-8661 for details or scheduling.

Telephone problems should be reported to the appropriate staff person in your academic unit for prompt service.

TECHNOLOGY IN THE COLLEGE

Technology is maintained and monitored by Information Technology Services, the umbrella technology organization for the college, which handles college-wide servers, multiple-unit purchases, research, consultation, and training. It also coordinates the support of most college units. Technology support specialists are assigned to each unit and handle day-to-day technical support and consultation. The most recent contact information can be found at http://www.artsandarchitecture.psu.edu/its/. This site will also have more specific information about the types of services provided.