Department of Anthropology
Willam Paterson University
Science Building 328
300 Pompton Road
Wayne, New Jersey 74710

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Tools

There is no set syllabus for the ANTH130 courses, but all instructors must cover a minimal set of topics during the semester (See Course Outline). Course syllabi should incorporate assignments, class activities and/or measurement tools that teach and assess basic GE learning outcomes as defined by WPU, namely,

To locate and use information.

Examples of class activities and assessment tools are provided in Course Materials at our web-site. The Department does not mandate the use of a specific set of activities/tools, but strongly recommends that you use as many as possible. We expect all ANTH130 students to have done one assignment/activity related to each learning outcome at least once during the semester.

Anthropology conducts a General Education Assessment Survey each Fall in several (randomly selected) ANTH130 sections. The survey lets us know how well we are achieving course objectives and goals; it is not intended to evaluate individual classes/instructors.

Course Expectations

The syllabus is a contract between the professor and the students. Diverge from it as little as possible. Examples of ANTH130 syllabi are provided in Course Materials at our web-site. When you do your syllabus, include all the section headings included in the examples at the web-site and be very clear and specific in spelling out your requirements for the course, reading assignments, grading criteria, etc. Please send an electronic copy of your syllabus to the Department Secretary for our files at the beginning of the semester.

A combination of teaching styles (lecture, discussion, group work, individual assignments, debates, oral presentations, in-class writing, audiovisual presentation, computer lab work) is generally most effective in Anthropology courses. If you wish to use special teaching resources (audiovisual material, computers, bone collections), see the section entitled Faculty Support Services. Short quizzes and/or assignments are a good way of ensuring that students complete reading assignments on time. If you have used or designed 'good' assignments, and don't mind sharing them with others, please place them with Course Materials at our web-site. Faculty are free to choose the format of exams, but we strongly recommend that you include some essay questions. Final exams must be given during the week of finals. The University schedules specific times & dates at the beginning of the semester (see Master Schedule).

It is important that the course syllabus explains to students the attendance and grading policies. Students should receive their first examination or other major assignment grade before the course withdrawal deadline. Faculty should keep records of student attendance. You will receive a form from the administration, on or about the third week of classes, asking that you identify which students are attending and which are not attending class. You should return these forms to the registrar’s office through campus mail or give them to the Department secretary. Attendance and class participation can be used to determine the final grade. Students on the roster who never show up for class or stop attending, but fail to drop the course, earn a final grade of F. Students may not attend any course section that they are not formally enrolled in. If you have such students, send them to the registrar to clarify their schedules. You cannot issue a final grade for students whose names do not appear on your class roster.

Course Readings

The Anthropology Department strongly recommends that faculty adopt the current editions of textbooks. Many instructors assign a collection of short readings to supplement the textbook and to form the basis of class discussions or paper assignments. Others supplement the text with one or two short ethnographies. Publishers are increasingly providing supplementary web-based readings & resources that are cheaper than printed sources and easily available to students. We recommend that you use them. The syllabus should clearly specify what readings are required of students and when those readings must be completed.

Book order forms can be obtained from the Campus Bookstore, located in the lower level of the Student Center, or you can call the Bookstore (973) 720-3228. Most publishing companies are happy to send you desk copies of their textbooks.

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

The Office of Disability Services (Morrison Hall) offers a proctoring service for students who have been diagnosed with learning disabilities. These students are responsible for identifying themselves and alerting their instructors to their special needs. The Office of Counseling Services (Morrison Hall) offers a range of confidential counseling services to students.

FACULTY SUPPORT SERVICES

The Library has an extensive collection of videos, including some related to anthropology. If you would like to show a video in class, this can be arranged through the Media Services Center in the Library. You should inform media services several days in advance of the day you want to show the film. You may do this over the phone, (973) 720-2308, or via e-mail, lovegrovec@wpunj.edu. The Library also offers tutoring sessions for classes using electronic databases and/or Human Relation Area Files (e-HRAF). You can request these services over the phone, (973) 720-2663, or via e-mail, rosarioh@wpunj.edu. You can place course readings on reserve if you personally take them to the Library Reserve Counter. The Library will place material on electronic reserve (e-reserve) if you take (send) the scanned files to the Library. For further information on e-reserve, contact Virginia Wagner, wagnerv@wpunj.edu.

The University has computer labs that may be reserved for classes. If you wish to take your students to a computer lab, contact the Instructional Technology Department several days in advance, over the phone, (973) 720-2659, or via e-mail giummarrad@wpunj.edu. The Department of Anthropology owns a laptop and a personal computer that can be taken to classrooms. To use these resources, contact the Department Secretary. We do not own an LCD (in-focus) projector, but you can reserve one (well in advance) through Media Services. The Department owns a scanner, a CD burner, and a zip drive, which are connected to the portable PC.

The Anthropology Department has its own website, http://www.wpunj.edu/cohss/anthropology, which includes information about the Department, faculty, and courses. All faculty are encouraged to put syllabi and supplementary course material on the web. If you want to create a web-site for a class, contact Robert Harris harrisr@wpunj.edu and visit the Blackboard web-site http://bb.wpunj.edu/. The Instructional Technology Department offers free (Word, Powerpoint, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, etc.) workshops on a regular basis. Visit their web-page, http://www.wpunj.edu/itservices/default.cfm to learn more about their resources and support services.

Other Support

The University will assign you a faculty e-mail account. If you are not assigned one at the beginning of the semester, contact the department secretary. Your login ID will be your last name followed by your first name initial (e.g. doej@wpunj.edu). Check with IRT for password. If you prefer to use a different email account, please notify the University (help@wpunj.edu) and the Department (chair, secretary, webmaster). We often use e-mail addresses to send communications and announcements. All WPU students have e-mail accounts and free printing privileges.

A phone is available in the Adjunct Office for making calls on campus and in the New Jersey-New York region. Your voice mail can be accessed from home by calling (973) 720-2545. You can change your personal greeting in order to leave pertinent information for students. You will be given an access key for your office. Only full-time faculty have an access key for the main office.

You are free to send and receive mail on campus. Outgoing mail should be left in a box in the secretary's office. Incoming mail will be left for you in your faculty mail box, or in the adjuncts' office (if you teach on evenings).

You will find basic office supplies (paper, pens, chalk, blue books, transparencies) stored in the main office of the Department. There is a photocopying machine located in Science 250 for faculty use. The Secretary will provide you with an access number that will allow you to make copies. We operate on a limited budget and appreciate a judicious use of resources.

You should have a faculty ID made, which will enable you to use the faculty parking lot, library and other campus facilities. ID cards are made in the Student Center. Faculty parking is available in Lot 2 near the Science Building, as well as in other lots on campus. A parking sticker is necessary, and may be picked-up at the Campus Police Building. If you will be driving to campus, inform the Department Secretary, and she will see to it that a sticker in your name is made available.

Faculty paychecks are issued bi-weekly, with the first check released 3-4 weeks into the semester. Checks may be picked-up at the Payroll Office, College Hall, or sent directly to your bank account. You must make Direct Payment arrangements at the Payroll Office. You must fill-out a Payroll Authorization Form before the semester begins. These forms are available from the Dept. Secretary.