We found 16 results that contain "ombudsperson"

The MSU Ombudsperson is a confidential and neutral resource whose job it is to help members of the MSU community resolve disputes.

Whether one is a student, faculty, staff or administrator, the Office of the University Ombudsperson offers a confidential place to discuss academic concerns, administrative issues, workplace issues, or any concern that may relate to MSU students. It also interprets and explains university policies and procedures. Here, one can speak freely because the Office of the University Ombudsperson offers an environment where one can talk with a confidential, independent, impartial and informal resource about a complaint, conflict or concern.
Members of the MSU community may contact the University Ombudsperson here:

E-mail (ombud@msu.edu)
Telephone (517-353-8830)
Problem/Concern Form found here.

Please visit: https://ombud.msu.edu/ for more information.
 

Topic Area: Student Success
Presented by: Ryan Smith, Shannon Burton
Abstract:
Where do students turn when they are not sure how to handle a conflict they are experiencing in a course, when they feel caught within the university's bureaucracy, or when they are unsure how to navigate a university policy? Who can faculty or staff members contact when they want to discuss a student related issue in a confidential space? Students who do not feel as though they are being heard or that the institution is not taking their concerns seriously may not ultimately be successful. Student frustrations may surface in academic progress, or they may simply leave the university. The Office of the University Ombudsperson is a confidential, neutral, independent, and informal resource for students and for other university community members to discuss student related concerns. In this presentation, we will discuss the role of the Ombudsperson's office in fostering student success, and how we serve as a partner to other offices and individuals on campus to ensure that students are being heard and that they feel as though their concerns are being taken seriously. We will consider some hypothetical examples for when visitors may find their way to our office, and then discuss how we would assist them in resolving or navigating their issues.

Below is a list of resources that promote student success. All links provided are direct links (ONE CLICK) connecting you to contact information or an educator who can respond to your questions and/or help your students who cheated or committed academic misconduct. Thank you for helping our students achieve their goals.

Steps to Take
Ombudsperson Office     
Dean of Students Office  

Image attribution:"Psych 1, Winter 2007, Exam 1 Review Session" by redteam is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Teaching Toolkit Tailgate  (TTT) is a "resource fair" aimed at connecting educators across campus with practice-oriented tools, activities, and resources. In the past, TTT has been an in-person event with rooms dedicated to particular themes and individuals stationed at tables with printed "cards". Given public health guidance related to Covid19 and group gatherings, we're shifting to some online opportunities instead!
 
For starters, all TTT resource cards are being uploaded into this group. We've asked the original creators of the content to upload their cards, but if they didn't have the capacity to do so, their card was uploaded with attributions given to each author. You will see that some authors have chosen to upload their actual card file, so you can download, and print double-sided, while others have copied their content into #iteachmsu's blog-like article format. Both are getting you connected with tools and resources and that is what we care about. Additionally, articles will be organized into playlists in the hopes that we can still connect you with themed information (in lieu of visiting a specific room, you can click a playlist for themed tools).
 
Opportunities to engage:

We will host a #iteachmsu Ed Chat on twitter with practice-oriented prompts on August 20th from 12-1pm. For more information on what an Ed CHat is and a glimpse at the history of #iteachmsu Ed Chat's, you can check out this blog from the Hub. On 8/20, all prompts will be shared out from the Hub's Twitter handle (@MSUHUB) using #iteachmsu.

 

Additionally, we're arranging "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) with hosts who have contributed to the broad TTT categories. Each host will be checking in here (the #iteachmsu TTT group) for questions about their topic or area of expertise. The line up of AMA hosts is still evolving, so check back in on this article for updates. 

If you see a host is willing to answer questions and share their ideas/experience around a topic of interest, log into iteach.msu.edu on their day and share your questions with them via posts in the TTT group. They'll respond with comments and you can engage in further conversation. 

If you are a user who has had experience with a question that has been asked, we encourage you to also comment. The AMAs are intended to connect you with other educators at MSU and create opportunities to engage in deeper conversation. *Luckily, this is one the exact intentions of the #iteachmsu Commons!





There is no registration required to participate in either of these TTT "events", please log in and engage as often as you can!
 
 
AMA hosts:

Aug. 24th: Cheryl Caesar - Teaching Multilingual Students
Aug. 25th: Megan Kudzia - Digital Pedagogy/Research in Current Remote Moment
Aug. 26th: Justin Wigard - Teaching with Comics in the Online Classroom
Aug. 27th: Justin Wigard - Teaching with Video Games in the Online Classroom
Aug. 28th: Justin Wigard - Zines and Zine-Making as Critical Making Pedagogy
Sept. 1st: Ellie Louson - Experiential Learning
Sept. 2nd: Shannon Burton (Office of the University Ombudsperson) - Code of Teaching Responsibility, Academic Integrity & Student Rights
Sept. 3rd: Kristen Mapes - Building your digital presence and website development
Sept. 9th: Dustin De Felice -Using/Making Videos
Sept. 30th: Sarah Schultz - Out-of-class learning and engagement; co-curricular records

 
Additional hosts and dates are still being confirmed. This article will be updated as we know more!
 

Promote classroom discussions about integrity


Connect academic integrity to the professions
Reaffirm value of honest work
Encourage openness
Clarify terms and expectations


Prevent through assessment design 


Consider and honor pledge
Create alternate assignments/tests/quizzes
Assign topics that require analysis not just facts
Establish classroom policy on collaboration


Protect the learning environment


Consistently enforce the university policy
Establish clear grading criteria
Allow reasonable time for assignment completion
Base course grade on multiple assessments

Responding to Academic Misconduct

Discuss the allegation of misconduct with the student
Allow the student to respond to the allegation
Outline the rationale for the penalty, as well as the penalty
Let them know about resources like the University Ombudsperson

 
Remember to…


Listen respectfully
Work on misperceptions and misunderstandings
Keep emotions in check
Maintain eye contact
Document the conversation


 
When in doubt…
 
Contact the Office of the University Ombudsperson at ombud@msu.edu or (517) 353-8830 

Demystifying [Online] Student Engagement
January 18, 2024, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., virtual via ZoomPresented by Dr. Ashley Moore
Join CTLI Affiliate and Assistant Professor, Dr. Ashley Moore, in a dialogue about common challenges engaging students in an online course setting. We’ll talk about how to set the stage for a warm classroom environment, different ways to check in with students, and pedagogical strategies to get student buy-in for your course—all grounded in humanizing praxis.Learn more and register here 
Online Program Director Coffee Hour: Best Practices in course design, QM alignment, and D2L templates
January 18, 2024, 1 – 2 p.m., virtual via ZoomCTLI invites you to join us for the Online Program Directors Coffee Hour session for the month of January. We will be focusing this months discussion on best practices in online course design, alignment with Quality Matters, and D2L course templates available at MSU. Please contact Alicia Jenner (jennera1@msu.edu) for event invitation.
Introduction to Peer Dialogues
January 18, 2024, 2 – 3 p.m., virtual via ZoomPresented by Dr. Jay Loftus
Peer dialogue is a structured methodology for observation and feedback. It is intended to be a colleague-to-colleague process to help improve instructional practice, and ultimately student learning experiences and outcomes. Unlike a formal review of instructional practice that may occur as part of tenure and promotion, peer dialogue is a collegial and collaborative practice aimed at improving skills and strategies. In part 1 of peer dialogues participants will learn about the process.Learn more and register here 
Using Collaborative Discussion
January 24, 2024, 10 – 11:30 a.m., virtual via ZoomPresented by Dr. Shannon Burton
CTLI is happy to host MSU's Office of the University Ombudsperson team as they share their expertise through the "2023-24 Conflict in Groups: Pedagogy, Projects and Possibilities" series. Learn more and register here 
"Welcome to My Classroom" Series: Pedagogy of Care Panel
January 25, 2024, 10 – 11 a.m., virtual via ZoomMediated by Dr. Makena Neal | Panelists include Dr. Crystal Eustice (CSUS) & Dustin DuFort Petty (BSP)
We're excited to start the new calendar year with a panel of educators discussing the what a "pedagogy of care" means to them and what it looks like in their learning environments.Learn more and register here 
Advising/Tutoring Appointment Systems Training
January 25, 2024, 2 – 3 p.m., virtual via ZoomPresented by Katie Peterson and Patrick Beatty
Whether you are a new or current user of the Advising/Tutoring Appointment System, this session will provide guidance on different components of this system, including how to manage appointment availability, adding a student to you or another advisor’s schedule, and additional tips and tricks. Learn more and register here 
Book Discussion: “Teaching on days after: educating for equity in the wake of injustice”
January 30, 2024, 1:30 – 3 p.m., virtual via ZoomFacilitated by Drs. Makena Neal and Ashley Moore
For our second discussion, we’ll be reading “Teaching on days after: educating for equity in the wake of injustice" by Alyssa Hadley Dunn (published by Teachers College Press in 2022). This title is available via the MSU Main Library as an eBook (ProQuest EBook Central).Learn more and register here 
Boosting student engagement: Easy tactics and tools to connect in any modality
February 5, 2024, 1 – 2 p.m., virtual via ZoomFacilitated by Drs. Ellie Louson and Makena Neal
Using zoom chat, google docs and slides, word clouds, D2L, and other MSU tech tools, we will focus on low-barrier ways that instructors can connect with students, help students connect with each other, organize whole-class or small-group brainstorms, and translate effective in-person activities for hybrid or online classrooms.Learn more and register here 
Taking Care of Yourself in Times of Uncertainty
February 8, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m., virtual via ZoomPresented by Jaimie Hutshison of the WorkLife Office
We can be creatures of habit. Things that are expected and planned allow us to feel more in control of our lives and our time. This presentation will address best practices for self-care. Learn more and register here 
Generative AI Open Office Hours
February 16, 2024, 12 – 1:30 p.m., virtual via ZoomHosted by Dr. Jeremy Van Hof & colleagues from the Enhanced Digitial Learning Initative
This time will be treated like "office hours", where any educator with questions or looking for futher conversation about Generative AI is welcome to join this zoom room whenever suits them!Learn more here
"Welcome to My Classroom" Series: Jessica Sender
February 20, 2024, 1 – 2 p.m., virtual via ZoomPresented by Jessica Sender
This month, we are excited to hear from Jessica Sender, Health Sciences Librarian, Liaison to the College of Nursing, and CTLI Affiliate. Jessica will be showcasing the Anatomage Table (located in the Digital Scholarship Lab on 2West of the Main Library) and the ways it can be incorporated pedagogically to improve learning experiences. Learn more and register here 
Dialogue and Deliberation
February 21, 2024, 10 – 11 a.m., virtual via ZoomPresented by Dr. Shannon Burton
CTLI is happy to host MSU's Office of the University Ombudsperson team as they share their expertise through the "2023-24 Conflict in Groups: Pedagogy, Projects and Possibilities" series. Learn more and register here 

(If you model civility, your students will too.)

Generate an atmosphere of trust.
Keep appointments and office hours.
Demonstrate enthusiasm for the course and the subject.
Review course expectations through the syllabus.
Consider asking students to establish rules of behavior.
Be responsive to student questions.
Provide quality feedback, consider grading rubrics.
Model inclusive language that acknowledges student differences.
Decrease anonymity by learning students’ names.


Encourage active learning.

 
Why civility?
Promoting civility in the classroom environment promotes a safe environment that is conducive to learning. An environment that is conducive to learning is one where students are able to focus on what is being taught – in other words to learn.
 
KNOW…
 
The Code of Teaching Responsibility
“Satisfaction of teaching responsibilities by instructional staff members (herein referred to as instructors) is essential to the successful functioning of a university. This University conceives these responsibilities to be so important that performance by instructors in meeting the provisions of this Code shall be taken into consideration in determining salary increases, tenure, and promotion.”
 
For the full policy, please visit:
http://splife.studentlife.msu.edu/regulations/selected/code-of-teaching-responsibility  
 
If you have questions,
Please contact the University Ombudsperson at ombud@msu.edu or (517) 353-8830