Teaching: Curricular Offerings
Programs: This is shorthand for team-taught Coordinated Studies Programs in which faculty from different disciplines plan interdisciplinary work around a theme, question, or problem. In Evening and Weekend Studies we generally have two faculty members team teaching half-time programs, but it is possible to have other configurations. In our publications we use the word program to mean any half-time (8 credit) offering, whether it is team-taught or not. Usually, our faculty bring more than one disciplinary lens to any offering they teach, so the essential feature of coordinated studies remains. In general, programs include eight contact hours a week and are offered either two evenings a week or all day Saturday. A weekend schedule (Saturday and Sunday) every other weekend is another option. Students should be expected to spend a total of 20-25 hours a week (including class time) on their academic work in half-time programs; proportionally more for 12 credit programs.
Courses: These are two- or four-credit offerings usually taught by a single faculty member. Some might be similar to courses at a traditional institution, with the same disciplinary focus, scope and expectations. Faculty are encouraged (challenged) to create small learning communities incorporating as many of the pedagogical principles described above as possible. Courses at Evergreen used to be called modules because they were part of full-time programs, so you may hear that terminology. Courses can be taught one or two evenings a week or on Saturday, with weekly contact hours proportional to credit earned.
Contracts: This is shorthand for Individual Learning Contracts. If a student asks you to sponsor a contract, this student is really asking you to negotiate the terms of a learning contract with clearly defined objectives and goals. If the student does not have a carefully thought-out proposal, refer him or her to the Academic Advising Office. Generally, the student will work independently, meeting with you either every week or every other week. This mode of study is reserved for advanced work, and you should know the student or review a portfolio of their work before agreeing to a contract, because students without the necessary background will not be successful working independently.
You are under no obligation to sponsor contracts, and you are not paid additional salary for sponsoring them. Your dean actively discourages adjunct faculty from sponsoring contracts, and you may use this as a reason to turn down student requests. If you do want to sponsor a contract, it should be for additional work directly related to the course you are teaching or to continue working with a student with whom you have previously worked. You should only sponsor contracts in areas in which you have expertise or background. Regular half-time faculty, however, are encouraged to sponsor a few contracts if your program or course enrollments are low. In order to sponsor contracts, all faculty must first contact their Academic Dean for a training. Deans must read and approve all contracts.
Internships: Either as part of their academic program work, or through contracted study, students can earn credit through internship agreements with an agency, community organization or business. In either case an Internship Learning Contract is negotiated between the student, a faculty member and an on-site field supervisor. The Academic Advising Office helps arrange internships, provides counseling for the students, and also approves these agreements. Faculty interested in working with students on internships should contact the Academic Advising office.
In addition to helping the internship student document and reflect upon the experiential learning, faculty must visit the student on the job and speak with the field supervisor at least once during the quarter. Please be aware that you are ultimately responsible for getting an evaluation from the field supervisor, so developing a good relationship is essential.