Instructor Requirements and Resources

As we work to wrap-up the fall semester and enjoy end-of-semester and holiday festivities, please find below our Policies for Instructors for your spring semester class preparations. Kindly review the information below that the Faculty Senate and the Office of the Executive Vice President & Provost have determined represents the minimum required content for all course syllabi:

  • Name and number of the course
  • Name(s) of the instructor(s)
  • UNLV email address(es) of the instructor(s)
  • Office location(s) of the instructor(s)
  • Office telephone number(s) of the instructor(s)
  • UNLV email address(es), office location(s), and telephone number(s) of the teaching assistant(s), if applicable
  • Office hours for the instructor(s), and if applicable, for the teaching assistant(s).
  • Learning outcomes for the course
  • Required and/or recommended books and materials
  • Required reading assignments, including those on library reserve
  • Library and information resources recommended for the course
  • In-class and out-of-class assignments and due dates, if known
  • The relative weight of assignments, or description or a rubric to be used in calculating grades.
  • Date, time, and location of final examination, if known
  • Any other class-specific information
  • There's a web link and QR code that take students to the website showing core academic policies that every student in every class must receive via their syllabus (link and QR code); we recommend including both in your Canvas shell.

Among other instructor expectations, it is imperative that all faculty maintain sufficient and predictable contact/office hours; distribute a clear, updated, and complete syllabus; provide ADA-mandated accommodations when approved through the Disability Resource Center; meet classes for their fully scheduled time in alignment with the posted UNLV academic calendar; and give final examinations in all courses. Please find additional instructor policies and resources below for your review and easy reference.

The Office of Student and Academic Success provides academic advising, tutoring, academic success coaching, and several other forms of academic assistance for UNLV undergraduate students at no additional cost. Most programs have both in-person and virtual offerings. Instructors can reach out to refer students or learn more by contacting our team at studentsuccess@unlv.edu.

The Academic Success Center is a place where students can connect with professional staff dedicated to their success and is located across from the Student Services Complex (SSC). Drop-in tutoring is located on the first floor of the Lied Library, and on the second floor of the College of Engineering building (TBE A 207). Undergraduate students can visit their Rebel Success Hub to schedule a time to connect with their academic advisor and/or to connect with an academic success coach. For information regarding tutoring subjects, tutoring times, and other academic success programs and services, please visit our website or call 702-895-3177. Our team is here to help your students be successful in their courses and their chosen academic program.

Academic integrity is a legitimate concern for every member of the University community. We all share and uphold the fundamental values of honesty, trust, respect, fairness, responsibility, and professionalism. By choosing to join the UNLV community, students accept the expectations of the Student Academic Misconduct Policy, and are encouraged to always take the ethical path whenever faced with choices. Students enrolling at UNLV assume the obligation to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with UNLV’s educational mission. An example of academic misconduct is plagiarism. Plagiarism is using the words or ideas of another person, from the Internet or any other source without proper citation of the source(s). See the Student Conduct Code.

UNLV and the Nevada System of Higher Education require digital educational materials, including syllabi, to be accessible, in alignment with equal opportunity mandates by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Office of Accessibility Resources offers interactive training sessions to help UNLV personnel create digital syllabi and other educational materials in accessible formats. For more information, contact the Office of Accessibility Resources.

For all accommodation determinations allowed under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Disability Resource Center located in the Campus Resource Center (CRC), across Harmon from the Lied Library, telephone 702-895-0866.

UNLV recognizes that generative artificial intelligence is a rapidly changing technology that is creating both new opportunities and challenges. Transparency and accountability are expected with the use of generative AI. Just as UNLV requires appropriate citations and references for any sources used in classroom work, research, or academic writing, acknowledgment when using generative AI is expected. If using AI, students are generally expected to check any information generated by an AI platform for inaccuracies as generative AI can produce incorrect information. Students should contact their instructors for clarification and policies on how students may or may not use generative AI in coursework. Improper use of generative AI as described by the university Student Academic Misconduct Policy or outlined by instructors is a form of academic misconduct.

Considerations for Developing AI-Use Guidelines for Coursework
Creating a syllabus that thoughtfully incorporates or restricts the use of AI in coursework requires a balanced approach. It’s important to consider the educational value of AI, its ethical implications, and the need for academic integrity.

Generative AI has numerous applications in higher education. It is important to be clear with students regarding how and when you expect them to use, or to not use AI tools in your course.

Faculty are responsible for communicating their AI guidelines to students at the beginning of the course and embedding them within the course syllabus. Faculty should regularly update their course syllabi to reflect changes in AI policies and provide clear guidance on the acceptable use of AI in coursework.

The guidance you provide should align with the norms of transparency and accountability of your discipline, as well as with guidelines and policies relating to the use of generative AI in courses in your university unit.

Questions to Consider When Developing an AI Syllabus Statement

  • Does your statement cover different types of assignments, i.e., tests, essays, presentations, group work, etc.?
  • Do you want to ask students to verify or check sources of information used by an AI tool when possible?
  • Do you want to ask students to consider representation in any AI responses that they use in their work?
  • How will you explain the benefits of this approach for students’ learning, personal, and professional development?
  • How will you detect and handle violations of this course policy?
  • How will you ensure that all students have access to tools and support for learning about steering generative AI and critically analyzing output?
  • Does your syllabus statement align with the norms of transparency and accountability of your discipline?
  • Does your syllabus statement align with guidelines and policies relating to the use of generative AI in courses in your university unit?

Sample Syllabus Language Options for AI-use
Encouraging the Use of AI
Use is freely permitted with no acknowledgment

Students are allowed to use advanced automated tools on learning activities in this course; no special documentation or citation is required.

Use only with acknowledgment
Students are allowed to use advanced automated generative AI tools on learning activities in this course if that use is properly documented and credited.

Students are welcome to use AI tools as supplementary resources to assist with learning activities, as long as they are conducted in an ethical and responsible manner that does not circumvent authentic learning. The student is expected to:

  • Cite any AI tools properly, following the citation style specified by the faculty member.
  • Not use AI tools to replace independent thinking, analysis or engagement with course content.
  • Provide evidence of how the AI tool contributed to the learning activity, including what the student learned from the AI tool, how its accuracy and reliability were verified, and any limitations and biases.
  • Consult with their professor before submitting work if there are any questions about what constitutes acceptable use of generative AI tools.

Use only with prior permission
Students are allowed to use advanced automated generative AI tools in learning activities in this course if instructor permission is obtained in advance. Unless permitted to use generative AI tools, each student is expected to complete each assignment without substantive assistance from others, including automated tools. The student is expected to:

  • Use AI tools to support learning, and not simply to generate assignments, discussion board posts, essays, presentations, etc.
  • Not use AI tools to replace independent thinking, analysis or engagement with course content.
  • Cite any AI tools properly, following the citation style specified by the faculty member.
  • Provide evidence of how the AI tool contributed to the learning activity, including what the student learned from the AI tool, how its accuracy and reliability were verified, and any limitations and biases.
  • Consult with your professor before submitting work if there are any questions about what constitutes acceptable use of generative AI tools

Discouraging the Use of AI
Use prohibited
Students are not allowed to use advanced automated generative AI tools on learning activities in this course. Each student is expected to complete each assignment without substantive assistance from others, including automated tools. The student is expected to:

  • Do their own work and cite any sources you use properly.
  • Not use any generative AI tools such as, but not limited to, chatbots, text generators, paraphrasers, summarizers, or solvers, to complete any part of your coursework.
  • Consult with their professor before submitting work if there are any questions about what constitutes acceptable use of generative AI tools.

Access Services has compiled guidance on how to use proximity card readers to lock/unlock classrooms and help faculty and staff troubleshoot possible challenges with accessing rooms.

Access to classrooms and buildings that are not managed by specific departments are assigned to individuals at the request of their departments. UNLV Access Services, in coordination with department representatives, strives to ensure that employees have access to the campus spaces they regularly utilize. We recognize that sometimes challenges may occur. See below for information to help navigate these situations:

  • My proximity access card will not unlock a general-purpose classroom door
    • If the card reader reacts to your card when presented (e.g., turns green for a short period of time), swipe your card three (3) times in a row and make note of the date and times.
      • Next, contact the person who made the original access request and ask them to review the work order to confirm the door you’re trying to unlock is included.
        • If the room is included, contact the lockshop and provide the work order number, and date and time information for each access attempt.
        • If the room is not on the initial request, submit a new request through the Key Request Portal.
    • If the reader does not react when presented (e.g., does not turn green):
      • Be sure the card and card reader are oriented the same way. The card and reader should not look like a cross while presenting.
      • Have a colleague try their card. If the reader reacts, your card may be damaged. Contact RebelCard Services at 702-895-2351, rebelcard@unlv.edu, or visit the Student Union (SU), Room 118 for next steps.
  • Locking and unlocking general-purpose classrooms
    • Toggle mode allows individuals to lock and unlock a general-purpose classroom based on instructor preference.
    • Toggle mode operates between 6:30 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., including weekends.
    • Outside this time period, the door will unlock for a few seconds during activation and lock automatically
    • To unlock the door during the time period, scan your card once and observe the LED. It should turn and remain green (unlocked) until the time period ends or the space is locked by the user.
    • To lock the door, present your card to the reader again, the card reader will turn red (locked).

If you need immediate assistance with accessing a space, please call the Facilities Management Help Desk at 702-895-HELP (4357).

Per UNLV General Counsel, instructors determine what is and what is not acceptable behavior in the classroom (e.g., late arrival, use of electronic devices). Instructors have the authority to determine who can be present during a class period, including whether visitors are allowed. Instructors should clearly communicate their expectations to the students at the start of the semester.

All instructors are expected to:

  • Hold class meetings that are consistent with the course schedule. When instructors must miss an occasional class (e.g., for attending professional meetings, due to sickness, or for the observance of a religious holiday), they are expected to reschedule that class meeting or to arrange for a guest lecturer, or to provide alternative instruction or assignments. The complete Class Cancellation Policy for Instructors is on the University Policies webpage.
  • Maintain a predictable number of office hours that are posted, and during which the instructor will be available to students, colleagues, and others.
  • Evaluate academic performance fairly and equitably.
  • Counsel students.
  • Carry through with their workload commitment in accordance with UNLV, College/School, and Department/School bylaws. Except for emergencies, instructors should have prior approval from their supervisor before missing/rescheduling classes and/or missing other scheduled duties.
  • Continue their professional development.
  • Meet their obligations to the University community.

UNLV prohibits romantic or sexual relationships between members of the University community when one of the individuals involved has direct professional influence or direct authority over the other. For further information, see UNLV Consensual Relationships Policy.

Credit by Examination (CBE) for undergraduate courses offers students the opportunity to demonstrate previous mastery of college-level learning, and accelerates progress toward completion of their degrees, while decreasing tuition costs. CBE benefits the Department/School by freeing up seats in classes and increasing completion rates with a relatively low impact on faculty workload. To ensure that CBE is administered consistently across Campus, the following best practices are suggested as a list of minimal criteria for the creation/review of these exams.

Credit by examination shall:

  • Benefit students (e.g., provide flexibility and remove barriers to completion).
  • Benefit the Department/School (e.g., free up seats in high-demand courses, increase Retention, Progression, and Completion [RPC] metrics).
  • Match the course in academic quality and rigor.
  • Demonstrate mastery of the course’s student learning outcomes.
  • Demonstrate appropriate college-level learning.
  • Not duplicate a course already completed by the student.
  • Not be in opposition to Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) or discipline-specific accreditation policies.
  • Not be used to replace a failing grade.
  • Not be permitted if the student has previously received credit for a more advanced course covering the same subject matter (e.g., CBE will not be permitted to satisfy Art History I if the student has already received credit for Art History II).
  • Not apply toward satisfying the minimum on-campus resident credit requirement of the institution from which graduation is sought, and does not constitute an interruption of the resident credit requirement.

Departments, Schools, and Colleges must first coordinate with the Registrar and Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs prior to committing to, offering, or implementing CBE. Further, all approved CBE shall conform to the following requirements which are necessary but not sufficient standards of practice.

  • Programs must have documented guidelines and procedures for awarding credit that are made available to undergraduate students, and that are universally and consistently enforced, as well as pre-approved via appropriate university processes.
  • Departments must verify that the student is eligible to take CBE:
    • The student is fully admitted and enrolled
    • The student is in good academic standing
    • The student has completed all prerequisites required for the course in which he/she is requesting CBE
  • Students may not be granted more than 30 credits of CBE toward a degree.
  • CBE for variable unit courses may not exceed 5 credits. Exceptions may be granted with Dean and SVPAA approval.
  • Upon approval of CBE, departments must request that the Registrar’s Office post the satisfactorily completed CBE to the student’s permanent academic record and clearly identify that the credit was earned by examination. Criteria for offering and assessing CBE are required.
  • The only acceptable grades for CBE are S (Satisfactory) or U (Unsatisfactory).

Instructor compliance in collaborating with the Disability Resource Center ("DRC" located in the Campus Resource Center (CRC), across Harmon from the Lied Library, 702-895-0866), is critical to uphold the University's federal mandate to provide equal access to students with disabilities. If instructors believe that accommodations may fundamentally alter course requirements, such concerns must be discussed with the DRC in a timely manner. Failure to comply with DRC academic accommodation plans given to instructors by students may put the instructor and the University at risk for litigation and may subject an instructor to discipline under the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Code, Title 2, Chapter 6.

Note-taking Services: It is mandatory that instructors assist in the recruitment of note-takers for their classes should note-taking accommodations be requested by the DRC. Instructors are legally obligated to assist the DRC in the recruitment process, and to ensure that the accommodation needed for notetaking is being met consistently. In partnership with the DRC, if you receive an email notification from the Rebel Access Portal (RAP) system that a note-taker is needed for your class, please follow the detailed instructions contained in that email. Please always refer any students interested in note-taking to the DRC. If a DRC student asks you about note-taking services, please refer them to the DRC note-taking unit, notetaking@unlv.edu.

Adaptive Furniture: If you see tables and chairs with DRC identification on them placed in your classroom, please do not move, remove, or alter their placement in your class. The furniture is placed in the room for students whose disability precludes them from sitting in a conventional table/chair or at a tablet desk, and is considered an official DRC accommodation. The furniture may or may not be used by students in your class; however, the students who need that furniture have a class in that same classroom. If there are issues regarding furniture placement, please contact the DRC immediately; they will do their best to remedy any issues.

Testing Accommodations: To expedite and streamline the process for administration of examinations and quizzes for students requiring testing accommodations, instructors must do their best to adhere to the procedural guidelines of the DRC for the provision of examinations and associated materials. We wish to emphasize that instructors are partners with the DRC in the accommodation obligations. To that end, please note the following:

  • Testing Accommodation Forms (TAFs) must be completed in their entirety by the instructor of record and submitted through the Rebel Access Portal (RAP) within one business day of receipt of the link on the Faculty Notification Letter (FNL). For purposes of mandated access, the DRC must have a means to contact the instructor or responsible Department/School official should a student have questions, or if there are issues with the examination. Please consider providing a mobile number for calling/texting to the DRC Testing Coordinator, or on the TAF, in case there is a problem or question during testing.
  • Examinations/Quizzes must be received the DRC a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the assessment date, by uploading them to the RAP portal, sending them by email to drctesting@unlv.edu, or by dropping them off at the DRC, located in the Campus Resource Center (CRC) across Harmon from the Lied Library,  702-895-0866). If due to extenuating circumstances an instructor is unable to provide the exam at least 24 hours in advance, the instructor must notify the DRC immediately. The DRC may contact the appropriate administrator (Chair, Director, Dean) to request assistance to obtain an exam.
  • If there are any changes to the exam (such as allowing a longer time for the class to complete the test once it has commenced; placing information needed by the students to complete the exam on a board in the room; providing formula sheets to students upon their arrival to the test), it is essential that the DRC student who is testing away from the classroom location be afforded the same access to any additional information, as well as to any assistance that the instructor provides to the class during the exam. Not providing to the DRC student any information that is provided to the class could place the DRC student at a disadvantage. For this reason, it is incumbent upon the instructor to notify the DRC of any such changes that occur while administering an exam.
  • The DRC will assist instructors in facilitating the accommodation process. Instructors should not hesitate to contact the DRC with questions or concerns about policies, procedures, service provision, and/or any issues with students.

Instructors using electronic educational learning tools (e.g., Pearson Publishing, Socrative, Top Hat, Turning Technologies) designed to enhance student learning may not market their own materials for sale through any of those systems. Additional costs to students for the use of these tools, or for additional materials available within them must be disclosed in the course registration system (MyUNLV), and clearly labeled as required materials in the course syllabus, so that students may use financial aid awards to obtain them.

The University requires that final exams given at the end of a course occur on the date and at the time specified in the Final Exam schedule. The general schedule is typically available at the start of the semester, and the classroom locations are available approximately one month before the end of the semester. For the Summer semester, it is left to the discretion of the instructor to administer the Final Exam during already scheduled course times and classroom locations, to be no later than the final scheduled date for the course. See the Final Exam Schedule.

The standard time scheduled for final exams is two hours. Faculty are encouraged to allocate sufficient time for students to complete the final exam, and it is expected that the final exam length and content will be commensurate with the time allotted. However, faculty are generally discouraged from offering final exams that do not meet for the standard two-hour period, as doing so negatively affects students’ schedules during an already stressful time. If faculty must allot more or less time for the final exam than the standard two-hour period, the Dean of the College or School must approve the non-standard exam time. In addition, the length of exam time must be indicated on the syllabus to provide proper notice to students and also communicated to the Registrar’s Office before the class schedule goes live for the term (generally around the midpoint of the previous regular semester) so that the exam time can be appropriately noted.

All syllabi should clearly indicate processes for administering assessment exercises, grading, and reporting grades. In keeping with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), grades should not be posted publicly. Grades must be submitted through MyUNLV and they may be posted via WebCampus-Canvas. Grades will be due the Tuesday after the end of each regular semester or summer session, or three business days after the last day of the course, whichever comes first. The grade submission deadline for the Fall 2024 academic term is December 17, 2024. Beyond the professional responsibility to provide final grades to students in a timely manner, late grades have a negative impact on UNLV’s share of the NSHE performance funding formula. It is ultimately the Department/School/College’s responsibility to have all final grades posted on time.

The grade of "I" (Incomplete) may be granted when a student has satisfactorily completed three-fourths of course work for that semester/session, but cannot complete the last part of the course for reasons beyond the student's control and acceptable to the instructor, and the instructor believes that the student can finish the course without repeating it. For undergraduate courses, the incomplete work must be made up before the end of the following regular (fall or spring) semester. Graduate students receiving "I" grades in 500-, 600-, or 700-level courses have up to one calendar year to complete the work, at the discretion of the instructor. If course requirements are not completed within the period indicated, a grade of "F" will be recorded, and the student's GPA will be adjusted accordingly. Students who are fulfilling an Incomplete grade do not re-register for the course. It is expected that they will make individual arrangements to complete all course requirements with the instructor who assigned the "I" grade.

Under NSHE and UNLV policy, instructors are not required to take attendance, as defined under federal financial aid guidelines. However, both federal financial aid and NSHE policy require instructors to record (i) a measure of a student's educational engagement at the beginning of the semester, and (ii) when assigning an Incomplete or "F" grade, a student's "date of last attendance," to determine whether the student completed more than 60% of the instruction of a course. Individual instructors may, at their discretion, record an "FN" grade (F for non- attendance) in the case of a student who did not complete more than 60% of instruction and did not withdraw from the course. In all these instances, the percent of instruction achieved is based upon the student's date of last attendance, defined as the "last date of attendance at an academically related activity" associated with the course, based upon federal financial aid guidelines. This date could be later than the last date of physical classroom attendance.

"Academically related activity" is defined at UNLV as any of the following actions, all of which are taken from Title VI federal financial aid guidelines:

  • physically attending a class where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students;
  • submitting an academic assignment;
  • taking an exam, an interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction;
  • attending a study group that is assigned by the academic unit;
  • participating in an online discussion about academic matters; or
  • initiating contact with an instructor to ask a question about an academic topic studied in the course.

Academically related activities do not include activities where a student may be present, but not academically engaged, such as:

  • living in institutional housing;
  • participating in the University's meal plan;
  • logging into an online class without active participation; or
  • participating in academic counseling or advisement.

Note about logging into an online course without active participation, above: The acceptable standard is that an institution can demonstrate "that a student participated in class or was otherwise engaged in an academically related activity, such as contributing to an online discussion or initiating contact with an instructor to ask a course-related question."

UNLV Global includes Global Partnerships & International Recruitment, International Student and Scholar Services, the English Language Center, and the Office of International Programs. Faculty, instructors, or staff considering the development of international programs, international partnerships, or international recruitment should contact Jill Marker (jill.marker@unlv.edu) and she will connect you to the right person to coordinate efforts and benefit from our new Global infrastructure to support internationalization in all forms.

The Office of International Programs is the central academic support unit that assists UNLV with study abroad programs and student opportunities, instructor exchange, field study projects, student Fulbright applications, and other initiatives related to the export of UNLV students to other countries for educational, scholarly, and research purposes.

UNLV instructors and staff who initiate activities with an international component that includes accompanying students or guests must contact the Office of International Programs (email kara.marinch@unlv.edu or call 702-895- 3896) during the initial planning stages of the activities, to obtain information regarding UNLV and NSHE policies for foreign study, research, or travel. Similarly, faculty, instructors, and staff must advise students who are planning international travel for educational, scholarly, research, or co-curricular engagement to reach out to the Office of International Programs early in their trip planning to ensure compliance with all university and NSHE policies and processes.

Faculty and staff who are planning UNLV work-related international travel and/or who are being paid by UNLV for any part of their travel outside the U.S. must also complete a Faculty/Staff travel form no less than one month prior to departure.

UNLV employees have a contractual obligation to comply with UNLV policies and the NSHE Code. Failure to work within UNLV and NSHE policies for the development and approval of international travel may result in employee noncompliance with institutional policy. In addition, employees may not be provided institutional support to cope with any professional or legal consequences that arise from out-of-compliance activities, which may be the sole responsibility of the instructor or staff member.

The UNLV University Libraries provide reserves to support access to materials that faculty have designated for student course use. Faculty may link to full-text resources available from the Libraries directly within Web Campus- Canvas. For materials that are in print, please consult with the Libraries for possible electronic or alternative course reserve resources.

The UNLV University Libraries also provide instructional and research support to assist faculty in research and teaching. Librarians are available to design and deliver discipline-specific instruction for students meeting course objectives, including data visualization, multimedia, and research processes. Librarians can meet individually with faculty and students to provide customized one-on-one consultations in support of specific classes and research interests. Visit the Libraries' website for complete information on library services for faculty.

Like all UNLV students, faculty have free access to national newspaper subscriptions. All faculty may activate a complimentary membership to the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. Using UNLV’s WSJ partnership link, faculty gain unlimited digital access to WSJ.com and WSJ apps. Membership lasts for one year and must be re-activated each year. For additional information, visit the UNLV Library Guide for WSJ. Faculty also have access to The New York Times online, The New York Times Book Review, and The New York Times Magazine. Faculty can claim their free membership by going to Access NYT and selecting the University of Nevada, Las Vegas from the dropdown menu. Faculty must re-authenticate their eligibility every four years. Both news platforms offer an extensive array of teaching resources and support for faculty’s instructional use of the newspapers and related information in courses. For additional information, visit the UNLV Library Guide for NYT.

The start date for Fall 2024 mid-semester courses is November 4. Mid-semester courses allow five weeks of instruction before the start of the final exams for semester long courses. Mid-semester courses should include a minimum of 750 minutes of classroom instruction per credit. Mid- semester courses are designed, approved, and built within academic Departments, Schools, and Colleges. This process should be completed as early as possible, to allow for proper scheduling and advertising. Please note that these courses are FTE-generating courses, just as any others offered by that academic unit. Thus, each Department/School needs to complete any necessary employment documents for instructors teaching mid- semester courses. If the week-long Spring Break Recess falls within a mid-semester course, Spring Break does not count as part of the five weeks of instruction.

Any student missing class, quizzes, examinations, or any other class or laboratory work because of observance of religious holidays will be given an opportunity during that semester to make up for the missed work. The make-up opportunity will apply to the religious holiday absence only. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor within the first 7 calendar days of the course for Summer courses, and of their intention to participate in religious holidays which do not fall on state holidays or periods of class recess. For additional information, please visit the Missed Classwork policy, under Registration Policies, on the Academic Policies webpage.

In accordance with the policy approved by the Faculty Senate regarding missed class time and assignments, students who represent UNLV in any official extracurricular activity will also have the opportunity to make up assignments, provided that the student submits official written notification to the instructor no less than one week prior to the missed class(es).

The spirit and intent of the policy for missed classwork is to offer fair and equitable assessment opportunities to all students, including those representing the University in extracurricular activities. Instructors should consider, for example, that in courses that offer a "drop one" option for the lowest assignment, quiz, or exam, assigning the student a grade of zero for an excused absence for extracurricular activity is both contrary to the intent of the Faculty Senate’s policy, and an infringement on the student's right to complete all work for the course.

This policy will not apply if completing the assignment or administering the examination at an alternate time would impose an undue hardship on the instructor or the University that could be reasonably avoided. There should be a good faith effort by both the instructor and the student to agree to a reasonable resolution. When disagreements regarding this policy arise, decisions can be appealed to the Department Chair/School Director, College/School Dean, and/or the Faculty Senate Academic Standards Committee.

For purposes of definition, extracurricular activities may include, but are not limited to: academic recruitment activities, competitive intercollegiate athletics, fine arts activities, liberal arts competitions, science and engineering competitions, and any other event or activity sanctioned by a College/School Dean, and/or by the Executive Vice President and Provost.

Rebelmail is UNLV's official email system for students and by University policy instructors and staff should only send emails to students' Rebelmail accounts. Rebelmail is one of the primary ways students receive official University communications, information about deadlines, major Campus events, and announcements. All UNLV students receive a Rebelmail account after they have been admitted to the University. Students' email prefixes are listed on class rosters. The suffix is always @unlv.nevada.edu. Emailing within Web Campus-Canvas is also acceptable.

In general, if a holiday falls on a Monday, then Saturday classes meet. If a holiday falls on a Friday, then Saturday classes do not meet. To review the Faculty Senate policy detailing when Saturday classes meet, please see the Saturday Class Policy in Additional Policies, on the University Policies website, in the Executive Vice President and Provost section.

UNLV has created a comprehensive and regularly updated online Student Resource Guide designed to help students access the resources that they need to support their academic and personal growth in order to succeed and thrive in their time at UNLV.
This guide is designed to be easy to navigate. Whenever a student is in need of academic guidance or support, this guide places campus resources right at their fingertips. We encourage you to share this guide with your students and use it to answer any resource-related questions that they may have. If you are aware of a campus resource that is not currently listed in the Student Resource Guide, but should be, please email us at student.resources@unlv.edu.

As one component of evaluating the effectiveness of teaching activities at UNLV, course evaluations are required to be administered at the end of each course. The Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost requires the use of the Blue eXplorance teaching evaluation tool, now integrated into WebCampus (Canvas) to streamline the evaluation process. Evaluations for regularly scheduled classes will be available from April 14 through May 4. Classes that do not follow the regular academic calendar will have their evaluations scheduled according to their meeting dates. After evaluations have been open for two weeks, which will be April 28 for regularly scheduled classes, content to that particular class will be blocked in WebCampus until the student submits the corresponding evaluation, opts out of completing the evaluation, or the evaluation expires.

Students who do not wish to submit an evaluation for any reason may opt-out of the process. To do so, students use the “Evaluate My Courses Now” link included in the email notifications sent by unlvevals@unlv.nevada.edu. A new window will open showing a list of classes with open evaluations and each class will have an “opt-out” button next to it. Students with only one open evaluation will not see this list as the link will take them directly to the course evaluation questionnaire, and will need to contact the Course Evaluation Team at unlvevals@unlv.nevada.edu to opt-out of evaluating the class. The opt-out decision will be reflected in WebCampus after its next daily data sync with Blue.

Teaching evaluations are an essential component of assessment data, and therefore it is crucial to maintain the reliability, validity, and legitimacy of these instruments. The minimum standards for administering these evaluations (Anonymity, Objectivity, and Post-Evaluation Procedures) are outlined in the document Minimum Standards for Teaching Evaluations by Students. This document has been approved unanimously by the Academic Council of Deans and the Executive Vice President and Provost, and reflects the minimum standards that apply to all Departments/Schools/Colleges when administering student evaluations of teaching.

The Faculty Center, now known as the Teaching & Learning Center, will be temporarily housed in MAB with Online Education this semester. Workshops and meetings will be held in various locations around campus. Please watch the weekly Sunday TLC newsletter for details about upcoming events. A team of campus experts has put together resources on trauma-informed pedagogy and they are available asynchronously for your easy reference via this link (ACE login to WebCampus required). 

We are required by federal law and by our contract with the Bookstore to report textbook orders via our simple online AIP system by the deadline provided for each upcoming semester. This practice provides transparency to students regarding instructional materials required for their classes, before they register or begin their classes. To ensure that UNLV is fully in compliance, we ask faculty, instructors, and staff to be aware of this requirement and submit the required information before each semester’s deadline. Users can access AIP by using your UNLV ACE ID. The course catalog is published two weeks before the start of registration. Thus, submission deadlines are set for the Friday before the catalog publish date which are as follows:

  • For Fall, the deadline is April 1
  • For Spring, the deadline is October 1
  • For Summer, the deadline is March 1

Questions about the AIP should be directed to Mondana Eghdami, UNLV Bookstore general manager at 702-736-3955 or mondana.eghdami@unlv.edu and questions about this educational compliance requirement should be directed to Leeann Fields, Executive Director of Educational Compliance at leeann.fields@unlv.edu.

In order for instructors to assign their own textbook for use in one of their courses, a request must be approved by the instructor's Dean. The guidelines Textbook Selection & Faculty Using Their Own Textbook are on the University Policies website. These guidelines were developed to protect both instructors and students. The Dean must approve the instructor's request before the instructor submits the book order to the bookstore. An approval is valid for three years, and the Dean’s office maintains these records.

The requirements specified by the NSHE General Counsel's office for instructors to require their own textbooks in the courses are:

  • published books must be properly copyrighted by the authors;
  • published books are available for open sale;
  • not allowed to make sales directly to students; and
  • approved by the Dean of the appropriate College/School.

NOTE: This policy does not apply to course packets produced by Integrated Graphics Services and available at the UNLV Bookstore.

UNLV does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities, on the basis of sex/gender pursuant to Title IX, or on the basis of any other legally protected category as set forth in NSHE Handbook, Title 4, Chapter 8, Section 14. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal law prohibiting discrimination in education programs or activities receiving federal funds. Sex discrimination includes sexual harassment, sexual violence, and/or discrimination, including based on pregnancy or related conditions. In compliance with Title IX, UNLV prohibits sex and gender discrimination in all programs and activities, including hiring. Please refer to the Office of Equal Employment and Title IX for additional information.

Anyone in a supervisory, managerial, administrative or executive role or position (such as a supervisor, Department Chair/School Director, or Dean) who receives a complaint of alleged discrimination or sexual harassment, or observes or becomes aware of conduct that may constitute discrimination or sexual harassment, must immediately contact the Title IX Coordinator to forward the complaint, to discuss it, and/or to report the action taken. Title IX complaints must be immediately communicated to the Title IX Coordinator.

This is an electronic mail list that disseminates information to the entire Campus. Subscription to the UNLV Official list is automatic, and occurs at the time an employee’s email account is established. All employees are expected to read these communications upon receipt.

UNLV Today is a daily e-newsletter that delivers information to UNLV instructors and staff via their UNLV email accounts. Information shared in UNLV Today includes upcoming events, training opportunities, and organizational and benefit changes. An entry can be submitted for consideration via UNLV Today. UNLV Today is not required, but it is a fundamental source of campus information so we encourage all faculty and staff to stay up-to-date via UNLV Today.

There are several mental health resources and counseling services offered by the community and UNLV. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP), a UNLV-sponsored program managed by ComPsych, provides direct, 24/7 access to a consultant who will answer questions, and, if needed, refer you to a counselor or other resources to support our faculty, staff, and students. To make an appointment, contact 833-475-1995 or 800-697-0353 (TTY). Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) also offers a wide range of services to the campus community. You can reach them at 702-895-3627 to schedule an appointment. You are encouraged to complete a UNLV Support Team Referral for students you are concerned about or believe to be in distress to connect students to UNLV’s many student support resources. The RebelSAFE app and alert messages provide emergency information and instructions to protect yourself during an emergency. To ensure you receive immediate alerts about campus emergencies, update your contact information to receive notifications via text and voicemail on your cell phone. Please continue to check in at UNLV Strong for regular updates on campus operations, campus resources, and other information.

Instructors may come in contact with students who are in distress. From stress or anxiety to suicidal ideation, the UNLV Support Team works to connect students experiencing distress with the appropriate Campus resources.

To make a referral to the UNLV Support Team, please visit the UNLV Support Team webpage. Students will receive access to care and follow-up. For immediate emergency assistance from UNLV Police Services, dial 911 on a UNLV landline telephone, or 702-895-3669 from a mobile phone.

Instructors and staff play an invaluable role in helping students who are in distress. An expression of interest, concern, and compassion is an important factor for a student seeking assistance. The UNLV Support Team offers presentations to instructors/staff groups and individual classes on identifying signs of distress, approaching students they are worried about, and referring students to support services. The presentation includes information about an online training program aimed at helping participants gain experience in talking to students in distress.

I hope that this is a helpful resource. Thank you for your compliance with these important policies. Please reach out via SVPAA@unlv.edu or Kate Korgan at 702-895-5950 if you have any questions or need additional information or support. I hope your fall semester has been a good one and that you enjoy winter break! Thank you for all you do for our students; it makes a difference and we deeply appreciate you.