Teaching
This page contains information specifically regarding teaching at VCU. For VCU teaching policies, visit the Teaching Policies page. For other teaching resources, visit the Advice page and the Methods page. For information about departmental emails, visit the Tech page on the faculty site.
Course evaluations
VCU course evaluations: View your course evaluations.
Library
Interlibrary Loan through VCU (signup required for first use)
Student records
Viewing student rosters and/or entering grades
Go to my.vcu.edu and log in with your eID. Go to the section that says Resources and click on eServices/VCU Self Service. Click on Faculty and Advisors.
Viewing student rosters: Click on Summary Class List. Choose the semester and click on Submit. Choose the class and click on Submit. (Note that if you wish to look at a different semester while logged into this session, you will have to go back to the Faculty and Advisors page and click on Term Selection to change the semester.)
Entering student grades: Click on Final Grades. Choose the semester and click on Submit. Choose the class and click on Submit. (Note that if you wish to look at a different semester while logged into this session, you will have to go back to the Faculty and Advisors page and click on Term Selection to change the semester.) Use the drop-down menus to enter the grade for each student.
Viewing student photos
(Note: To access the VCU Reporting Center from a remote location, you will need to use RamsVPN.)
Go to my.vcu.edu and log in with your eID. Go to the section that says Resources and click on VCU Reporting Center.
Click on the folder that says Faculty. Click on Class List with Photos.
Select the academic term. In the dropdown menu that says Select a Selection Criteria, choose Course ID and Section.
In the text box labeled Enter the Course ID, type SOCY followed (without a space) by the course number (e.g., SOCY406). Remember to include SOCY!
In the text box labeled Enter the Section, type the three-digit numerical code (typically, 001 for an undergraduate class that only you are teaching). If you are unsure about the section number, look in the VCU course catalog (https://www.pubapps.vcu.edu/scheduleofclasses); the section number follows the course number (e.g., for SOCY 406 - 003, it would be 003).
Click on Run at the bottom of the page.
Syllabus statements
Office of the Provost's required syllabus statements (long and short versions)
Sociology undergraduate learning outcomes to include in your syllabi (you can add your own as well)
Gaby's statement of inclusion template
Respect for diversity
I am grateful for your presence and input in our course. I appreciate and welcome you regardless of your immigration status, country of origin and/or citizenship, race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, gender/sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, or dis/ability. Thank you for enriching our world, sharing your vital experience, and contributing to the diversity that makes our intellectual community vibrant and evermore creative. It is my intent to incorporate the voices of diverse researchers in the course readings, as well as to present audiovisual materials and activities that are respectful of diversity. Your suggestions about how to improve the value of diversity in this course are encouraged and appreciated. Please let me know ways to improve the effectiveness of the course for you personally or for other students or student groups.
Zach's Zoom and Covid policy template
ZOOM and COVID
Given that this class is listed as in-person / lecture format, all students should plan on attending all classes in person during the scheduled time and place (see above). That being said, knowing that life happens and classes will be missed for a variety of reasons, you will be expected to reach out to your fellow classmates for notes and information that you may have missed due to these "typical" absences. However, given the continued high COVID rates in our area I am willing to provide a Zoom link to the live class (not taped recordings) for students in unique, COVID-related situations. If you fall into any of the situations below, you will need to email me prior to the beginning of class with proof/evidence of your circumstances and I will send you the Zoom link to that particular class.
You are sick, or have been diagnosed with COVID
You have to quarantine as a result of being in contact with someone who has received a positive diagnosis
You belong to a particularly vulnerable population due to pre-existing conditions
You are taking care of someone who is either sick or vulnerable
Victor's syllabus statement template
Statement of Inclusion
Especially in these uncertain times, I am grateful for your participation, input, and collaboration during our class sessions. Please know that you are welcome regardless of your immigration status, country of origin and/or citizenship, race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, gender/sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, dis/ability, or political views. Thank you for contributing to what I hope will be a cordial, thoughtful, and thought-provoking discussion of sociological topics, and for making the academic experiences of your classmates richer by sharing your unique and valuable personal perspective. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if I can help you become more engaged in class. A large part of success in higher education is learning how to ask for the right kinds of help, so don’t be shy about using any resources provided by the Sociology Department or VCU (see below).
Health and Basic Needs Resources
I urge any student experiencing personal difficulties that may affect their performance in class (including mental health issues, trouble affording groceries or housing, or challenges related to Covid) to reach out for support. Below are some resources.
24/7 crisis support:
§ VCU University Counseling Services: If you are experiencing a mental health emergency and want to speak with a crisis clinician, call 804-828-6200 day or night. To schedule an appointment, call 804-828-6200, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; counseling.vcu.edu, uccounseling@vcu.edu; University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave., Suite 238
§ National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-TALK / (800) 273-8255 (en español: 888-628-9454), suicidepreventionlifeline.org
§ Crisis Text Line: Text "START" to 741-741, crisistextline.org
§ EmpowerNet Hotline (24/7, domestic or sexual violence): (804) 612-6126 (call or text), empowernetva.org
Food/housing insecurity:
§ Hunger Hotline run by Feed More (Richmond area food bank and community kitchen): (804) 521-2500, feedmore.org/find-food/help-for-today
§ Ram Pantry (VCU’s volunteer-run food pantry): (804) 828-4514, dos.vcu.edu/services/ram-pantry; rampantry@vcu.edu; University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Avenue, 1st Floor, Room 121
§ Homeward (homeless services in greater Richmond region): Homeless Connection Line (804-972-0813), or see their “Street Sheets” for local services, homewardva.org/get-help
Also, please see the links in the Managing stress section of the university’s syllabus statement (http://go.vcu.edu/syllabus), which I have pasted below:
Students may experience situations or challenges that can interfere with learning and interpersonal functioning including stress, anxiety, depression, alcohol and/or other drug use, concern for a friend or family member, loss, sleep difficulties, feeling hopeless or relationship problems. There are numerous campus resources available to students including University Counseling Services (804-828-6200 MPC Campus, 804-828-3964 MCV Campus) which provides brief therapy treatment, University Student Health Services (MPC 804 828-8828, MCV Campus 804 828-9220) and the Department of Recreation & Well-Being (RecWell) (804-828-9355). 24 hour emergency mental health support is available by calling (804) 828-6200 or utilizing the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (dial 988).
Important Information from the Provost’s Office
Use VCU Libraries to find and access library resources, spaces, technology and services that support and enhance all learning opportunities at the university.
Students should visit http://go.vcu.edu/syllabus and review all syllabus statement information. The full university syllabus statement includes information on safety, registration, the VCU Honor Code, student conduct, withdrawal and more.
Tech
Wireless microphones (large conference room)
Make sure the Shure QLXD4 receiver in the computer cabinet is on. It is the thin and long black device right above the PC. (Right above it is the Creston MMX-6-USB microphone mixer, which should also be on.) If the lights on the Shure receiver are not on, press and hold the button to the right of each LCD screen on the face of the receiver to turn on each of the two microphones.
Take out the two wireless microphones from the docking bay on top of the cabinet, pulling them horizontally toward you (DO NOT PULL THEM OUT VERTICALLY OR YOU MAY BREAK THEM).
Make sure each microphone is on. A green light should appear around the large button. If not, press and hold the button on the back side of the microphone, at the top and to the left. Position the microphones where you wish on the conference room table.
In your application, select the Creston option for your microphone input. For example, when you are in a Zoom meeting, click on the arrow just to the right of the mute button, and select Creston MMX-6-USB as the microphone option. For your speaker option, it is best to select SMART IFP, which uses the louder speakers right below the smart monitor. You may need to increase the volume on the smart monitor (by pressing the press button in the lower right-hand corner of the monitor), in addition to increasing the PC volume. You can test the settings in Zoom from the same menu next to the mute button by selecting Test Speaker & Microphone.
Put the microphones back in the docking bay when you are done with them.
Note that the wired microphone still works and can be positioned wherever you wish. It is also connected to the Creston microphone mixer.
Apple TV display adapters (mirroring your phone, tablet, or PC)
Make sure the Apple TV unit (in Founders 203, this will be in the cabinet where the PC resides) is on and connected to an HDMI cable. The end of the HDMI cable should be connected to one of the HDMI ports on the monitor (for instance, the one that says HDMI 2).
On the very bottom left-hand side of the monitor, press the arrow button (second button from the left) and select the HDMI port to which the Apple TV is connected (e.g., HDMI2).
On your iOS device, swipe up from the button of the screen. Tap on the Screen Mirroring button.
An Apple TV option should be listed. Tap on it. The screen of your iOS device should now be mirrored on the monitor.
To end the mirroring, swipe up from the bottom of the screen, tap on the Apple TV button (where it used to say Screen Mirroring), and tap on Stop Mirroring at the bottom of the screen.
To use other Apple TV services, you will need to connect the Apple TV to the Internet using an Ethernet cable; you can temporarily use one of the cables that run to the monitor. The Apple TV remote control is stored in the laptop cart, whose key is kept with the master key.
Microsoft Display Adapters (mirroring your phone, tablet, or PC)
Plug one end of the Microsoft Display Adapter into a USB port on the monitor (in Founders 203, we store the Display Adapter behind the monitor, and you should see it already plugged into the USB port in the console there). Plug the other end of the adapter into a HDMI port on the monitor (for instance, the one that says HDMI 2).
On the very bottom left-hand side of the monitor, press the arrow button (second button from the left) and select the HDMI port to which the Microsoft Display Adapter is connected (e.g., HDMI2).
The method to mirror your screen on the monitor varies from device to device. On a Surface, swipe to the left from the very right of the screen. Tap or click on the Connect button.
Choose MSDisplayAdapter_6E from the list of options. The screen of your device should now be mirrored on the monitor.
To end the mirroring, swift from the right of the screen, tap on Connect, and tap on Disconnect next to the adapter name.
Poster Printer
In PowerPoint, select Print from the top menu.
Select Page Setup in the bottom right corner of the dialog box.
Set the Width to 42 inches, the Height to 36 inches, and the Slide orientation to Landscape.
Select Options, and under Format, select DO_NOT_USE!
For the Paper Size, select Untitled or Manage Custom Settings. Please confirm that the page size is at least 42"x36".
Click OK and then click OK again. Make sure Scale to Fit Paper is selected.
Click Print. Please note that there will be a significant amount of white space at the top and bottom of the poster, which you will need to cut off with a scissor.
Scanner
Turn on the scanner by flipping the switch on the upper-right-hand side of the scanner. The light should turn blue. (If you see an orange light, flip the switch on and off again.)
Open the program NAPS2 on the laptop.
If this is your first time using the scanner, click on the Profiles button. Click on New to create a new scanning profile (i.e., settings for whether the scan is in color or not, what the scanning resolution is, etc.). Name it whatever you wish.
Under Device, click on the Choose device button. Assuming the scanner is powered on and ready (you should see a blue, not an orange, light), you will be able to choose the Plustek OpticBook 3900. Click OK.
For the Bit depth drop-down menu, you will want to change the setting to Black & White (this is ideal for scanning most text). In the Resolution drop-down menu, choose 300 dpi (this works fine for text; increase the dpi if the scan ends up being too fuzzy, and decrease it if the file ends up being too large). Press OK to save your profile as the default profile. (If you ever need to adjust the scan settings, click on the Profiles button and either create a new profile or edit your default one.)
You can either click on the Scan button here, or click on Done and then use the main Scan button from the top menu. The scanned page will appear on the screen as a thumbnail. To scan another page for the same document, just click on the Scan button again.
You can double-click on a thumbnail to go to the Preview window, which allows you to edit that page. Click on the Crop icon at top in order to trim portions of the page (to remove any black strips along the edges, etc.); move the sliders at the top and bottom and left and right of the image that appears, and press OK to crop the page. Click on the arrow buttons to move between pages. Click on the X button to delete the current page. Close the Preview window to save your changes.
You can easily flip over pages that were scanned upside-down. Go to the page Preview (double-click on the thumbnail) and then click on the Rotate button at top; choose the Flip option. To rotate multiple pages at once, first click on one of the page thumbnails to select it, and then CTRL-click on any other page thumbnails that you wish to rotate. When you're done selecting the thumbnails, click on the Rotate button at top and choose the Flip option.
Once you are done scanning the pages of your document, click on the Save PDF button at top. By default, it will save all the pages as a single PDF document. (You can save just selected pages by clicking on the arrow to the right of the button.) Make a note of where you are saving the file.