Guidelines for ES Teaching Support

Guidelines for Faculty and Staff Regarding Teaching Support

General Points
Consistent with the guiding principles of technical staff allocation, teaching support takes priority above all other commitments of the technical staff. It is the responsibility of the instructor to make contact with the individual staff member assigned to that course to discuss specific support needs, including appropriate schedules for maintenance, checklists for supplies, notification of start/end dates for field schools, etc. Below are brief summaries of teaching support requirements in which multiple courses are involved. These are not meant to be exhaustive, and specific needs of instructors may vary. Other teaching support may be required for undergraduate theses, 199Y courses, etc, which will be assigned to technical staff by the staff coordinator, in consultation with staff, faculty and the staff supervisor.

Microscopes and laboratory supplies
The staff member, in consultation with faculty, will maintain a supply of microscope parts, troubleshoot and arrange for repair of units during the term (if needed) and perform general maintenance of units between the spring and fall terms. The staff member should also maintain and distribute the microscope combination lists as needed. A checklist of mineralogy/petrology laboratory supplies (acid bottles, streak plates, magnets, etc) will be provided to the staff member, who will maintain an inventory on an ongoing basis.

Thin sections and sample archive
The staff member will maintain the fossil, mineral and rock teaching collections, and inventory as needed. The staff member will arrange for purchase/acquisition of additional samples as requested by the course instructor. For the case of rock specimens, in consultation with the instructor, samples will be identified which need additional thin sections, and the staff member will arrange for this. This will involve a student paid to cut the billets, and the staff member outsourcing the thin section fabrication.

Field-based activities

Field Schools
Instructors will supply a checklist of specific items required for the field camp (e.g., hard hats, safety vests, acid bottles, mylar, writing supplies, etc), with the staff member conducting inventories and purchasing supplies as needed. In consultation with the course teaching assistants, the staff member should ensure an adequate supply of functioning compasses and GPS units. At the close of the field camps, the staff member should ensure that the equipment is in good condition (clean and dry tents, etc) and stowed properly.

Class Field Trips
Instructors will inform the staff member of any field trips planned for that term, and the items needed. The staff member will conduct an inventory, confirm the equipment is in good condition and in adequate supply. At the close of the field trip, the staff member should ensure that the equipment is in good condition and stowed properly.

IT Support
Instructors will inform the staff member of specific software needs, with the staff member responsible for ensuring software license maintenance/renewal. The staff member should also recommend and implement software/hardware upgrades.