Semester To Do List
Get Ready for a Successful Semester
Whether you're preparing for the start of a new semester, guiding your learners through the midterm, wrapping up final grades, or reflecting on ways to enhance your course, this comprehensive checklist is here to support you. We've organized the key tasks and resources into four manageable sections, so you can easily navigate to the information you need, exactly when you need it. Use the icons below to jump directly to the relevant section, or scroll down to explore all the details.
Preparing for the Semester Start
Preparing for the start of a new semester can feel overwhelming. The following information is intended to simplify the semester start by offering an ordered list of common preparation tasks, practices, resources, and support.
- Review your teaching assignments on the Faculty & Advisor Self Service menu to access the most up to date information on your:
- Class meeting times, dates, locations, and modality
- Catalog course descriptions and course texts
- WES level (included in course description)
- Class Roster(s)
- Request, from your department chair, access to department and/or course specific:
- Syllabi and schedule information
- Pre-developed Elearning course shells (as available)
- Technologies, materials, and/or applications
- Request, from your department chair, an instructor copy of and/or access to course text(s) and other required materials. You may also contact the WMU Bookstore, directly, at @email or 269.387-3930.
- If publisher-based technologies, content, or assessments will be used in the course, connect with the publisher or campus contact for access.
- If no text has been determined and/or if you are interested in exploring other options for course texts, visit WMU Textbook Information or collaborate with your subject area librarian to explore Free-to-Use Course Materials for alternatives that can help reduce student costs..
- If your course is a Western Essential Studies (WES) course, review the Faculty Guide to WMU Essential Studies and WES FAQs resources.
- Consider the requirements and expectations of your course modality by reviewing WMU Modality information.
- For support in designing or redesigning your course for a specific modality, connect with a WMU Instructional Designer.
- If your course will include online class meetings or virtual office, establish a virtual location for these interactions via Teams or Webex.
- Plan to include your meeting link(s) in your course syllabus and Elearning course shell.
- Connect with the Instructional Technology Center for training and/or support on these virtual meeting tools.
- If your course will meet in a physical space, confirm that you have access to necessary technology, the building, and the room. Connect with your department chair to identify your contacts are for technology and building support. See also University Department and Unit IT Support.
- Plan your course.
- Review WMU’s Functional Course Design Guide for templates and resources to support teaching and learning in any modality.
- Consider WMU’s Academic Calendar as well as personal and professional obligations when determining due dates and workload.
- If you will be administering a formal final exam, review the WMU Registrar’s Final Exam Schedule.
- Prepare your course syllabus and schedule.
- Review WMU Faculty Senate’s syllabus statement and tool for requirements and recommendations on syllabus creation.
- Review WMU’s The Syllabus for support in incorporating Universal Design for Learning practices into your syllabus.
- Develop course materials and activities.
- Explore WMU’s Teaching Resources and other University Instructional Supports.
- Connect with a WMU subject librarian for support in identifying and incorporating written materials and other media into your course as well as supporting learners in the development of information literacy and research instruction.
- Decide how you will use your Elearning course shell(s). Connect with a WMU Instructional Designer if you would appreciate a thought and/or design partner.
- Locate your Elearning course shell(s)
- If teaching multiple sections of a course where Elearning will be used for, you might consider combining Elearning sections.
- Prepare your Elearning course shell(s) - For all modalities.
- Request an ID Elearning Course Template be added to your course and/or elect to copy ALL content or copy SOME content from another course into your new course.
- For information on how to build and use the tools available in Elearning, visit the ITC Elearning Knowledge Base.
- Use the ALLY tool on Elearning to review and find options for improving the accessibility of your course materials.
- For building assistance or for support in linking publisher-based technologies, content, or assessments to your Elearning course, contact the Instructional Technology Center.
- Be sure to check all links in your Elearning course for functionality and make sure dates and titles are consistent across all course documents and within the Elearning shell.
- Consider how you will welcome learners to the classroom.
- Send an introductory email letting learners know where and when the class will meet and what materials may be needed for the first day or week. See Emailing Your Classlist in Elearning.
- Plan activities that will allow you to assess the experiences (personal, professional, and academic) that learners bring to the classroom and to consider how you might meet them where they are. See First Day of Class/Introduction Activities.
- Be attentive to roster changes and make sure any information shared prior to drop/add dates, is received by late additions to the course as well.
Managing the Midterm
Offering individualized feedback and support throughout the course can increase learner effort and engagement. Collecting and considering learner feedback on course design and/or their experience in the course can also help instructors to identify, address, and support learners in seeking support for areas of challenge.
- Include a midterm survey for learners to collect feedback on how the course design is working and how learners a feeling about their own work.
- Request the IDD Elearning Course Template Surveys be added to your course and/or connect with a WMU Instructional Designer for support in creating your own midterm survey.
- Prepare and submit midterm grades to the registrar by the midterm due date.
- Review the WMU Registrar’s Grades and Grading for information on submitting midterm, final and incomplete grades for learners.
- If using the Elearning gradebook, review Preparing Midterm or Final Grades in Elearning. If not using Elearning, using Grade Worksheets may be helpful. Contact the Instructional Technology Center for support.
- Submit Student Concern Form(s) for learners who have fallen behind in class, have stopped attending, and/or who may have other wellness needs. This will allow the appropriate teams at WMU to investigate the situation and offer support.
Preparing for Finals Week and Grade Submission
During the last several days of the semester, it can be beneficial to check in again to elicit learner feedback on their experience in the course and to encourage their reflection on their learning, effort, and performance. It is also an important time to highlight final requirements for the course and support learners in staying on track.
- Include a final survey or other opportunity for learner reflection on their experience in the course and how they might apply what they have learned about the content or themselves beyond the classroom.
- Request the IDD Elearning Course Template Surveys be added to your course and/or connect with a WMU Instructional Designer for support in creating your own end-of-semester survey.
- Encourage learners to complete WMU’s Student Course Ratings System. To access your course reviews login to your Campus Labs reports.
- Review and confirm with learners the course final exam date and time through the WMU Registrar’s Final Exam Schedule.
- If applicable, complete and/or submit WES Rubrics and materials via Elearning.
- Prepare and submit final grades to the registrar by the final grades due date.
- Review the WMU Registrar’s Grades and Grading for information on submitting midterm, final and incomplete grades for learners.
- If using the Elearning gradebook, review Preparing Midterm or Final Grades in Elearning. If not using Elearning, using Grade Worksheets may be helpful. Contact the Instructional Technology Center for support.
- If permitting an incomplete:
- Complete the Report of Incomplete Grade via Faculty Services.
- If using Elearning, it may also be helpful to extend individual student access to Elearning to ensure students are able to complete missing course work. Be sure to remove/modify any end dates that might obstruct extended access to specific items.
Reflecting on the Semester and Forward Planning
As the semester closes, it can be helpful to consider how the semester went for learners, but also how it went from a personal perspective.
- Review midterm and final feedback from learners and use it to inform future iterations of the course.
- Consider using the Instructional Design and Development team’s Functional Course Review Checklist and/or using the Learner Perspectives and Iteration on Design to identify ways you might enhance or improve the next semester. These and other documents to support course design or redesign can be found in WMU’s Functional Course Design Guide.