From: Walter Milligan <milligan@mtu.edu>
Subject: electronic grade submission
Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:40:23 -0500
To: acadforum-l@mtu.edu

Department Chairs and Deans,

As a reminder, we conducted a small, controlled
trial of the electronic grade submission process in
Spring 2007, and a much larger, uncontrolled trial
last semester involving over 120 instructors who
completed the process.  This testing revealed a
couple of issues that we have rectified.

One of the issues was less-than-stellar documentation
and instructions for the process.  We have fixed this
by preparing a high-quality, step-by-step guide
that goes into almost excruciating detail.  One of
the lessons that we learned in the Fall was that
there were some issues that seemed trivial on
the surface that actually led to a lot of frustration.
Each of these issues are discussed in detail in
the Guide.  An electronic copy of the Guide is online at

http://www.mtu.edu/oit/docs/grading_spr08_final.pdf

We printed very high quality, color copies of this
in "magazine" format, and our Print Shop did a
fabulous job.  The quality is so good that the electronic
copy printed out on your Dell color printer doesn't
really do it justice.  If anyone wants a copy, let me
know.  Each instructor is getting one with their
OSRR packet.

We have also established dedicated phones and
e-mail addresses for support:  487-1111 and courses.mtu.edu

Grading Coordinators and Facilitators have been
identified for all departments, and will receive training
starting Monday at 4:00.  Department Chairs and
Deans must clearly understand the privileges that
the Facilitators are being given.  Due to your requests,
these people will be able to grant themselves access
to the Blackboard Grade Book for any instructor in
your department, enter or change grades, and
submit them to Banner.  Please review their
instructions at:

http://www.mtu.edu/oit/docs/grading_spr08_staff.pdf

Mid-term grade submission opens at 8:00 AM Monday.
I trust that you will all be keeping your fingers crossed
in support . . . .

thanks
walt

--
Walter W. Milligan
Chief Information Officer
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI  49931
(906) 487-2015, milligan@mtu.edu
www.mtu.edu/oit