Course Assistance, Pedagogical Funds & Student Engagement Funds Policy

This policy covers all courses in the Wagner curriculum with the following exceptions: (1) PhD and school-wide master’s core courses, and (2) courses with recitation or discussion sections receive teaching colleague support.  

*Please note that due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, certain expenses are not permitted. You may view the COVID Expense Policy to identify permissible expenses.

 

  1. Undergraduate Courses:  These courses receive a grader when enrollment at any point between the opening of registration and one week prior to the first day of classes is 25 students or greater.  This rule applies to all undergraduate courses.

  2. MPA/MUP courses:  These courses receive a grader when enrollment at any point between the opening of registration and one week prior to the first day of classes is 30 students or greater.

  3. MPA/MUP courses with an immediate feedback component:  Courses with hands-on, immediate feedback components (such as software instruction and design studios, or intensive courses that meet over the course of two weeks or less) receive a grader when enrollment at any point between the opening of registration and one week prior to the first day of classes is 20 students or greater.

  4. Special Circumstances: Program directors and specialization heads may find that courses have special circumstances not covered by this policy. In such an event, the program director or specialization head may petition the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in writing. Course instructors, including adjuncts, can request special circumstances assistance in writing from their program director or specialization head; ad hoc petitions from instructors will not be considered by the Associate Dean. If deemed necessary by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, such petitions may be discussed at the next meeting of the Program and Specialization Committee to provide advice to the Associate Dean with respect to the petition.

  5. Pedagogical Funds: Support for non-recurring costs related to teaching not to exceed $1,000 per year may be requested by full-time tenure/tenure-track and clinical faculty via written application to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.  Applications constitute a brief memorandum stating the pedagogical purpose and a budget detailing how the funds would be spent.

  6. Student Engagement Funds: Support for non-recurring costs related to informal engagement between faculty and students not to exceed $500 per year may be requested by full-time tenure/tenure-track and clinical faculty via written application to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.  Applications constitute a brief memorandum stating the purpose and a budget detailing how the funds would be spent.  These funds cannot be used for student employee salaries. Funds may be used for food or alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages, but please observe the following guidelines: (1) Students and faculty are advised not to consume alcohol prior to attending class; (2) If alcoholic beverages will be consumed then consumption should not exceed one drink per person; (3) All students in a class must have the opportunity to participate in student engagement activities over the semester; and (4) There must be an RSVP list of students in attendance.  

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Click here to request  Pedagogical or Student Engagement Funds. Click here to petition for Special Circumstances Course Assistance.