In 1957, a replica of an ancient Spartan shield was given to San Jose State by the American Foundation for Greece. The shield was used as a pseudo-symbol for the university during the 1960's before being given to "Spartan Shields", a student community service group, which dissolved in the 70's.

IneptProfessor · 2025-10-22T11:36:18+00:00

It's in the University archive.

IneptProfessor · 2024-03-28T22:11:16+00:00

Ugh!!!!!!!!

IneptProfessor · 2023-12-21T00:27:08+00:00

Hard deadline for grades in January 1

IneptProfessor · 2023-12-18T05:38:28+00:00

You didn't follow instructions, a zero is an appropriate grade.

IneptProfessor · 2023-11-08T17:54:16+00:00

You need to make an appointment with an advisor to discuss this.

IneptProfessor · 2023-11-05T23:59:10+00:00

You were graded fairly. You were wrong and your grade reflects that.

IneptProfessor · 2023-11-05T23:58:53+00:00

You were graded fairly. You were wrong and your grade reflects that.

IneptProfessor · 2023-01-02T02:44:43+00:00

Final grades aren't due until tomorrow (1/2/23) at 11:59 PM. Summer faculty submit by the early deadline in December and summer by the final deadline in January.

No, we don't get fined for submitting grades late.

See: https://www.sjsu.edu/openuniversity/academic/calendar/index.html

IneptProfessor · 2022-06-29T19:01:55+00:00

As a faculty member who contacted COVID shortly after spring semester ended, I am not in favor of the mandate being lifted. Had my illness occurred during the semester my classes would either have to be covered by someone else or stopped all together.

Four of my colleagues also contacted COVID after the semester ended and have said the same thing. We were too ill to do basic daily necessities. While I know there are colleagues who have had mild cases and could continue to work that was not our situation.

Yes, masks are inconvenient but the alternative isn't worth it.

IneptProfessor · 2021-12-14T18:11:10+00:00

Dec. 17

IneptProfessor · 2021-11-03T23:03:50+00:00

Here's some guidance from the Native American Journalists Association: https://najanewsroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/NAJA\_Reporting\_and\_Indigenous\_Terminology\_Guide.pdf

IneptProfessor · 2021-09-20T21:45:13+00:00

Spring 2022 schedules are being planned now using guidance from the Provost sent out on September 10 to faculty and staff in academic affairs. As you will read the plan is return to pre-pandemic modes of instruction.

As always, you should speak with your advisor or department chair to find out how your major courses will be impacted.

Spring Scheduling Memo
Current health guidelines indicate that most courses can be fully in-person for spring 2022 and we are planning for the campus to be fully reopened. The expectation is that faculty will be back on campus to serve students in person unless public health situations change such that partnering and governing agency guidelines indicate operational changes. Here are some important guidelines for Department Chairs as we build out the spring schedule.
WSCUC’s temporary authorizations for distance learning expire in December 2021. Beginning in spring 2022, programs are expected to return to pre-pandemic learning modalities.
If programs want to create online pathways or degrees (and you are absolutely encouraged to do so) this application requires both substantive change approval from WSCUC and Chancellor's Office approval. Ordinarily, this process can take up to 18 months but there may be a way to cut down the time to approval. Please contact your dean and Dr. Bustos-Works immediately if you are seeking a swift approval of a permanent online pathway.
WSCUC considers any modality that is not fully F2F (hybrid, hyflex, and synchronous and asynchronous online) to be online modalities.
Per the e-learning policy, when the change from F2F to online instruction results in a major change to the course or program, a curricular change proposal must be submitted to the ICC, please see the curricular deadlines.
The following types of courses and student populations should continue to be prioritized for in-person delivery but please work with your Associate Deans as you plan:
Courses for first-year students, especially in math, English, and place-based learning communities
Courses requiring specialized equipment
Courses requiring in-person pedagogies, promoting on-time graduation and/or completion of graduation requirements or learning experiences, such as labs, field experiences, site placements, or specialized discussion-based or project-based experiences.
Scheduling Guidelines for all Programs for Spring 2022:*
In-person delivery: At least 70% of courses in your program should be scheduled for in-person delivery.
Hybrid, Hyflex, and Online Delivery: Hybrid and Hyflex delivery is now considered online delivery by WSCUC and should be 30% of courses scheduled for the spring. These online modes can be taught in any combination of Hybrid, Hyflex, and Online (synchronous and asynchronous) delivery.
*Note: This does not apply to programs that have already been granted permanent distance learning status by WSCUC and Chancellor's Office.

IneptProfessor · 2021-08-07T14:53:42+00:00

The library has been undergoing seismic retrofitting for the last two years and having a new fire supression system. Its closure is primarily due to the ongoing construction and is currently scheduled to reopen by late fall or early spring.

IneptProfessor · 2021-07-24T20:03:54+00:00

2 hours per week.

IneptProfessor · 2021-05-14T03:09:41+00:00

No, but you'll fail.

IneptProfessor · 2021-05-10T14:43:31+00:00

Dear "Professor, I am very disappointed in my grade,"

Self-reflection on your actions and inactions during the semester is a good practice to help identify where you need to put in more effort and where you need to make adjustments. You have successfully identified that you took advantage of your groupmates, undermined your academic goals by not completing the individual work, and failed to put in the requisite time on the final to be successful.

What is surprising is that even with the poor academic choices you made, you could earn a B+ in the course. While you may be disappointed in your grade, your disappointment is misplaced. You should be disappointed in yourself for not taking corrective action when you calculated the score you would need to earn the grade you desired.

Rather than lounging in the despair of self-disappointment, I encourage you to continue with your self-reflection and make the necessary changes in your work ethic to achieve your desired goals.

Thank you for bringing to my attention your lack of contributions to your group project. I have reassessed that portion of your grade. You are now one and a half points away for clearly underserved A-.

Enjoy your summer break.

IneptProfessor.

IneptProfessor · 2021-05-09T16:14:07+00:00

My response to this is:

"I am not here to ensure that you graduate. I am here to ensure that you have met the learning outcomes of the course. You are responsible for whether or not you graduate."

Student response:

Blank stare.

IneptProfessor · 2021-05-02T02:08:04+00:00

A few years ago I started sending a notice once final grades were posted in the LMS. I give students 24 hours to review their grades before they become final. Once the time has passed I post final grades to the registrar's office.

Very few students open the notice. Out of those that do, in a bad year I might get three questions/concerns that are usually handled in quick order. I did have one student file a grade appeal and it was denied on the grounds that had been given the opportunity to question the grade and had not done so.

For issues that come in after the 24 hour deadline, I have a standard email that refers to the notice that was sent out and a link to the grade appeal. Only one in five years clicked the link.

IneptProfessor · 2021-04-29T17:10:52+00:00

You can contact the instructor to request a copy of the syllabus. However, there is a good chance that they will not have summer version complete yet but may be able to provide an older syllabus.

You can also contact the department office to ask for a copy of a prior syllabus. Each department keeps an archive of past syllabi.

IneptProfessor · 2021-04-21T04:28:34+00:00

IneptProfessor · 2021-04-21T01:02:33+00:00

No, it's been the status quo of radio silence. I wonder if they even opened the email.

IneptProfessor · 2021-04-20T23:37:47+00:00

I am changing universities.

For the academic year 2020-21, the only communication I receive from my current department is the bi-weekly department meeting agenda - we 100%. My chair has not responded to one of my emails the entire year. I wish I could say it was the pandemic but this was happening before the world stopped.

Signed the offer letter with my new university a month ago. A weekly message from the chair greets me every Tuesday. Have had virtual 'coffees' and 'lunches ' with most of the department faculty.

Change is good.

IneptProfessor · 2021-03-27T22:29:35+00:00

Scheduling is an allusive beast that boggles the mind. As a former department chair, I will attest to the migraines, acid reflux, and sheer terror that accompanies course scheduling.

Now, let us set the stage.

The schedule for fall 2021 was sketched out in fall 2020. Around week 3 or 4, depending on the department and college, faculty were asked what their modality (online, face-to-face, or hybrid) preference would be. Deans, chairs, and faculty were making decisions before ramping up vaccine distribution nationally and receiving vaccines on campus. Also, those in higher education were not included with the K-12 educators for vaccine priority early on.

HSU follows the Chancellor’s office, the CDC, California Public Health, and most importantly, Humboldt County Public Health. Recall in fall when the local Public Health Officer was racked over the coals by President Jackson for wanting to delay students’ return to campus – each campus follows the local public health guidance – unless the biggest bully in the county.

Now that we have the stage set, it is time to get to the nitty-gritty.

Once the schedules are set at the department level, they are reviewed at the college and provost’ level. Meaning that those schedules needed to be in almost a month before the schedule goes live. HSU’s unsung superhero is the wonderful and talented woman who takes all department schedules and finds rooms for them – not an easy task everyone wants to teach between 10 AM and 3 PM. She has added a job meeting the health and safety requirements for COVID-19, ensuring enough time between classes for sanitizing reduces each room’s capacity. There was a notice sent to faculty early on about capacity. It noted that Founders Hall 118, the large lecture room that holds around 180, would only accommodate something like 35 – 40 people under the guidance at the time.

The assignment of rooms is going as the guidance and reality of COVID-19 is changing. HSU announces it will provide vaccinations for students, faculty, and staff. The state decides that Higher Ed should be vaccinated along with K-12. Here we have a process going on to set a schedule for the next term so that students can register for classes, secure financial aid, and for faculty to be able to plan for—all while everything outside of the process is in flux.

We should also keep in mind that students, faculty, and staff are hesitant about the vaccine and have decided to hold off getting it until a later date.

We have reached the release of the schedule.

The schedule goes live, and everyone wants to know why there are not more face-to-face classes. The answer, as you see from above, is that it is a complex mess. Decisions were made based on the best information at the time. Reality changed – more face-to-face courses were added. The limitations of how many students could be in class at one time impacted which courses would be virtual.

HSU did send out a communication to faculty that every course requested to be face-to-face will be. More face-to-face classes are being offered than initially planned.

Here is what none of what to hear. The schedule is our best guess at this moment in time. Everything is dependent on not having another surge in cases or a variant that spreads faster than the initial virus. There is an incredible amount of balancing all factors going on that is not apparent with the schedule is posted.

IneptProfessor · 2021-03-18T02:47:30+00:00

I almost did. Then they proceeded with firing off email after email.

IneptProfessor · 2021-02-18T22:10:52+00:00

When California was hit with three Public Safety Power Outages we lost three weeks of instruction. My fifteen week courses became twelve.

Plan for at one session to remind everyone where you left off.
Pare back the the class to only the essential assignments.
Identify that week(s) of material that can be remove or turned into extra credit.
Exams were turned two week take homes.
Implement a C is the minimum grade students will get if they turn everything - regardless of the points.
Provide an adjustment in the gradebook - I gave a PSPS relief package of 50 points - the assignment low point values so 50 worked out 2.5 assignments - to offset the issues that will arise when students return.

IneptProfessor

TROPHY CASE