The following information is to assist you with Biology Course Instructional Support. If you do not find the information, resource, or service you need, please email EMN Admin and one of the staff members will reply.
Important Dates and Deadlines (First Day of Classes, Finals, Grades) can be found on the UCR Academic Calendar.
Important Information to Plan for Your Final Exams.
Faculty can visit its.ucr.edu/faculty for IT resources, including getting started with tech at UCR, connecting to campus services, instructional technology services and resources, staying secure while working on and off campus, and how to request IT support.
Teaching Resources
TEACHING@UCR
TEACHING@UCR is your resource for innovative teaching and student engagement at UCR. They help educators create exciting teaching strategies through our expert staff, informative content, individual consultations, webinars, trainings, and links to great teaching resources and tools.
Teaching@UCR Information
Canvas Guide & Resources
Canvas is a learning management system (just like iLearn which was powered by Blackboard). Courses that are provided through Canvas make it possible to access assignments, discussions, quizzes, and grades via your laptop, desktop, phone, and/or tablet.
XCITE Information
About XCITE
The Academic Engagement Instructional Design team assists faculty with the integration of technology into the learning environment, in addition to applying sound pedagogical strategies to engage students and meet course outcomes. Whether it’s a tech-enhanced activity, a hybrid classroom or fully online courses, the Instructional Design team is available for consultation to scope your course design needs. The team also offers UCR instructors a variety of instructional technology and course design learning opportunities throughout the year.
about XCITE
Welcome to the New Version of iGrade
GRADING:
For courses with an Academic Coordinator such as in the BIOL 5 series, grading of laboratory assessments may be managed by the Academic Coordinator, who will coordinate the Teaching Assistants and compute final grades for the laboratory component.
The new version of iGrade is ready for use:
iGrade is UCR’s online grade submission portal. Instructors can view course rosters, submit grades (via the web interface or by uploading a spreadsheet), and process grade changes. Grades submitted through iGrade are transmitted to Banner, the campus’ student information system.
- iGrade opens to submit grades the Monday of 10th week.
- Deadline to submit grades is the Tuesday after finals week for Fall, Winter and Spring quarters.
- Go to iGrade
- Registrar's Office website with new iGrade content and resources.
- Video walkthroughs and written guides for using iGrade
- Highlights of the New System
- Self-Service Grade Changes: Submit grade changes directly from your course roster in iGrade that will reflect on the student records in real time. No more paper forms.
- Enhanced Look and Feel: Sort, filter, and view your courses and students with improved controls on a modern interface. No more hunting for extension students on different tabs!
- Up-to-Date Resources: Instructions and guides will be available directly within iGrade where you need them the most.
- Who to Contact if additional assistance is needed.
Final grades for BIOL 05LA are submitted by the Academic Coordinator.
For all other courses, it is the instructor(s) of record that submit the final letter grades.
GRADE CHANGES:
Can now be processed in iGrade, submit grade changes directly from your course roster in iGrade that will reflect on the student records in real time. No more emailing grade change forms and waiting for a reply!
Gradescope Information
About Gradescope
Gradescope is a platform built to facilitate grading online and in-class assessments, reducing time spent evaluating student work. It allows instructors to more easily provide constructive feedback and improve student learning outcomes.
Using Gradescope through Canvas will allow you to create and grade student assignments quickly and easily.
Create live rubrics that allow for increased consistency and efficiency when grading large courses.
Rubrics are dynamic tools that can easily be changed even after work has been graded, allowing instructors to change point values and award extra credit. Reusing comments and scores creates a consistent and effective method for improving both the speed and efficiency of your grading efforts.
about gradescopE
Zoom Information
Zoom is a communications software that combines video conferencing, online meetings, chat and mobile collaboration.
Zoom Information
Yuja Information
Use Yuja to store videos, record lectures, proctor exams, and more – all within an integrated video platform.
Yuja information
Piazza Information
Piazza is an online Q&A forum which is integrated with Canvas LMS platforms. It is useful for holding instructor office hours, as well as permitting students to discuss concepts and address each other's questions among themselves with instructor-supervision.
Itopia Virtual Computer Lab (VLAB)
Itopia - Since its launch in 2020, UC Riverside’s virtual computer lab (VLab) service has provided Highlanders convenient access to specialty software. To better support the instructional needs of our students and faculty, Information Technology Solutions (ITS) is launching itopia as UCR’s new VLab service. itopia will be available to campus starting on March 29, 2024, replacing Apporto.
iEval - Course Evaluations
iEval is the system for students to submit evaluations of classes at UCR. Student feedback should address what works well and what areas of the course need enhancements to improve the learning experience for students. All evaluations are anonymous and the log in process confirms students can only submit evaluations for courses they are enrolled in.
Instructors will see evaluations only after they have submitted grades. Instructors will receive an automated email reminder about the availability of iEval access towards the end of the quarter. Note that students who do not complete a course evaluation online for a particular course will not be able to see their final grade for that course until the start of the next quarter.
Login to iEval
Students, instructors and staff may find useful information on the iEval FAQ page
Instructors might find useful resources here for adjusting their courses based on the feedback they receive from iEval.
Sherice Underwood in the EMN Unit is the primary contact for this process. You can reach Sherice at x25902 or sherice.underwood@ucr.edu if you have questions regarding your course being evaluated.
Teaching Assistant evaluations are handled by the Graduate Division for courses during the academic year.
Need a laptop or hotspot to conduct your duties?
Should you need a laptop or hotspot to conduct your duties, loaners are being provided by ITS:
Tech Support https://keeplearning.ucr.edu/
Free Software for Students
Online tech support ticket system
Browse the ITS Knowledge Base for self-help articles
Apply for a loaner laptop or WiFi hotspot
Phone: (951) 827-IT4U (4848)
Request extra face coverings
Instructors and TA's, if you want to have extra face coverings on hand for students who request one you can request in bulk from The Wellhis online form
If a student would like to get one on their own, they can stop by The Well to pick up a mask (operating hours).
Request a face shield with a drape from EH&S
A face shield with a drape is an approved alternative to a face covering, and may be preferable in some situations. EH&S currently has a limited supply of face shields with drapes but has ordered more. Contact ehspublichealth@ucr.edu for more information or if you would like to request one.
Instructors also may purchase a face shield at their own expense but it must include a drape at the bottom. A recent study on sound attenuation from the University of Illinois may be helpful for deciding which kind of approved face covering you want to use.
Admin Support Information
Enrollment & Waitlists
ENROLLMENT:
Enrollment is handled via Banner, Instructors do not add or drop students.
- Enrollment issues for Biology courses are handled by the CNAS Enrollment Management Center, contact Monica Dorame for assistance.
If students are repeating a course or need permission to enroll, they must submit an ENROLLMENT REQUEST FORM
To verify if a student is enrolled in your course CHECK YOUR CLASS ROSTEr on iGrade
WAITLISTS:
Waitlists are handled via Banner, Instructors do not add or remove students from the waitlist.
If space becomes available in a class, the first student on its waitlist will receive an email via R’Mail stating there is a seat currently reserved for them. They will have 24 hours to respond from the time the email was generated.
- Contact Monica Dorame for assistance.
Students on the waitlist will not appear on your class roster.
Exam Administration
Proctoring of exams requires at least one Faculty member to be present and are typically proctored with assistance from the Discussion or Laboratory TAs.
For larger service courses, additional administration (e.g. seating charts) may be arranged with the Academic Coordinator:
- Saige Pompura
- Katie Burnette
- Mike Fugate
- See courses on Schedule of Classes
Office Hours - Keys & Room Reservations
Available Rooms and How to Request
ROOM RESERVATIONS FOR EMN CONTROLLED ROOMS
KEYS: If you need a key to one of the Biology laboratory classrooms, TA office hour rooms, and/or copier room, please complete this online form: TA Key Request Form Once submitted, you will be sent instructions via email re: how to schedule an appointment with the EMN front office staff to pick up your keys. If you need additional assistance with this process, please email emnadmin@ucr.edu
Photocopying & Printing
PHOTOCOPYING AND PRINTING:
For jobs over 120 printed pages TOTAL, send your copy request to the EMN office at least two business days prior to the date the copies are needed. EMN Staff will then submit your request to the Printing and Reprographics office for processing. To submit your request:
- Complete the online request form click here
- Attach the file(s) to be copied in PDF format. If copies need to be hand married (e.g. sorted by exam version A-B-C-A-B-C), please note that an additional day for processing is required.
For smaller copying jobs (under 120 TOTAL pages printed), a photocopier in the EMN unit may be used. Please note that the Papercut copier program is no longer being utilized by campus, so your Papercut code will NO LONGER WORK. Moving forward, please see the EMN front desk for the course copy code each quarter.
For handouts, please consider posting electronically on Canvas. Enrolled students can then download and print their own handouts.
Scantron Machines
SCANTRON MACHINES:
The smaller Scantron machine (narrow green forms, Form No. 882-E) is located in Spieth 1216. Check out the key from the EMN Front Office Team in Life Sciences Rm 2710. Contact EMN Admin if you need assistance with this machine.
The larger Scantron machine (iNSIGHT 4; Form F-1712_PAR-L) previously located in Spieth 1212 is no longer available.
You can request Scantron forms at the start of each quarter, email EMN Admin.
Teaching Supplies
There are teaching supplies in stock, such as dry erase markers, batteries, chalk, Scantron forms, etc. in the EMN Front Office located in Life Sciences Rm 2710 (M-F 8am-11:30am and 1:30pm-4pm).
For other items, please email emnadmin@ucr.edu and the Purchasing Office staff will assist you with your order.
Please ensure that the TA's assigned to your course are aware that they can obtain these supplies from the EMN office.
Textbook Adoptions
It is the responsibility of each instructor to order textbooks for their courses. An email is sent out from the Bookstore prior to the start of each quarter explaining details for ordering books (see info below for Barnes & Noble Adoption & Insights Portal (AIP)).
If additional copies of textbooks are needed for TA(s):
- Contact the EMN Front Office staff at emnadmin@ucr.edu to see if the dept. has additional copies in their textbook library. IF NOT, then:
- Contact your book’s publisher to determine whether or not they will provide additional desk copies at no charge for you and your TA. IF NOT, then:
- Contact the EMN Purchasing Office staff (Tara & Silvana) at emnadmin@ucr.edu . We will contact the Department Chair to request approval to order/purchase using department funds.
For BIOL 005A/B/C, in the past, Campbell Biology (by Reece et al.; most recent edition is the 11th) has been used throughout the BIOL 5 series so students need purchase only one textbook. For other courses, textbooks have been chosen at the prerogative of the instructor(s).
All textbook submissions should go through the online Barnes & Noble Adoption & Insights Portal platform.
See QUICK GUIDE (PDF) or Video Demo that will assist any Faculty members that might be unfamiliar with using Barnes & Noble Adoption & Insights Portal (AIP)
**If you do not require a textbook please let the Textbook Manager, Loretto Evans, know so your class information can be updated.
Contact EMN Admin will any other questions.