Process for Creating an EECS DeCal
As a facilitator of a DeCal course, you will assume a lot of the same responsibilities as an instructor, and will need to create a positive experience for all of the participants in your course. We strongly encourage you to review this webpage and the links provided, to stay in close communication with your faculty sponsor, and to seek help if needed. Happy DeCal facilitating!
Fall 2021 Submission Deadlines
1. Create Course Proposal Packet
Visit How to Start a DeCal for detailed information on how to create a syllabus, find a faculty sponsor, and complete the Course Proposal Form (CPF).
Required Documents for the Course Proposal Packet
A course proposal must be completed each semester, and approved by the sponsoring department, for every student-facilitated 98 or 198 course offered for academic credit. The following must be submitted to the Academic Senate in hard copy (paper):
A Course Proposal Form, signed by your faculty sponsor. This form can also be downloaded from the Academic Senate website, under the Required Documents section.
A fully-developed syllabus which includes the following information:
- an outline of course content
- a reading list
- a statement of frequency of class meetings
- a clear description of assignments and requirements for passing the class
- key learning outcomes
- method(s) of instruction
- method(s) of evaluation of student performance
An example of a fully developed syllabus can be found at the Center for Teaching & Learning. Additional resources may be found at the website for Undergraduate Course Facilitator Training & Resources.
A Unit Value Worksheet, which can also be downloaded from the Academic Senate website, under the Best Practices section.
- When completing the unit value worksheet ensure that the minimum total work hours are equivalent to the unit value of the course (e.g.: there are at least 45 hours for a 1 unit course).
Also ensure that any requirements outlined in the worksheet are explained fully in the course syllabus.
A Faculty Sponsor Letter of Support, from the instructor of record, must be provided for each course the instructor is sponsoring. This letter is required for all student-facilitated course proposals starting SP 18. The letter should be written on department letterhead and signed by the instructor, and should address the five questions explaining the role and relationship the instructor has with the course.
2. Submit Completed Packet to EE/CS Scheduler for Review
Email your completed proposal (ca b unsigned) to the EE or CS Scheduler for review. Since they reserve classrooms and determine class schedules and enrollment needs, be prepared to discuss proposed class days/times and any special classroom requirements.
Prepare for discussion with EE/CS Scheduler
Provide the following information along with the proposal packet to the EE or CS Scheduler:
- # of seats needed
- first choice of day(s)/time to teach,
- an acceptable range of other options for day(s)/time in case your first choice is not available
- any specific characteristics of the room you would like to teach in (e.g., movable chairs, specific a/v equipment, etc.). If you already have a location reserved, let the Scheduler know that.
The Scheduler will create the course in the campus online schedule of classes and share the section # and the class # with you.
Campus Scheduling will be approached to reserve space for your class if there is no appropriate room in Soda or Cory Halls. You will be notified when a room has been found and a specific schedule has been set.
Note: Classrooms for DeCal classes are set up via the EE/CS Schedulers. Please do not request a room via bcal in Soda or Cory Hall yourself.
Submit packet to EE/CS Scheduler
- CS proposals: cs-scheduling@eecs.berkeley.edu (Cindy Conners)
- EE proposals: ee-scheduling@eecs.berkeley.edu (Gina Garcia)
**Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered**
3. Submit Approved Packet to Chair for Signature
Once a proposal packet has been completed, signed by your Instructor of Record, and reviewed by the CS or EE Scheduler, send it to the appropriate Department Chair's Assistant in Soda or Cory Hall so it can be signed by the CS or EE Chair.
DeCal proposals need to be delivered to the Chair's Assistant no later than the stated deadline.
- CS proposals: Thomas Silva (thomassilva@eecs.berkeley.edu)
- EE proposals: Magali Lermigeaux (mlermigeaux@eecs.berkeley.edu)
Your proposal will be returned to you after it has been reviewed by the Department Chair.
**Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted**
DeCal proposals for SPRING semesters will be due to the EECS Chairs' assistants no later than 2 weeks prior to the COCI deadline. DeCal proposals for FALL semesters will be due no later than 1 week prior to the COCI deadline.
4. Submit Signed Packet to COCI
After the Chair signs your proposal, submit your paperwork to the Committee on Courses of Instruction (COCI) in the Berkeley Division of the Academic Senate. See Student-Facilitated Course Information on the Academic Senate website.
The deadline is one month before the end of instruction in the preceding semester (see current deadline).
5. List Class on DeCal Website
Once your course has been approved and cleared through the review process, the Chair's Assistant will send you a copy of your approved course proposal form. You can then submit the class to DeCal so it can be listed on their website.
How to submit a class to the DeCal website
- Login into the DeCal Website.
- Click on 'Dashboard' on the upper right hand corner of the website.
- Click on the yellow 'Submit a Course for Approval' button.
- Follow the steps until completion of form.
- After submission, you should receive a confirmation email.
- Check your email for any status changes.
- You may go back and make edits to all course information, expect the Course Name, so make sure that it is correct in the beginning.
- Please check your email if your course is rejected and make edits according to comments. Please feel free to email us at decalprogram@gmail.com if you have any further questions.
Be aware that the DeCal student organization has different deadlines and requirements than the Academic Senate
6. Attend Training Workshop (first time facilitators)
All first-time student-facilitators must undergo training. The Student Learning Center’s Undergraduate Course Facilitator Training and Resources unit (UCFTR) offers a number of workshops and one-on-one trainings each semester to support student facilitators.
Additionally, student facilitators may enroll in the Craft of Facilitating course, CS 197 or EE 197, in order to get ongoing support and credit for their work.
FAQ
How do I handle DeCal course enrollment and roster?
The Enrollment Manager is the person who creates the enrollment capacity for your class and designates how students will be able to enroll. You will work with the Enrollment Manager for any enrollment-related issues as well.
Once the Scheduler has provided you with the section number and class number for your DeCal class, you can contact the CS Enrollment Manager to discuss how to handle enrollment.
There are three ways enrollment can be handled for a DeCal class:
- Open enrollment – this is first come, first enrolled no matter who the students are. No priority is given by major, no distinction is made between lower div, upper div or grad students. This method requires the least effort on your part but also allows the least control over enrollment.
- Permission code distributed by facilitators– this is the most popular choice because it gives you the most flexibility and control. Enrollment is restricted to ‘instructor consent’ on Cal Central. You can then create your own enrollment form outside Cal Central to help you determine who should get into the class. The Enrollment Manager provides you with SINGLE USE permission codes that you can distribute to approved students. They use these codes when they enroll into your class.
- Student-specific permission codes – this option prevents students from applying to enroll in your class and then giving the single-use permission code to someone else. This method is secure but rarely used because it requires you to provide a full list of students (names and SIDs) to your class to the Enrollment Manager within the first four weeks of the semester. The CS Enrollment Manager then generates the student-specific permissions and you then must notify the students that they can enroll into the class.
Can I receive units for facilitating a DeCal course?
Yes. To get teaching credit for your DeCal, you need to enroll into the CS 197 or EE 197 section assigned to your faculty sponsor. To do this:
- Create a list of instructors/TAs who need this credit. The list should include names and SIDs.
- Provide and review this list with your instructor of record to ensure they know who they will be submitting grades for at the end of the semester.
- Email the list to the Enrollment Manager who will then create student-specific permissions for you and notify you when you can enroll for credit.
EE197 and CS 197 are offered for 1-4 units. Facilitators enroll in units up to the unit value of the DeCal course they facilitate.
How can I set up a bCourses course site?
Your faculty sponsor, who is the Instructor of Record for the course, will need to set up the bCourses site and delegate access to you.
Whom do I contact for help managing enrollments?
If you have a waitlist for your class and want to drop students who have enrolled but haven’t attended class, you can request a class roster from the Enrollment Manager to cross reference with your attendance records. The Enrollment Manager would need any list of students you wish to drop for non-attendance by no later than 5pm Wednesday of the third week of class.
If you plan to drop students for non-attendance, you need to have communicated (in your syllabus and/or the class website) from the beginning of the semester that this is something you will do.
Where can I get more information?
- EE Scheduler/Enrollment Manager - Gina Garcia (garciagi@eecs.berkeley.edu)
- CS Scheduler/ Enrollment Manager - Cindy Conners (csconners@berkeley.edu)
- CS Dept Chair Assistant: Thomas Silva (thomassilva@eecs.berkeley.edu)
- EE Dept Chair Assistant: Magali Lermigeaux (mlermigeaux@eecs.berkeley.edu)