A website by the students in Dr. Todd's XCOR 3020 class at Xavier University of Louisiana
Syllabus: Instructor Expectations
Reading Time: 3minutes
This section is meant to tell you what you can expect of me rather than what I expect of you.
My name is Prof. Todd and I use the pronouns he, him, and his. Pronouns are the parts of speech we use to refer to someone instead of their name. Using the right pronoun, like using the correct name or title, is a way to show respect.
While the last few pages have explained what I expect of you for this class, you have a right to expect the following from me as your professor:
To serve as a mentor and guide to help you learn as best you can;
To challenge you to excel as a student and a scholar;
To facilitate learning in an interesting and compelling way;
To be open to questions and discussion in and out of class;
To provide useful and timely grades and feedback on all coursework; and
To provide you with a safe and accommodating learning environment.
We have an opportunity in this class to hear from people with different viewpoints and to open some lines of communication about difficult topics. All opinions are welcome, as long as they are grounded in evidence and presented respectfully. I reserve the right to manage, intercede, side-line, or stop a conversation if it is leading us too far off track or if it is disrespectful to others.
While I have tried to make sure our readings include a plurality of voices, I acknowledge the likelihood that there may be both overt and covert biases in the material due to the lens with which it was written. Integrating a diverse set of experiences is important for a more comprehensive understanding of the world. Please contact me with or submit anonymously any suggestions to improve the quality of the course.
Furthermore, I want to create a learning environment for my students that supports a diversity of thoughts, perspectives, and experiences while honoring your identities (including race, gender, class, sexuality, religion, ability, etc.). To help accomplish this, please consider the following:
If you have a name or set of pronouns that differ from those that appear in your official Xavier records, please let me know, and I will do my best to make sure your preferences are honored.
If you feel like your performance in the class is being impacted your experiences outside of class, please don’t hesitate to come and talk with me. I want to be a resource for you. Remember that you can also submit anonymous feedback. If you prefer to speak with someone outside of the course, Dr. Richard Peters, Associate Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, would be an excellent resource.
I (like many people) am still in the process of learning about diverse perspectives and identities. If something is said in class (by anyone) that makes you feel uncomfortable, please talk to me about it (again, anonymous feedback is always an option).
A Bit More About Me
Since 2007, I have been a member of the Department of English at Xavier, where I teach American Literature, Freshman Composition, Modern English Grammars, and The Graphic Novel and Social Justice. I also teach a number of XCOR classes, including College Experience, The City as Text, and Dystopias, Real & Imagined. From 2021 to 2024, I served as the Faculty Director of the Core Curriculum for the College of Arts & Sciences. In June 2024, I became Director of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Faculty Development, where I help faculty improve their teaching, advance their scholarship, and find some balance in their professional lives.
I live on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain with my wife, son, and animals. When I’m not doing school-related work, I am doing DIY projects around our house and property or playing video games. Having finished Red Dead Redemption 2 this summer, I’ve recently begun playing Ghost of Tsushima.