New Orientation Sessions Offered to Adjunct Faculty...

We would like to invite all new and current adjuncts to participate in a month long, online adjunct faculty orientation training.  We have developed a year long calendar to accommodate all of our adjunct faculty. The next online training will be offered on Monday, June 3rd. Additional sections of the training for 2013 will begin on June 17th, September 30th and October 14th.  In 2014, training will begin on January 6th, January 20th, April 1st and April 14th. 

The course is asynchronous. The training offers a formal orientation to key information within the university and best practices to help new and continuing adjuncts feel connected and successful in their professional experience at NLU. This training aligns with one of the milestones of the new strategic plan: “Develop increased support and orientation program for adjunct faculty”. As part of our quality journey, and aligned with our strategic plan, we have developed this adjunct orientation to assure our academic excellence and un-paralleled student experience. This will also be a great opportunity to work in our new learning management system, Desire2Learn NLU Online Campus.  There are six modules to complete over five weeks. Each week there will be assignments to complete within the week.

Module 1: Introduction and Welcome                          Module 4: Academic Policies and Handbooks                      

Module 2:  Need to Know Now                                    Module 5: Reference Materials
                         
Module 3: Human Resources                                      Module 6: Best Practices

Participation and successfully completing the online orientation is mandatory to be considered for future teaching assignments or field supervision. Adjunct faculty that have successfully completed the February/March or August 2012 orientation do not need to register for the upcoming sessions.  Once an adjunct successfully completes the orientation, they will have access to the Adjunct Faculty Post-Training Cafe.  More information on the cafe is provided below.

We hope you will be able to join us in this exciting professional development with a flexible delivery model.  This course is asynchronous.  Participation each week is at your own pace.  Upon successful completion of the orientation requirements, you will receive a "Certificate of Completion".

Click here to register for a training session!

*NEW* Adjunct Faculty Post-Training Cafe

Once adjunct faculty have successfully completed the online orientation, we've found a way to offer adjuncts a place to continue networking with other adjuncts using the Desire2Learn NLU Online Campus.  Many of our participants enjoyed the use of the discussion "cafe", so we continue to offer it in the post-training cafe.

To keep our "orientation graduates" up-to-date, the post-training cafe also gives them access to all of the resources they had available during their orientation.  The cafe is a work in progress, and will continue to be updated to reflect the most current information that is being offered within the adjunct faculty orientation. 

Here's What a Few of Our Participants are Saying About the August Orientation:

"I've enjoyed the intellectual stimulation of the readings and the opportunity to interact with other adjuncts. I appreciate being allowed to join the training at the last minute."

"I've enjoyed the discussion posts the most. It's interesting to see what other adjuncts do and learn new ways of doing things."

"I enjoyed the group interaction. I also learned a lot of new information about the university. Module 4 had numerous resources that I can use in teaching various courses and were interesting."

"I enjoyed learning all that I did about NLU. I can't believe how much I did NOT know. Also, posting and viewing responses from others was enlightening."

Here's What a Few of our Participants are Saying About the Pilot Orientation:

"I enjoyed the discussions and the immediate feedback available from other adjuncts and the facilitator.  It would be great to have this discussion format during the semester as a way to connect with other instructors.  Also, I enjoy Blackboard and appreciate the online format. The resources were great. I hope that this course will continue to be available afterwards.  The assignments were helpful and gave me an idea of NLU expectations."

"Presenting it like an online discussion course is great.  Not only do you have the opportunity to interact with other adjuncts - something you rarely get to do - but to compare your methods to the teaching methods of others.  Feedback by the facilitator was typically timely and was constructive.  Since I never went through an orientation before and have not been teaching at NLU very long, learning about adjunct benefits and measures to take when things don't go well in the classroom was extremely helpful."

"I hope that when the University switches from Blackboard to Desire2Learn, we will still be able to access this course!"

"The on-line resources like "Cool Tools" show many options that teachers have to make their courses come alive.  Also, I liked the PDF files.  And, I like the direction provided to teachers to know their benefits.  VERY GOOD!"