Part-Time (Adjunct) Faculty Orientations are held 4 times a year (in January, June, and twice in August), alternating between Friday afternoons (in person) and Saturday mornings (via Zoom web conference). If there are changes in the ability to hold sessions on campus, registrants will be notified via email. All UMSL part-time faculty, new or returning, are welcome to register. These sessions are highly engaging and interactive, including conversations with the Provost, strategizing about your learning materials, and interactive case study discussions with our panels of student supports from across campus. Our goal is for you to leave with a wealth of new contacts to help you and your students have a successful experience at UMSL.
If these dates do not match your availability, we can also schedule an individual meeting for acute questions in January or May-July. This will include an opportunity to meet one-on-one with a member of the CTL and customized Q&A for your specific needs, but will not include the rich interactive environment the full event provides. If you are utilizing this expedited option to launch your first semester, we encourage you to attend a future orientation date as your schedule allows. We are not able to offer this option in August due to the large volume of orientation events we run across campus for numerous groups that month.
Orientation Schedule
Schedule is subject to change.
Optional Pre-Orientation Session: Leveraging Canvas to Engage Students
Identify strategies to leverage technology for successful engagement and communication with your students for both in-person and online courses. You will have opportunities to ask specific questions and hear a general overview of resources and advice on navigating the different options on campus for technical support.
Break
Welcome and Introductions
Representatives from the Provost’s office and Academic Affairs join to welcome you to UMSL.
Getting to Know Our UMSL Students
This interactive workshop will help you learn about the unique dynamics of our students at UMSL and how you can tailor your teaching to be student-centered and help support student retention.
Break
Partners in Learning I: Promoting Student Well-Being and Safety
Campus colleagues share insights and details about student success topics you’ll experience in the first weeks of the semester, as well as resources for whom to contact and when. Examples will be provided of how to handle disability access accommodation letters, enrollment verifications, and submitting flags for student concerns.
Break
Partners in Learning II: Supporting Students in Learning
Representatives from key UMSL offices lead a discussion about supporting successful learning environments around academic and classroom issues and how to support student well-being and success: student counseling, student conduct supports, classroom security, and academic integrity resources. Examples and resource contacts will be provided. Discussion is led by: