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Resources for New and Adjunct Faculty

Welcome to IWU! We hope this page helps you navigate your first year(s) teaching at IWU. If you cannot find what you are looking for on this page, please email a suggestion to thorpe@iwu.edu

 

Getting Started at IWU:

  • See HR’s New Employee page for the first steps for any IWU employee. This page includes a list of our many abbreviations!
  • Visit Campus Connect's page for a handy list of some basic information and helpful links.
  • Once you have your IWU log-in information, my.iwu.edu (the Pathify Dashboard) will be your portal to essential employee functions, such as reserving a room or finding business office forms
  • See Banner Self-Service/Ellucian Banner (in the Tool Menu) to access information about your class rosters and room assignments, to post office hours, to enter mid-semester and final grades, etc.
  • New faculty, including adjunct faculty, will learn their office assignments from an Administrative Specialist in their area or the Associate Provost in August or January.
  • Here is a helpful list of on-campus classrooms and locations, as well as their formal, coded names (used in 25Live for reservations).
  • If you would like to take a campus tour, you can schedule one by contacting Admissions: Shannon Wisecup shanwise@iwu.edu (309)556-3031 or Molly Munson-Dryer mmunsond@iwu.edu
  • Remember to check your classroom before the first day of classes. If you have trouble with the technology in the room (for example, the wall-mounted touch panels in State Farm Hall are how you turn on the projectors!), contact Information Technology Services at it@iwu.edu or call (309)556-3900.
  • IWU hosts a New Faculty Orientation series for tenure-line, teaching-track, and visiting faculty. Contact Brenda Milcik bmilcik@iwu.edu for more information and access to the schedule of events.

 

Developing your course and syllabus:

  • Syllabus:
    • Every course must have a syllabus that, at minimum, provides students with the following: information about the aims, format, and activities of the course, as well as the attendance policy, grading policy, and office hours (IWU Faculty Handbook V.A.5). 
    • Here is a syllabus template that outlines IWU's policy statements and syllabus best practices. Feel free to adapt this template as suits your class. Also see the template for an updated list of campus resources you can give to students!
  • Schedule:
    • Consult the academic calendar to plan for non-class days as well as our mandatory mid-semester grade reporting at the end of the 7th week of class.
    • The final exam schedule can be found under “Important Dates” in the menu on the Registrar’s page
    • Note that, for accreditation purposes, all courses must meet during the final exam period, whether it is for an exam, writing session, or other class activity.
    • Multifaith Calendar:  As you plan your schedule, please be aware of the major religious holidays (see the Multifaith Calendar link here). Faculty members are requested to exercise reasonable flexibility in accommodating students with conflicts due to religious observance.
    • Sports:  Student athletes make up nearly half of our student body. If you need to check the athletic schedule for any reason, you can find it here: www.iwusports.com . The athletes are also expected to request a mid-semester progress report from their professors. If you have any questions or concerns, contact Kim Nelson-Brown, Assoc. Athletic Director knbrown@iwu.edu
  • Books and Library Resources:
    • Course materials can be ordered through the IWU Bookstore run by Follett . There is a tab in the bottom menu “Online Adoptions” that will help you order books for your course. As of Fall 2024, Rhonda is our Follet Course Material Market Manager (2209txt@follett.com)
    • Library Resources:   Library faculty can assist with information literacy instruction, coordinating streaming video access , and connecting you to the library's many services and resources . To place course materials on reserve, please email reserves@iwu.edu for more information.
  • Submitting Grades:
  • Technology and Learning Management System (LMS)
    • New full-time faculty work with their Chair and the Associate Provost to request permanent computer equipment.  See the Guidelines for Departmental Computer Purchases for options.
    • We are a Google campus, so all faculty and students have access to Google Suite using their IWU email account.
    • LMS: IWU uses Canvas as our official LMS. Student information will be automatically uploaded to the official LMS from Banner.
      • To access the official LMS: https://courses.iwu.edu  
      • For help with the LMS: email a detailed request to Information Technology Services at it@iwu.edu or call (309)556-3900
    • Instructional Design help: email Steph Guedet, Lead Instructional Designer, sguedet@iwu.edu
  • Innovation Resources: There are internal grants available to support curricular or instructional development. These are described in the Faculty Development Handbook on the Thorpe Center website (under “Faculty Development”). Please note that visiting and adjunct faculty are eligible to apply for Instructional Development Grants to innovate their pedagogy -- see the Thorpe Center's page for more details and application materials.

 

Helping Students Help Themselves

 

Where to get answers

 

Did you find what you were looking for on this page?  If not, please email a suggestion to thorpe@iwu.edu