Academic Planning for Adjunct Faculty

Choosing a Textbook

If you need help choosing a textbook for your class, you may contact Paula Haines to discuss this matter, along with any other questions you have with regard to curriculum planning. If you already know which textbook you will use, you should contact the UMass Lowell Bookstore either by phone, e-mail, or through the online book-ordering system. The bookstore announces deadlines for ordering books prior to the semester in which you are teaching. If a faculty member orders their books too close to the start of the semester, the bookstore may not be able to guarantee that the books will be available in time for class.


Classroom Assignments

Your classroom will be assigned to you by the Registrar’s Office very close to the start of class. Please check your iSiS account and the Registrar’s Office web page frequently for more information.


Syllabus

A copy of your syllabus is due at the end of the 2nd week of classes. Students must also have copies at this time.


Office hours

Every faculty member is required to offer office hours for two hours each week. They must be held either before or after class. You should post your office hours on your syllabus and arrange to meet your students in your assigned department office or classroom.


Information Literacy Sessions

When teaching introductory composition courses such as College Writing I or College Writing II, it is required that you bring your students to an information literacy session at the library. Prior to the beginning of each semester, be on the look out for an email or phone call from a librarian from either Lydon (North Campus) or O’Leary Library (South Campus) to schedule your session. If you contact your librarian, you can customize your class visit to coincide with your teaching plan. If not, dates and times will be chosen for you. Currently, the contacts are Margaret Manion (Margaret_Manion@uml.edu) for North Campus and Rosanna Kowalski (Rosanna_Kowalski@uml.edu) for South Campus. Please refer to the Library Instruction Program for more information.


Cancellation of Classes

As a faculty member, you are expected to attend every class. However, if you are unable to attend the class due to unforeseen circumstances, you should call the English Department Office and leave a message. The staff assistant will post notification on the classroom door. You may also send an email out to the students through your iSiS account.

In the event of inclement weather, please check school closing information on the UMass Lowell website as well as on all local television and radio stations.


Student Evaluations

During the last week of classes, instructors are asked to have their students complete an anonymous written evaluation of the class and the instructor. Faculty should have a student drop these completed evaluations to the Department Office in a sealed envelope to be provided. They are available for review three years after the course is taught and if the instructor is still teaching at that time.


Class Rosters and Grading

At the time of hire, the Access Services form you received provides you with an email logon as well as an ISIS (Intercampus Student Information System) account logon. Go to iSiS to login for the first time.

As a faculty member, you will need to use iSiS to view/print class rosters, provide students with permission numbers, and enter grades. The availability of the web-based self-service gives faculty access to information from both on and off campus. Refer to the IT Training Information website for instructions on performing available functions.

Permission numbers are given to students by the instructor teaching the course on a case-by-case basis when a course is full.

Final exams must be given in the scheduled exam period, which is published on the Registrar’s Office website during the last few weeks of class. Grades are generally due within 48 hours after the final.