FAQ’ s for FOCUS Instructors

How do I become a FOCUS instructor?

Submit your resume with a cover letter to Maria Malayter, Assistant Dean CAS listing the courses you feel are appropriate for you, National-Louis University, 122 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603-6162. The pertinent department chair will review your resume and you will be contacted.

What are the best tips for being an adjunct instructor with adult returning students?

It is good to remember that adult students are different than traditional aged college students. We recommend reviewing the article “Thirty Things We Know for Sure About Adult Learning” To find the article cut and paste the title in google.com.

How do I access my class list?

A class list can be accessed through the Internet in our Banner access program. Instructions are located here. At the beginning of each class there are always a few students who show up with no evidence of being enrolled. Whose responsibility is it to get the most up-to-date class list?

Sometimes it seems that students are unable to do the required work due to language difficulties or poor academic skills. Does NLU use some type of assessment tool to check the student’s ability prior to them registering for a class and having an unsuccessful experience?

The Department of Applied Language (Ext. 3530) assesses students’ English competencies. The Center for Academic Development (E2356, C3374, W4554, H5509) assesses students’ academic skills. Both services are free and will provide the student the right resources to be successful at NLU.

Does NLU have a cut-off to the number of students allowed to enroll in a class?

On line courses are limited to 15 students. Live courses are limited to 25 students.

How do I input grades?

At this time on-line submission is only allowed at the end of a standard 10 week course, from the last week of the course and approximately two weeks after the end of that course. Off-line submission is necessary for all non-standard term courses, which includes all FOCUS courses. Please see the Web Grading Instructions for a complete account of how to submit Off-line in the section entitled Submitting Course Grades Off-line.

Do I have to keep attendance sheets?

You must take and keep attendance records for your class. After the class is complete, you should retain attendance sheets for four years. Questions about attendance do arise.

How do I find out where my FOCUS classroom is?

Ask facilities office at each campus or consult the course schedule on the FOCUS page at http://www.nl.edu/focus

If I have questions about the curriculum, who do I contact?

The appropriate CAS department chair: English, Social Science, Psychology, Math, Adult Continuing Literacy, Library or Assessment Center

How do I get a contract?

Contracts will be mailed when sufficient student enrollment has been confirmed.

How do I get textbooks?

Your department chair will need to notify Instructional Services to send you the course materials.

What happens if a student misses the first class?

The student must contact you for permission to continue or drop the course. If a student you haven’t seen or heard from appears for the second class meeting, it is up to you to decide whether the student will be allowed to continue in the course.

What happens if an unregistered student appears at the first class?

They should not be allowed to attend. They must be told to register immediately.

How will students contact me? Does NLU provide me with voice mail and email?

Voice mail through NLU is not available at this time, however every adjunct instructor does have an email account. How your students contact you is up to you, but they MUST be able to contact you, so plan on providing a phone number with an answering machine on it or an email address that you regularly check.

Will adjunct training take place annually?

Yes, it will most likely coincide with the CAS adjunct faculty development session.

Can we be privy to the feedback from students in their evaluation of me?

The results of the evaluations go to the department chairs and you may contact the department chairs for your course evaluation results.

What grades are given in FOCUS courses?

The grades used are A, B, C, D, U, and I, where U is unsatisfactory.

My class is over, I have submitted my grades, I’ve been paid. Am I done?

Not if you have given any grades of I - incomplete. Many of these students will want to complete the course and get a grade. You will have to be available to help them and to issue the final grade.

How long do students have to finish Incompletes?

Any student who gets an “I,” must complete a list of the work which you provide, by an agreed upon date within four months of the end of the course. The student must sign an In Progress Contract and fax to the Registrar"s Office at 847-465-4746.

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