New Faculty Toolkit

Course Resources

In addition to hosting professional development events and programs, The Center for Faculty Development updates the USM syllabus template and shares numerous teaching and course design best practices. Click here for more information about required and recommended syllabus components, as well as course design information for face-to-face and online modalities.

Canvas

Canvas is the LMS system used by USM. The university requires that you at least keep a current syllabus and active grade book in Canvas as a minimum expectation per course. However, we know that using Canvas as an organizational tool and “hub” for courses can contribute to student success. To get started with Canvas, click here. For more information guides for Canvas or other systems that we use at USM, please visit the Office of Online Learning.  

If you need assistance setting up your course in Canvas, email susan.raybornFREEMississippi or kallie.cromwellFREEMississippi or set-up a meeting with our instructional designers, Susan Rayborn and Kallie Cromwell.

First Day of Class

Planning the first day of class can be intimidating, even for experienced teachers. James Lang, professor and author of several books on teaching, encourages instructors to make the most of the first day of class to shape first impressions of you and the course. In his article, How to Teach a Good First Day of Class, Lang provides four key principles for helping plan a great first day of class.

Principle 1: Curiosity- Spark students’ curiosity in the content of your course and how it matters to them inside and outside your classroom

Principle 2: Community- Create a sense of community in the classroom by humanizing yourself, getting them to talk to each other, and greeting and starting to learn student names.

Principle 3: Learning- Jump start getting students to learn without getting too deep into the content just yet. This can be done using several strategies such as completing a related task or challenge they don’t have the skills to complete yet to preview what skills and knowledge will be developed in the course. Alternatively, you can facilitate students to think about the course from a metacognitive perspective by discussing how do they have learned best in previous courses, what strategies have helped or not, and what strategies they can apply to your course.

Principle 4: Expectations- Students do need to know the practical issues of your course such as needed materials, expected prior knowledge or coursework as well as the key policies, assessments, and deadlines.

To learn more about applying these principles on the first day and examples of these in practice, check out Lang’s article. 

Provost's Office

Did you know that we have a faculty handbook? The Office of the  Provost’s website houses all official documents, such as promotion and tenure requirements, including school documents, the faculty handbook, the faculty ombud, and other important information. You may not be ready to do extensive reading about these yet, but we encourage you to bookmark this link and come back to it when you are ready. 

SOAR

Another system we use at USM is SOAR. On Southern’s Online Accessible Records (SOAR) you can view your course roster, see student information, enter grades, search for other courses, and view student advising information. SOAR is also where enrollment and advising occur and where all official forms for students and faculty are stored, such as the graduation applications and graduate committee forms.

HR information, such pay stubs, tax information, and monthly time entry are entered in SOARHR. Financial information for budgets and purchasing is in SOARFIN. You probably won’t need SOARFIN or SOARHR right away, but you will need to be familiar with SOAR.

Human Resources

You may be familiar with the Human Resources website already, but here is a link in case you need it. HR can help with any questions you may have about benefits, payroll, and wellness and safety policies.

Parking and Transit 

If you need a parking permit, or to plan where you might be able to park, visit Parking and Transit Services. This is the website for registering your vehicle, paying fines (let’s hope that never applies to you), and viewing campus maps. 

Did you know that USM has its own police department? Visit the University Police Department website to learn more about the services they provide.

Research Support

For those of you who want or are expected to participate in research, scholarship, and/or creative endeavors, we have compiled some support information here. We realize you may not be ready to file an IRB or grant application right away, but when you’re ready, please know we are here to help.

iTech

When you have computer or connectivity issues, iTech is who you need to contact. You may already be familiar with this website through setting up your EmplID (w#) and email address, but they also can help with other technology needs that you may have.

Dining

Hattiesburg and Gulf Park campuses are both surrounded by great shops and eateries. However, sometimes it’s easier to grab a bite on campus. Here is a link to all of the on-campus options. Faculty and staff are welcome to purchase meal plans, but you are not required to.