How to Use Faculty Connects
Faculty Connects is your central hub for accessing teaching resources, staying informed, and exploring professional development opportunities at Excelsior University. Whether you’re preparing for a course, looking for teaching strategies, or finding university tools, use the sections below to get started.
Find What You Need
Choose the area that best matches what you’re trying to accomplish. Each section highlights useful resources and where to find them.
Stay Informed
Stay connected with what’s happening across Excelsior University. The News and Events section brings together faculty announcements, university updates, and opportunities to engage with colleagues.
What You Can Do
- Read the latest news: Browse university announcements, faculty highlights, and updates relevant to teaching at Excelsior.
- Discover upcoming events: Find faculty workshops, webinars, professional learning sessions, and other university events.
- Find relevant topics: Use available search and category filters to narrow news and events by your interests.
- Plan ahead: Check the events calendar for opportunities to participate and connect with the university community.
Grow Professionally
Explore opportunities to strengthen your teaching practice, develop new skills, and grow professionally. The Professional Development section brings together learning opportunities and resources for faculty at every stage of their teaching journey.
What You Can Do
- Explore learning opportunities: Find professional development workshops, webinars, and recorded sessions focused on teaching effectiveness.
- Get started as a new instructor: Access onboarding resources, faculty guidance, and information about teaching at Excelsior.
- Advance your professional interests: Explore information about research, scholarship, funding opportunities, and faculty recognition.
- Help shape future offerings: Share suggestions for professional development topics or additional training opportunities.
Support Your Teaching
Find practical guidance to prepare your courses, engage students, and support student success. Teaching and Learning Resources provides strategies, instructional tools, and university services you can use throughout the term.
What You Can Do
- Prepare for your course: Use the Faculty Playbook and instructional checklists to review teaching expectations, prepare for the term, and establish an effective instructor presence.
- Strengthen student engagement: Explore strategies for facilitating discussions, providing meaningful feedback, and encouraging active participation.
- Teach inclusively: Find guidance on accessibility, accommodations, responsible AI use, and inclusive instructional practices.
- Connect students with support: Access links to tutoring, the library, academic writing assistance, accessibility services, career development, and additional student resources.
Find Essential Tools
Quickly access the university systems, policies, and services you use regularly. Faculty Connects provides convenient links to essential resources, helping you spend less time searching for information.
What You Can Do
- Access university systems: Use the Quick Links menu to find Canvas, Outlook, Brainier, Salesforce, Watermark, and other frequently used platforms.
- Find important dates: Access the Academic Calendar to review university schedules and key academic dates.
- Review university guidance: Find links to policies, procedures, and faculty-related information.
- Locate additional support: Use the website’s navigation and footer links to access Academic Affairs information and other university services.
Make Faculty Connects Part of Your Routine
Bookmark Faculty Connects and return regularly for new teaching resources, university announcements, and opportunities to connect with the Excelsior faculty community. Have an idea for a resource, workshop, or training topic? Use the feedback opportunities available throughout the site to share your suggestions.