This is your sign! Prepping for the academic year

Can you believe it, we're so close to the beginning of the academic year and fall semester of 2024?! The summer has flown by, hopefully, we all were able to take a moment to breathe before preparing for the new year. Whether you are an undergraduate, graduate, pursuing a professional degree, or everything in between, we will provide you with some tips, tricks, and suggestions to have a successful academic year. So let's get into it!

Academic Year Prep

For those new to the adjunct position, many colleges and universities will have an "all college" and "faculty prep" day or week. This is a great opportunity to meet and interact with your peers, colleagues, and leadership of the whole academic institution and its different departments. Additionally, this is a great way to learn about the year's academic institution goals, new learning objectives, innovations, and technology to utilize in the classroom.

Course Materials

As we begin the new academic year, make sure you have the necessary materials for your courses and as an instructor. Materials would include any of the following:

• Required course text

• Course Syllabus

• Supplemental Material(s) Access

• Planner

• Lesson Plan

• Post-It Tabs

• Post-It Stickies

• Highlighters

• Different Colored Ink Pens

• Binder(s)

• Binder Tabs

If you're anyone similar to me, I need to be as organized as possible. I have two planners, one for the professor/scholar-practitioner life and the other for my personal life. I, also, have to color-code everything due to the different roles I have in my career and personal life. The planners I use provide an hourly breakdown of each day for me to put any appointments, meetings, assigned courses, and more so I'm able to get a view of where my time is going for the day and week. Also, I have a lesson plan book to provide additional support in keeping me on track for the multiple courses I teach. Within my lesson plan book is a section for attendance, and with how my attendance policy is structured, this section helps me keep track of excused and unexcused absences.

Getting Familiar with the Institution

This applies if you are a vet or are new to the institution. If you have been with the institution for some time, it wouldn't hurt to refresh your memory on the many policies and procedures of your department and institution. This includes everything from academic and Title IX complaints to accommodations to knowing where and who to go to for printing multiple copies on campus. This will help for a smooth semester or quarter for you in so many ways! I encourage you to participate in department and institution-wide training, including professional development and providing an equitable and inclusive academic space for all.

Enjoy the Ride and Have Fun!

I cannot stress this enough, although there may be challenges, but it will be a fun ride as you get to know and learn your students personalities, understanding what works for them, and more. Such as finding a way to make exam prep/review engaging, fun, and knowledge. For example, I use Kahoot! and play Jeopardy to bring out the competitive side of my students.

Stay up to date on communication presented from the institution and your department, be transparent and provide clear communication with your students, supporting faculty and staff.

Here's to a safe and amazing academic year!