Do I have to order from IUPUI Barnes & Noble? Can I use an e-text if I want? Who can tell me about Courseload, an IU e-text platform? Which person in my department is the best person to talk to about this?
These are all good questions, but the answers cannot be found in one place. So, let’s attempt to answer them one by one.
About using the campus bookstore, there is an expectation that you will place your order with Barnes & Noble first, but that is not to say that students will not find their texts on Ebay, Chegg, Amazon, or a host of others. The price is the driving force behind our students’ decisions, so keep that in mind as you make your decisions. For some of you, the decision has already been made for you by your course coordinator or department chair.
If you are thinking about an e-text, then you should think about using IU eTexts. Indiana University has a contract with a number of publishers directly so that you can order your e-text through them at a substantial reduction in price. The best part of IU eTexts is that when the student registers for class, a book fee is assessed and the book is available to them in Canvas on the first day of class. Check out the Courseload link for more information.
Unsure what your options are as a new faculty member? Faculty Enlight is the program you can use to submit your book orders for upcoming semesters.
The typical rule of thumb is to have one hour of time for office hours per 3 credit hour class. Saying that, some departments have their own guidelines, so be sure to check with your gateway coordinator or department chair.
If you know that you cannot make class and do not have someone stepping in for you, let your students know as soon as possible through Canvas. Let them know early in the day, if at all possible, because so many of our students drive an hour or more to get to campus. Arrange for students to make good use of their time by providing an alternate assignment via our learning management system. Also, make sure you contact your department so they can post a sign.
You can always find the most up-to-date information on campus closings on the Protect IU website, but before you will even think to look it up, your phone should notify you of a text or email message. If you have signed up for IU Notify, the university will let you know about closings as soon as they are announced. Remember that even if classes are canceled, students have the capability of continuing their work through Canvas. So be sure that you let them know beforehand what is expected of them if the campus is closed. Virtually, we are still in session!