Teaching, Resources, and Support for Adjunct Faculty at USC

To help adjunct faculty prepare for the Fall semester, the Center for Teaching Excellence and campus partners offer orientation, teaching support sessions, and individualized assistance before classes begin. Whether you are new to USC or returning for another semester, these resources are designed to help you start the term with confidence.

1. Register for Adjunct Faculty Orientation

Date:        Monday, August 17, 2026
Time:       5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Format:  Virtual via Zoom

Adjunct Faculty Orientation introduces the key teaching resources, technologies, and support services available to adjunct instructors at USC.

Register for Adjunct Faculty Orientation

Adjunct Faculty Orientation Agenda

5:30 - 5:35 p.m.	Welcome and Opening Remarks
5:35 - 5:45 p.m.	Just-in-Time Teaching and Student Support Resources Overview of key academic and student support resources available to adjunct faculty and their students.
5:45 - 6:15 p.m.	Teaching Support and Instructional Design Services Overview of consultations, course design support, workshops, and teaching resources available through CTE.
6:15 - 6:55 p.m.	Academic Technologies at USC Introduction to Blackboard, Zoom, Panopto, and other instructional technologies supported by the Division of Information Technology and eLearning Services.
6:55 - 7:00 p.m.	Questions and Next Steps Resources, follow-up support, and opportunities for continued engagement.

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    2. Plan Your Teaching with Pre-Semester Support

The Center for Teaching Excellence and the Division of Information Technology are offering a series of live, virtual sessions during the week before classes begin to help adjunct faculty prepare courses, explore teaching technologies, and start the semester strong.

Teaching Week Sessions: Preparing Your Course for Day One and Beyond

Expand allAUG 10 — A Purposeful Syllabus: Strategies and Tools 

Monday, August 10, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. - Webinar
Design a clear, effective syllabus using USC templates and resources to communicate expectations and support student success. Register 

AUG 11 — Course Design and Student Readiness

Tuesday, August 11, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. - Webinar
Structure your course for a strong start by aligning learning outcomes, assessments, and course flow. Register

AUG 11 — Accessible and Universal Design: A Beginner’s Guide

Tuesday, August 11, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. - Webinar
Learn practical strategies to make course materials and activities more accessible for all students using Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Register

AUG 12 — First Day, First Week, and Student Engagement  

Wednesday, August 12, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. - Webinar
Plan an engaging start to the semester with strategies for day one, early participation, and connecting students to support services. Register

AUG 12 — 15-Minute Active Learning  

Wednesday, August 12, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. - Webinar
Use simple, time-efficient strategies to increase student participation and interaction during class. Register

AUG 13 — Blackboard Learn Ultra Course View 101  

Thursday, August 13, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. - Webinar
Learn the basics of Blackboard, including navigation, communication, content creation, tools, and grading. Register

AUG 13 — Blackboard Ultra Gradebook: A Deeper Look  

Thursday, August 13, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. - Webinar
Explore best practices and advanced tips for setting up and managing the Blackboard Ultra Gradebook. Register

AUG 13 — Take Your Blackboard Ultra Course from Drab to Fab: Add Some Pizzazz!  

Thursday, August 13, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. - Webinar
Learn how to organize and customize your Blackboard course to create a more engaging and user-friendly experience. Register

AUG 13 — Create, Connect, and Engage: Using Panopto & Zoom in Blackboard  

Thursday, August 13, 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. - Webinar
Discover how to use Panopto and Zoom within Blackboard to create, manage, and deliver engaging video and live learning experiences. Register

AUG 14 — Fix Your Content: Universal Design as an Empowerment Tool  

Friday, August 14, 9:00 – 9:40 a.m. - Webinar
Learn how to improve accessibility and apply universal design principles in your Blackboard Ultra course. Register

AUG 14 — Blackboard Learn Ultra Course View 101  

Friday, August 14, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. - Webinar
Learn the basics of Blackboard, including navigation, communication, content creation, tools, and grading. Register

AUG 14 — Increasing Student Engagement with iClicker Cloud  

Friday, August 14, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. - Webinar
Learn how to use iClicker Cloud in Blackboard to increase student engagement through polling, quizzing, and real-time feedback. Register

AUG 17 — Name Dropping: Building Rapport Through the Science of Names  

Monday, August 17, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. - Webinar
Apply research-based strategies for learning and using student names to build connection, belonging, and engagement. Register

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3. Get Individual Support as Needed

Our Center for Teaching Excellence instructional designers are available to support you before the semester begins whether you have questions about your syllabus, Blackboard, course design, or teaching strategies.

• Schedule a one-on-one consultation any time
• Explore syllabus templates and examples

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Questions?

If you have questions about Adjunct Faculty Orientation or teaching support at USC, please contact the Center for Teaching Excellence at: cte@mailbox.sc.edu.

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How to Prepare

• Register for the event using the link above.
• Bring your questions.
• Be ready to connect and engage.

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Explore the New Faculty Video Library

Get a head start with our curated New Faculty Video Library featuring:

• Teaching Tips
• Student Support Services
• Course Design Strategies