1. How to Succeed in Your First Semester at ATU
Hit the Ground Running
How to Succeed in Your First Semester at ATU

2. Get your syllabi ready Post to Blackboard
Don’t forget to include: contact info, office hours (required to have 1.5 hours per 3 hour in person class with times posted on your door)
Disability & Sexual harassment statements (strongly encouraged)

3. Learn Blackboard Basics
Students will expect Blackboard content
Gradebook: students will check gradebook, update regularly
Even if you have used Bb before, consider getting some training
Campus Support Open 24 hours (can always help you with Blackboard)

4. OneTech Learn to navigate it (not intuitive)
This is where you enter attendance accounting, grades, register advisees, and find your class lists and schedule
Read the Announcements
Use “Term Selection” when you get lost or stuck/it takes you back to the top

5. Attendance You have to keep attendance (really)
Attendance accounting for federal purposes
Every “F” grade requires a last attended date

6. Grades Only ABCDF, no +s or –s
Midterm grades due for all students under 60 credits
Grades due immediately after finals end

7. Portfolio
Due every year (based on the calendar year, not the academic year)
3 areas: Teaching, Research, Service
Keep Everything! (use a box or folder, keep a list)
Look at the portfolios of those ahead of you
Larger portfolios at 3rd year review and tenure

8. Students Probably do not know how college works
Will need encouragement to do more than the minimum
Will need encouragement to seek you out in office hours
Will need you to connect them to resources on campus/will not be aware of what is available to them

9. You’re Here at an Exciting Time
Changing Culture at Tech
New Strategic Plan
Move to Shared Governance
Research Support (especially for research that includes undergrads)
New Ideas are Everywhere; You Can Make Things Happen

10. Legal Information FERPA Freedom of Information (FOI)
Mandatory Reporters

11. Questions? Ask questions of people in your department
Find colleagues a year or two ahead of you who can advise you

12. Good Resources to Know About
Student Wellness and Counseling (free and confidential—you are not confidential)
Disability Services (test anxiety help, mental and physical disabilities, short or long term)
Dean of Students (for crisis situations, hospitalizations, etc.)
When you don’t know how to help, talk to your department head or call someone—Jerry Cares