This page explains vital information concerning course information, signing your employment contract, emailing students, managing the first day of class, enrolling students in your class and communicating with your department.

Obtaining Information: Employment Contract, Course Content and Materials

• Your Division Office will provide your employment contract(s). It is imperative that you sign your contract prior to the first day of class.

• Your Discipline Chair or Division Office will provide course materials and reporting forms.Instructor materials may include:  textbook(s), accompanying CD, assessments, instructor’s manual, transparencies, class roster, campus map, information about parking, and emergency evacuation information. 

Making contact with your class: Sending an email before class starts

All students recieve an official college email account using Gmail. Learn more about student email accounts. E-mail students 1 week before class starts.  CPCC student email service provides automatic generation of class email lists. These lists are created from master registration lists, and are updated automatically. Student drop/adds and withdrawals are reflected in updates made to each list within 24 hours.

• Visit the IT website to obtain a class e-mail list.  

• Copy & paste class “address” into a new e-mail.
• Introduce yourself in the e-mail and welcome students to your class.
• Attach a digital copy of your syllabus. Encourage students to bring this the first day of class

If you have any questions contact IT Support at 704.330.5000.

Visiting your classroom before classes start
Visit your classroom before the first day. You will need to call or visit campus security and request to unlock the door. Check to ensure the room accommodates your teaching style and technology requirements. If you need to change rooms contact your department.  If you need AV equipment contact the campus library or visit the library website and then complete a request form.

Conducting a successful first day
This resource emphasizes that the beginning of a course can be stressful for both students and instructors. Being well prepared will reduce anxiety and make the first day of class productive and successful. That first day sets the tone for the rest of the semester, so you'll want to introduce the course, outline your expectations, and review the syllabus in detail. View the complete adjunct faculty series in the NC-NET Adjunct Faculty Tool Kit.

Managing the first day of class
The first class meeting (as all class meetings) should be conducted for the full scheduled time. You should introduce the course in terms of specific objectives of that course. The content and learning activities as well as means for evaluation should be outlined at this time. Introduce yourself and allow students to introduce themselves.  Here is a link to information on Classroom Etiquette.

Because of schedule conflicts or registration errors, a student may be absent the first class meeting; however, a student is responsible for the material missed and the absence should be treated as any other absence.

• Arrive about 20 minutes early, your classroom door maybe locked. Contact Security to unlock your door. It may take up to 30 minutes for security to arrive.
• Greet students with a smile!
• Take attendance – use a class roster provided by your division office or from Web Employee.  In order to access Web Employee you will need to have your log-in ID and password. Keep a record of the date when each student enters your class (E) and any absence (/). This information becomes important for the 10% roster.
• Tell them about yourself - briefly
• Conduct an Ice Breaker Activity and review Ideas for the First Day of Class
• Review your syllabus in detail
• Optional - If you are using Blackboard or Moodle to support documents or grading, demonstrate how student will access and use the information
• Discuss any additional departmental material or policies

Admiting student(s) that are not listed on your class roster
If you have a student who is not on your class roster and does not have a validated receipt, DO NOT allow the student to attend your class. Send the student to the division director's office or to registration for assistance. When the student returns, expect the student to show a validated receipt that the problem has been corrected and that the student is properly registered.

Schedule Adjustments and Enrolling students in your class after the first day

Click here to download the  Student Adjustment Form. 

 
Continuing to take attendance every day

Take attendance daily!  Attendance matters for State Reporting of FTEs.  The college is funded by the number of full-time equivalent students it has. Students must report to the class by the 10% date in order to be counted for FTE.

Communicating regularly with your department

• It’s important to communicate regularly with your Discipline Chair, Director, or Supervisor. Read your CPCC e-mail often during the week
• Read the information that comes to you from your Division Office and from the Office of Community Relations
• Talk to your immediate supervisor if you are unclear about anything that affects your students, your classes, or your teaching duties.

Central Piedmont Community College is a learning-centered college committed to student success. 

Research confirms that the later a student enters a class, the less chance he/she has of successfully completing the class. 

For this reason, the College restricts student registration during Schedule Adjustment.

During the first 2 days of Schedule Adjustment, students my drop/add at will, or register for classes that still have available seats.  On the 3^rd day of Schedule Adjustment, until the end of Schedule Adjustment, permission from the instructor is required for registration into the instructor’s class.  NO registrations are permitted after Schedule Adjustment ends.

In extenuating circumstances, permission may be granted.  However, the circumstances must be explained on this permission form along with the proper validating signatures.