This month's adjunct update offers some important information about the transition to Brightspace, NORA, your contact information and dates to know.

Brightspace training

The FA highly recommends completing Brightspace training for the fall if you plan to teach online. Please note that all faculty must be properly certified to teach online for the fall semester; read the distance education updates article by Cynthia to learn more. Set yourself up for success and avoid stress by completing the training before building or revising your fall courses. We advise that you schedule a sufficient amount of time to learn Brightspace.

Brightspace training link

The college has provided faculty with a webpage to help you transition from Blackboard to Brightspace. The college also has provided links to some useful information on the SCCC Online Faculty page.

Reference links

• SUNY Digital Learning Environment
• D2L Brightspace Resource Library
• The Brightspace Learning Center 
• Building Community in Brightspace
• Accessibility and Navigation
  

Upcoming discussion links

• April 14, 2022: Brightspace Advanced Features and Third-Party Integrations
• May 5, 2022: Brightspace Update and Faculty/Student Training opportunities for the Summer
  

Recordings

• Overview of Transition to Brightspace and Professional Development Opportunities (held on February 17, 2022) Passcode: =+VDA0jK
• Demonstration of Brightspace Core Functionalities (held on March 17, 2022) Passcode: g2MW.WRv
  

NORA

Here's another reminder that your NORA is due this Friday, April 9. If you miss this deadline, you will drop to the bottom of the seniority list and will not receive an assignment until all other adjuncts receive the assignments they are eligible for based on seniority and NORA preferences. With enrollment continuing to plummet during the pandemic, you will likely not get an assignment if you miss the NORA deadline. After you submit your NORA form, print a copy of the confirmation for your records.

The FA continues to advise you to give as much availability as possible on the NORA to open more possibilities for assignments. Review last month’s update for more suggestions on filling out your NORA.

Contact information

Please update your contact information with the FA if you have changed your home address, email address and/or phone number since you started at the college. Without the correct contact information, the FA cannot send you the survey, election materials, The WORD or other important updates, and we may not be able to contact you. Send your updated contact information to Anita in the FA office. 

Important dates

• April 9 — adjunct NORA forms due
• May 2 — adjunct accept/decline open: summer and fall
• May 13 — adjunct accept/decline due: summer and fall

Feel free to contact me by email or phone (631-451-4151) if you have any questions or if I can further assist you.

Be well,

Kim