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. |
2. Plan Your Teaching with Pre-Semester Support
The Center for Teaching Excellence and eLearning Services will offer 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
A Purposeful Syllabus: Strategies and Tools | Register
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Design a clear, effective syllabus using USC templates and resources to communicate
expectations and support student success.
Course Design and Student Readiness | Register
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Structure your course for a strong start by aligning learning outcomes, assessments,
and course flow.
Accessible and Universal Design: A Beginner’s Guide | Register
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Learn practical strategies to make course materials and activities more accessible
for all students using Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
Wednesday, August 12 (CTE)
First Day, First Week, and Student Engagement | Register
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Plan an engaging start to the semester with strategies for day one, early participation,
and connecting students to support services.
15-Minute Active Learning | Register
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Use simple, time-efficient strategies to increase student participation and interaction
during class.
Blackboard Learn Ultra Course View 101 | Register
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Learn the basics of Blackboard, including navigation, communication, content creation,
tools, and grading.
Blackboard Ultra Gradebook: A Deeper Look | Register
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Explore best practices and advanced tips for setting up and managing the Blackboard
Ultra Gradebook.
Take Your Blackboard Ultra Course from Drab to Fab: Add Some Pizzazz! | Register
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Learn how to organize and customize your Blackboard course to create a more engaging
and user-friendly experience.
Create, Connect, and Engage: Using Panopto & Zoom in Blackboard | Register
2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Discover how to use Panopto and Zoom within Blackboard to create, manage, and deliver
engaging video and live learning experiences.
Fix Your Content: Universal Design as an Empowerment Tool | Register
9:00 – 9:40 a.m.
Learn how to improve accessibility and apply universal design principles in your Blackboard
Ultra course.
Blackboard Learn Ultra Course View 101 | Register
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Learn the basics of Blackboard, including navigation, communication, content creation,
tools, and grading.
Increasing Student Engagement with iClicker Cloud | Register
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Learn how to use iClicker Cloud in Blackboard to increase student engagement through
polling, quizzing, and real-time feedback.
Name Dropping: Building Rapport Through the Science of Names | Register
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Apply research-based strategies for learning and using student names to build connection,
belonging, and engagement.
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
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.
How to Prepare
- Register for the event using the link above.
- Bring your questions.
- Be ready to connect and engage.
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