Instructors

The Global Campus Instructor Experience

University of Illinois instructors play a vital role in the development and success of our students. Our instructors are committed to helping students achieve their academic goals by facilitating a challenging curriculum while respecting the individual and group needs of their students. To accomplish these goals, our instructors believe wholeheartedly in accelerated and adult learning theories and are committed to providing quality instruction in a highly interactive environment.

In addition, our instructors enjoy the benefits of a flexible work schedule, a caring support network of peers and support staff, competitive compensation, and the prestige of the University of Illinois name attached to their growing credentials. This elite group is also provided with ongoing educational opportunities specific to online pedagogy, instructional technology, adult learning, and more.

To apply for instructor positions, see our Available Instructor Positions.

Instructor Support and Services

The University of Illinois Global Campus online instructors include faculty from the University's residential campuses, as well as highly qualified teaching professionals hired to teach part-time. Instructors have a variety of services available to them on each campus. Those services are specific to each program and its host campus.

Global Campus Instructor Certification

All Global Campus instructors are required to participate in and "pass" the Global Campus Instructor Certification Course. This four-week, instructor-led course introduces instructors to Global Campus pedagogical philosophies regarding online education and provides hands-on opportunities for the instructors to familiarize themselves to Desire2Learn. Throughout the course, instructors are required to participate in online discussions and adequately complete assignments before being offered a teaching assignment.

Policies and Instructor Services

The Global Campus instructors have access to our Portal (Global Campus Connect), which provides access to documents, such as the Global Campus Instructor Handbook, and other relevant policies and procedures. Other resources available to Global Campus Instructors include technology tutorials, mentors during first-term assignments, pedagogical consultation, and technical support.

Flexible Schedules and Office Hours

Online instructors are granted a great deal of flexibility in their working hours and teaching schedule. However, Global Campus instructors are required to put in the needed amount of time to teach, communicate with and respond to students, assess student work, and provide quality feedback as outlined by the instructor responsibilities section of the Instructor Handbook. Global Campus instructors are required to set, advertise, and maintain a specific number of virtual office hours based on the number of courses assigned.

Instructors will use a variety of technologies for their office hours, including telephone, e-mail, and web-conferencing technology such as Elluminate or Skype. Global Campus instructors are required to post the dates and times that they are available to check e-mail and respond to student inquiries. Therefore, instructors are also required to list days and times of the week that they will be away from their computers.

Evaluations and Assessment

To ensure that quality standards are met and students are provided with the highest quality of education, instructors will be evaluated in a variety of ways. Global Campus instructor evaluations will include input from Instructor Services staff, students, and instructor self-reflection and evaluation surveys. Instructors are also asked to evaluate the assigned course activities, mentor interactions, and support services. Our goal is to continuously improve both the instructor support and student learning environments.