The Part-time instructor corps in the Construction Management Department is a very important part of the instruction offered. It can be difficult to acquire and retain instructors for these highly specialized classes. A training regime and a new hire approach with expectations outlined have been instituted within the department to assure a higher rate of success for the classes. It has been very successful.
Continuity in instruction for the student body is the main goal behind making Canvas mandatory for instructors. College available tech such as CANVAS has become commonplace. All classes are populated to a higher level before the start of the quarter. Instructors are required to provide full outlines in Canvas prior to the quarter start and are supported in those efforts.
The retention of instructors has gone up as a result due to these efforts. Instructors have more required effort before they even step into the classroom. This is a known ‘buy in’ technique. The ‘buy in’ supports retention as a structure is fully in place and extends quarter to quarter. The instructor has the structure they have already built, and may work to improve that. This is the juxtaposition of rebuilding the class every quarter. It is easier to step right back in to a part-time instructor situation. In the case when an instructor has a class previously taught, there is a framework in place from the last teacher.
Students are happier with more support and structure in place even with a new instructor. Students now have more continuity in their classes. The ‘ramp up’ time for new instructors is minimized due to either having complete lesson plans in place prior or by having the previous instructor's lesson plans in place. This provides better instruction for the students with more continuity between classes as well due to the support and interaction received by the new instructor.