Prepare for Your First Semester

Before Classes Begin
Get your IDs and passwords, learn the intricacies of the classroom space, prepare a syllabus that is aligned with course learning objectives, check your textbook orders, request and populate your course site.

• Get your FSUID
  The FSUID is the official identity used to log into the OMNI Financials system and Blackboard. Follow the instructions at the activation site to obtain your FSUID and set the password. Your FSU email account will be generated automatically during the procedure. After activation, check to make sure you can log in to Blackboard using your new username and password. Contact FSU Information Technology Services personnel with questions.
  
  
• Get your FSUCard
  The FSUCard is the official identification card for the Florida State University.
  
  
  • If you live in Leon County, you may obtain your FSUCard at the FSUCard Center located in Parking Garage #1 at the corner of West Call Street and Woodward Avenue between the FSU Bookstore and SunTrust Bank. The FSUCard Center is open 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Bring required departmental documentation along with photo identification (valid driver's license, military ID, or current passport) when visiting the FSUCard Center for your first time card. Contact Card Center personnel with questions.
    
    
  • Adjunct or online instructors living outside of Bay, Leon, Gadsden, and Wakulla counties should complete the online FSUCard Application. Clicking this link will open a new window where you will be prompted to login to Blackboard by using your FSUID and password. Obtain your FSUCard by following the instructions: After submitting the FSUCard Application, you will receive an email within several hours that lists your FSUCard and library patron numbers. You will need these numbers to access the State University Systems Libraries. The card will be mailed to you within 5-7 business days. The FSUCard center can be reached by calling (850) 644-7777.
    
    
• Review the New Employee Checklist available from FSU Human Resources
  The site has information on employee benefits and resources. Faculty starting at FSU in the fall should plan to attend New Faculty Orientation sponsored by the Dean of Faculties office. Faculty hired at other times during the year are encouraged to participate in New Employee Orientation sponsored by Human Resources. This training is available online.
  
  
• Request a Blackboard course site
  Blackboard is the main software used to set up Web-supported and online classes at FSU. Ninety-three percent of the courses at FSU are supported by a Bb course site. Both faculty and students find Bb sites an easy and convenient way to share course materials, communicate through announcements and e-mails, and track learning progress. Using a Blackboard course website, instructors can deliver content and coordinate online activities.
  
  
• Visit the Blackboard Support tab for quick tutorials or call John Braswell for a consultation at (850) 644-8004.
  
  
• Visit your classroom
  Visit your classroom before the first day of class to get familiar with the environment and technology. Are you using a Technology Enhanced Classroom (TEC)? If so, visit their web site to set up your computer account and get training on the specific technology in your room. TECs allow you to use computer consoles, DVD/VHS players, personal response systems, wireless microphones, and other technologies to enhance your teaching. You'll be able to display your teaching files (PowerPoint, sound files, images), and Blackboard or other websites on an LCD projector. You need only create (or renew) your TEC account and reserve one of the 104 TECs available across campus to use this resource. If you ever need immediate attention during class, call 644-2811 to report a problem or, after you have logged in, click the exclamation mark icon on the classroom computer desktop. Practice with this technology prior to your first class meeting and be sure to arrive early enough to get the equipment up and running before class starts. Contact Classroom Support personnel with questions.
  
  
• Check orders for Textbooks
  At least 30 days before the semester begins, inform the Office Manager (or designee) in your department of your textbook selections. This person will compile all requests for all courses and forward them to the FSU Bookstore. Note that the 2008 Florida Statutes mandate that required textbooks on the course website not less than 30 days prior to the first day of class. This must include the title, all authors listed, publishers, edition number, copyright date, published date, and other relevant information necessary to identify the specific textbook or textbooks required for each course.
  
  
• Lay out a course plan
  Your first semester will go much smoother if you have laid out a plan for your course.  This useful worksheet (124 Kb Word doc) can be used to outline your course starting with objectives for each unit. Add what students will do both in and out of class and end with how student learning will be assessed. Chapter 1 ( 172 Kb) of Instruction at FSU provides an overview of the course design process.
  

• Prepare the syllabus
  See our syllabus checklist ( 180 Kb) to make sure you have covered all the necessary elements and to get the current approved statements for the academic honor policy, disability resources, and the syllabus change notice. We've also developed a syllabus template that can be downloaded and customized for your course. Download the Word version ( 32Kb).
  
  
• Prepare a grading statement, course goals and objectives
  FSU requires that each instructor provide an evaluation (grading) statement that will be used to determine grades in each course along with a statement of the goals and objectives of the course. We strongly encourage that you include your evaluation (grading) statement in the syllabus. An explicit written statement included in the syllabus is the best way to provide students a clear understanding of course expectations and provides the best evidence that such an explanation was provided in case a grade is challenged. More on Writing Learning Outcomes
  
  
• Review the Faculty Handbook
  Become familiar with faculty governance, human resources, faculty development, policies, procedures, and student/faculty interactions. Contact Dean of Faculties staff with questions.
  
  
• Read Instruction at FSU
  Learn strategies used by experienced instructors, instructional methods and techniques that follow the four components of Instructional Design: Course Planning, Lesson Delivery, Student Testing and Grading, and Course Revision and Evaluation. Bookmark for reading online.