Integrated Homeland Security Management (M.S.)

Faculty FAQ

1. How do I become a faculty member in the IHSM program?
2. When do classes begin and how long does a course last?
3. What courses will be offered next semester?
4. When and How do I order textbooks for my class ?
5. What library services are available for faculty?
6. What technology services are available to faculty?
7. How do I see my class roster before the semester starts?
8. I am not able to login to PeopleSoft or Blackboard. How do I activate my account? (also resetting password, forwarding email)
9. When are grades due and how do I turn in grades?
10. How do I learn more about the BlackBoard system, how to navigate around and other functionality afforded by BlackBoard?
11. I am teaching for the first time at Towson in the IHSM program. How do I set up a Blackboard site for my course?
12. Will students be evaluating the course I teach? How is that done?
13. What are some of the important dates that I should be aware of?
14. Any other help available ?

1. How do I become a faculty member in the IHSM program?

   Answer: Faculty for the program are selected based on their credentials and based on the need within the program for specific courses. A first step for any faculty wishing to teach in the program would be to review the program requirements carefully. The program structure and the courses for the Masters in IHSM degree provides all the needed information. If the potential faculty member feels that there is a fit between their credentials and the program, they should forward their resume and memo of interest to the Program Director.

2. When do classes begin and how long does a course last?

   Answer: Classes for the IHSM program follow the same semester schedule as the rest of the face to face classes at Towson University. The salient dates for each semester are available in the academic calendar. The first day of classes and other important academic dates are listed at http://inside.towson.edu/intranet/main.cfm. Click on Academic Calendar. To see the planned schedule of courses for the IHSM program, please refer to the tenative annual course schedule

3. What courses will be offered next semester?

   Answer: The current term’s course listings and class schedules are found at http://inside.towson.edu/intranet/main.cfm. Click on "Courses and Catalogs" and then "Class Schedules". The "View Class Schedules (no login required) will allow you to search for IHSM courses.

   A planned schedule of IHSM course offerings can also be found at tenative annual course schedule.


4. When and How do I order textbooks for my class ?

   Answer: Faculty teaching in a particular semester need to get the textbook information to the Program Director sufficiently beforehand so that the books can be ordered with the University Bookstore.

   Course Semester	Textbook Deadline
   Fall semester	mid-April
   Spring semester	mid-November
   Summer semester	mid-March

5. What library services are available for faculty?

   Answer: The Albert S. Cook Library, located near the center of campus, serves as the hub of print, media and electronic information resources for the university. To use the facility, bring your OneCard (faculty identification card) to the library and register with the circulation desk on the third floor. They will provide you with a number, which will allow you to check out books and access the online catalog and other databases. The number can also be obtained online. Copies can be made in the library by using a copy card. Albert S. Cook Library also offers specific services for faculty teaching in online programs.

6. What technology services are available to faculty?

   Answer: The Office of Technology Services (OTS), located on the first floor of Cook Library, provides computer lab services to faculty as well as software, virus support, and various training opportunities. The OTS also provides faculty with an e-mail account at the time of hiring. This account includes Internet resources, storage space on the server and Web page space. For more information, contact the OTS Help Center at 410-704-5151, or e-mail helpcenter@towson.edu, or visit the OTS Web site at http://www.towson.edu/ots.

7. How do I see my class roster before the semester starts?

   Answer: All class related information including class rosters, grades etc. are available in TU Online Services (PeopleSoft). You will need your TowsonU username and password to access your PeopleSoft account. You can go to http://inside.towson.edu/intranet/main.cfm. On the right hand side of this page you will see a login for "TU Online Services". You can either click on that link or go directly to TU PeopleSoft through this link. Once you are logged in, class rosters are available through the following sequence of menus:

   Home > SA Self Service > Learning Management > Management > View My Class Roster (Towson) You can login in at any time prior to or during the semester. You will always be able to see the latest class roster. This way you can be uptodate on who's still in your class and also check to see if anybody has withdrawn etc.


8. I am not able to login to PeopleSoft or Blackboard. (Or) How do I activate my account? (Or) I have forgotten my password, how do I reset it? (Or) I normally don't use my Towson email account, how do I forward it to my primary email address?

   Answer: Go to TU PeopleSoft. On the left hand side you will see a variety of links including those for activating your TowsonU account. You will need information such as your TU ID, your SS#, and your birthdate to activate your account. Once your TowsonU account is activated you should be able to log into PeopleSoft as well as Blackboard. You can also reset an expired password or a forgotten password. You can also forward email sent to your Towson email account to your other primary email address.

9. When are grades due and how do I turn in grades?

   Answer: Grades are due within 48 hours of the last day of exams. Grades can be turned in online through your PeopleSoft account. Go to TU PeopleSoft. Once you are logged in, grade sheets are available through the following sequence of menus:

   Home > SA Self Service > Learning Management > Management > Record Grades


10. How do I learn more about the BlackBoard system, how to navigate around and other functionality afforded by BlackBoard?

    Answer: Towson University provides a variety of tutorials to help you get started in Blackboard. More online learning resources are available at http://www.towson.edu/facultyonline/tutorials.asp.

11. I am teaching for the first time at Towson in the IHSM program. How do I set up a Blackboard site for my course?

    Answer: Towson University's Center for Instructional Advancement and Technology (CIAT) handles all aspects related to Blackboard. All faculty aspects related to Blackboard are available at Faculty Online. Once there you can request a course site, archive an existing course for future use, change the section number or course description etc. etc.

12. Will students be evaluating the course I teach? How is that done?

    Answer: All IHSM courses are required to be evaluated by students. Close to end of the semester, the Office of Assessment at Towson University will send an email to all students registered in your course informing them that they need to evaluate the course. You will also receive an email informing you that the Office of Assessment is conducting Student Course Evaluations (SCE) for your course. Students normally have a window of ten days within which to complete their evaluations. You are also encouraged to remind students to complete their evaluations. The Office of Assessment uses the "StudentVoice" software to collect the assessments. Students are allowed to complete only one evaluation for each course that they are enrolled in.

    All student responses will be summarized by the Office of Assessment and reported to you and to the Program Director after the semester is over, and the grades are posted.

    More information about assessment at Towson University can be found at http://pages.towson.edu/assessment/.

13. What are some of the important dates that I should be aware of?

    Answer:

    No.	Action	Date
    1.	Sending textbook information to the Program Director	Check Question 4 above
    2.	Activating your course Blackboard site and making it available for enrollment by students	One week before the first day of classes
    3.	Student Course Evaluations (SCE) are conducted by TU Office of Assessment	Last two to three weeks of the semester
    4.	Turning in Grades	Within 48 hours of the last day of examinations.
    5.	Archiving your BlackBoard course site for future usage	Within a week or two after the end of the semester

14. Any other help?

    Answer: Most of what faculty need is provided in the faculty intranet available at http://inside.towson.edu/intranet/main.cfm. There are myriad links there to accomplish most anything that you would need to do in your job.

If you have additional questions, e-mail the Program Director, or call him at 410-704-3968.

College of Graduate Studies and Research
7800 York Road, Suite 216

Phone: 410-704-2501
Fax: 410-704-4675
E-mail: grads@towson.edu