Get Prepared
Get Prepared
Before you arrive
- Guide Home
- Get Prepared
- Get Started
- Get Growing
Getting Set Up
Prior to obtaining your log in information and webmail access
For guidance related to student attendance, class cancellations, academic integrity and other important academic issues, review the Student Records, Rights, and Responsibilities Practices on the Niagara College Policy website and/or refer to your Divisional specific policies. In the case where masking or other regulations may be in place, please check for pandemic responses and updates.
Reach out to the Administrative Assistant of your Associate Dean to ensure you have a contact list of key departmental contacts (please see the list of key questions for your school/program for suggestions of questions to keep in mind).
This 10.5 hour program provides new non-full-time faculty with essential knowledge, tools and techniques for teaching at Niagara College. To learn more, please visit the Centre for Academic Excellence website.
Review NC security and emergency procedures and download the Niagara College Mobile Safety App on the Campus Safety website. It is also recommended to opt-in to the NC Alert to receive notifications of safety events on campus at Urgent Notification System. In addition, review the emergency guidelines and download the NC Mobile Safety App in case of emergencies.
Niagara Colleges uses the HONK mobile system for parking. Parking can be paid daily, weekly, or monthly. For more information, including parking restrictions and permit purchasing instructions, please visit the Parking Services website.
Throughout each year there are key dates for students, faculty, and staff. When reviewing key dates, be sure to select the correct semester (Spring, Fall, Winter) from the choices listed. To review key dates, please visit Enrolment Services. This is also a good place to become familiar with the 7-1-7 semester schedule and its implications for course delivery.
Niagara College offers a suite of programs and resources to support students academically and socially. Being familiar with these offerings will help you to direct students to the most appropriate supports. To find information on services that support NC students, please visit the Student Life website.
Niagara College offers a variety of supports for students with disabilities. Students in your classes may have a letter of accommodation (LOA) from Health, Wellness, and Accessibility Services stating the academic accommodations that they require to work at their full academic potential. For more information on accommodations, read the accommodation policy available on the Policies webpage and visit the Accessibility Services website.
Once able to obtain log in and webmail access
Log on to NC Brightspace. Also, to access your NC email account off campus you can use the web client here. If you are unable to access these resources or are accessing them for the first time, please visit the Information Technology Services website for instructions on how to obtain or reset your Niagara College credentials. (Note: If you do not have access a week before you start teaching, please check in with your program contact person).
To access protected Niagara College information, a MFA combines your password with your off-campus device. To set up the MFA, please follow these instructions.
An NC photo identification card is required to use several services at Niagara College, such as reserving material from the library or printing and photocopying materials. For more information on how to obtain your NC ID, please visit the Niagara College website.
This app (Android Users or Apple Users) will allow you access to information with class schedules, transit schedules, wayfinding on campus, lab access, coffee lines, and much more.
Niagara College stores key information in 3 network drives. These drives (G, N, and I) can be accessed both on- and off- campus. To access these drives off campus it will be necessary to install the VPN. For this and for instructions, please visit ITS Working Off Campus. You may also contact the ITS Service Desk at 905-735-2211 extension 7642.
Preparing to Teach your Course and Support your Students
To access the up-to-date course outline(s) for your assigned course(s), log on to your My NC Portal and select ‘Retrieve a Course Outline’ from the My Apps tab.
As a non-full-time faculty member you may receive a prepared Teaching and Learning Plan. Alternatively, you may be asked to update an existing TLP or create your own. For important information on TLPs, please visit the Centre for Academic Excellence website.
Visit the Centre for Academic Excellence’s Program and Course Change website to learn more about making change to your courses, including types of changes and the deadlines associated with each change.
Review your course outline(s) for required textbooks. If you would like to consider an open textbook or open education resources (OER) for your course, please contact the Library and Learning Commons for help. Each department may have a unique system for distributing textbooks; please refer to our key questions for guidance. It is suggested that you bring the textbook to your first class.
Contact your administrative assistant for a copy of your timetable. Take time to understand the key dates on top (ensure you are selecting the right half of the term) and whether your course is online (either asynchronous or synchronous), on campus, or a hybrid.
Use the online campus maps to help you locate classroom(s) and other important campus facilities. Once you arrive on campus, you can use the wayfinding function in your NC Mobile App to assist you in your navigation of the campus.
Site will be automatically generated. Whether teaching online or on campus, the Course Site is a convenient and secure location to post course materials, send announcements, and disseminate grades and feedback to students. Many faculty also use their Course Site to post assessments, provide links to useful resources, or facilitate online discussion. Note: If you can log into Brightspace but cannot see your course(s), please reach out to your department/school administrative assistant for help.
Alongside Brightspace, the Microsoft 365 suite offers additional technology tools and apps that support group collaboration (MS Teams), document storing and sharing (MS OneDrive), and accessible video (MS Stream). For detailed descriptions of the Microsoft 365 suite, including installation guides and FAQs, please visit this ITS webpage.
Training and support for Brightspace is available as you learn to navigate the system. For questions related to technology-enabled learning or the educational uses of specific technology tools, please feel free to contact the CAE by email ([email protected]) or visit our Bookings webpage to book an individual consultation.
NC classrooms are equipped with a variety of technologies to support instruction, such as a podium computer, projector, and document camera. Please browse the Information Technology Services website for guidance on tools and details for some rooms.