Part-time faculty resources

We are dedicated to supporting our part-time instructors with the tools, resources, and information necessary to excel in their teaching roles. Whether you're new to our institution or a seasoned educator, this platform is designed to provide you with easy access to our onboarding guide, essential resources, and professional development opportunities. Any questions about the information on this page should be forwarded to the Provost's Office of Faculty Affairs and Development.

Onboarding Guide

The Provost’s Office of Faculty Affairs and Development created this onboarding guide for all part-time faculty at WSU. Please take a moment to review the resources available to you across campus. If you have any questions or recommendations, please contact our office.

Getting started at Wayne State University

If you are teaching in a general purpose classroom, you can search for available technology by building.  You may also call the Library Computing Helpdesk at 313-577-1154 or email them at csthelp@wayne.edu. 

Getting started with Canvas

Please refer to the Canvas instructor guide, which includes detailed documentation on every tool in Canvas. You can also access the Canvas guides by clicking "Help" in the global navigation bar in Canvas.

You can now combine (now known as cross-list) your own courses at any time. Please follow these instructions. If you encounter any issues, please contact lmsadmin@wayne.edu.

The Office for Teaching & Learning has integrated a plagiarism detection tool called "Unicheck". There are step-by-step instructions to use Unicheck.

Office for Teaching & Learning (OTL)

The OTL is here to support all members of the WSU teaching and learning community. To help you get started, they offer one-on-one consultations tailored to meet your needs. Be it course design, syllabus construction, engaging students online, teaching strategies, or using instructional technologies, their team of experienced faculty development consultants offers practical insight and information that will benefit your students' learning experiences.

We invite you to take advantage of the OTL consultations. They are available to meet via phone or web conference (MS Teams & Zoom) and offer seminars and events throughout the year. Complete this form to schedule an appointment. Please visit their website to view all offerings and to register for workshops. You can also access 24/7 resources and materials for teaching and learning by self-enrolling in the OTL Virtual Resource Hub.

Professional development opportunities

In collaboration with the Union of Part-Time Faculty (UPTF), the University seeks to encourage original research, scholarship, and artistic expression to promote a stimulating atmosphere for part-time faculty professional development. 

Professional development support for part-time faculty

Part-time faculty who have taught at least two semesters at WSU are eligible to apply for funding to a conference or to help pay for a membership to a professional organization. A maximum of $1,500 may be granted towards an approved conference, and a maximum of $250 may be used towards a professional organization membership fee. Eligibility requirements and submission instructions can be found in the guidelines. 

Part-time faculty professional grant program

The UPTF Professional Development Fund will be used to provide annual Professional Development Grants, up to $5,000 per award, for a maximum of $15,000 awarded annually. These grants may be requested to support such professional development activities as educational workshop attendance, research projects, or creative activities. Eligibility requirements and submission instructions can be found in the guidelines.

New Part-Time Faculty Orientation

Part-time faculty members are invited to join the Provost's Office of Faculty Affairs and Development for the New Part-Time Faculty Orientation! This orientation will cover the policies and procedures that all instructional faculty at Wayne State need to know, as well as policies specific to part-time faculty. Join us as we cover topics related to your benefits as a part-time faculty member, student success, and how to get involved with your Union!