Whether you are new to teaching or are adapting to teaching at Cornell, this guide will point you toward relevant resources.

Getting Ready to Teach

• Faculty Center and Advisor Center: Log in to learn your class schedule and classroom, as well as to access the roster of students. This is where you will also enter final grades.
• Canvas Resource Library: Canvas is the learning management system used at Cornell for students to access course materials, including CAMP textbooks. We also recommend reviewing our Preparing Your Canvas Course Checklist or attending a workshop to Get Started in Canvas.
• Cornell Academic Materials Program (CAMP): CAMP allows students to pay one fee to access course textbooks and other course materials. See the FAQs for instructors on this page. Course instructors receive an email asking for their textbook requests. If you did not receive an email or have questions, you can contact textbooks@cornell.edu.
• University Factbook: Explore the range of institutional data about Cornell. The Diversity dashboards may help you gain a better understanding of Cornell students. Consider also doing a quick survey in the first week of class to learn more about your students, their prior knowledge, and their interests.
• University-Wide and College Learning Outcomes: As you determine the skills and knowledge that students should attain by the end of the semester and set your learning outcomes, consider reviewing the university and college learning outcomes to see how your courses might contribute to these goals.
• Academic Calendar: As you plan out your course schedule for the semester, consult the academic calendar as well as the following information and policies:
  • Evening exams (prelims) and final exams
  • Class Schedules and Absences
  • Policy on not assigning graded work during scheduled breaks
• Credit hour policy: Learn about how much in-class and out-of-class time is expected based on the assigned credit hour amount.
• Academic Integrity Guidelines for Students and Instructors: Find the Cornell code of Academic Integrity and learn more about guidelines and procedures.
• FERPA: Review policies on student privacy and how to safeguard grades and other records.
• Syllabus template: Construct an effective syllabus to map out and communicate the learning experience and expectations with students.
• Teaching Assistant Online Orientation: Help your incoming graduate teaching assistants prepare for their teaching responsibilities by asking them to participate in CTI’s Teaching Assistant Online Orientation and in our graduate student teaching institutes.
• Teaching & Learning in the Diverse Classroom: This online course for Cornell instructors will help prepare you to use inclusive course design and teaching strategies. 

During the Semester

• Build your learning community: Students need to feel connected to you, the content, and each other. A typical community has a shared identity, experiences, and structure. Develop your instructor presence. Create an equitable learning environment using inclusive teaching practices.
• Normalize getting help: Be clear about where to go for help and how to use office hours. Describe how you and previous students have overcome challenges in the past. Provide these resources in your syllabus.
  • Learning Strategies Center (especially helpful for first-year students)
  • Cornell Writing Center
  • Student Support and Advocacy Services
  • Office of Student Disability Services
  • Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives
  • Cornell Health CAPS and Mental Health at Cornell
  • New Student Resources
• Alert students early about their progress in the course: Without early grades or feedback, students might not know they are behind until too late in the semester to recover. Help prevent such situations with early meaningful feedback, especially before the end of the add/drop period. Display grades early in Canvas.
• Mid-Semester Feedback Program: Check-in with students with a mid-semester survey so you can make improvements during the semester. Also, check in often during class or try classroom polls, surveys, or discussion boards.

If you are concerned about a student

• For emergencies: call 911 or 607-255-1111.
• Notify advising offices of issues impacting students' academic success: if you notice a student is struggling or is not showing up for classes or exams, filling out this form online will alert the student’s advisor.
• Submit a student of concern referral form: if you are worried about a student beyond their academic performance, but it is not an emergency, this form lets student support services know about the situation. You can also consult with them by email (studentsupport@cornell.edu) or drop-in hours. Students can also reach out to them for help or if they are concerned about a friend or roommate.

New Faculty Teaching Academy

The New Faculty Teaching Academy offers a series of programs to accelerate new faculty teaching success during their first few years at Cornell. Sequenced over 3 years with a time commitment of 8–14 hours per year, the Academy gives new faculty opportunities to design ready-to-use teaching materials, discuss best practices in teaching, receive feedback on their teaching, and develop strategies for inclusive teaching in diverse classrooms.

Additional CTI Programs 

• Mid-Semester Feedback Program
• Teaching and Learning in the Diverse Classroom
• Classroom Observation Program
• Course Design Institute
• Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows
• Other Institute Offerings at CTI

Resources to Support You

New Teacher's Guide

If you are new to teaching at Cornell, the New Faculty Resource Guide will connect you to all the resources - from a syllabus template to setting up Canvas, from inclusive teaching practices to tips for providing feedback - you might need to get started.

Center for Teaching Innovation (CTI)

• Email questions or request a consultation at cornellcti@cornell.edu.
• Attend our online drop-in hours (hosted on Zoom).
• Find information on Canvas and other learning technologies.

Other Campus Resources for Instructors

• Faculty Handbook
• Cornell University Library
• Office of Faculty Development and Diversity
• Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (confidential counseling and support for faculty and staff)
• The David M. Einhorn Center for Community Engagement offers programs, workshops, consultations, and funding to support community-engaged learning on a local, national, or international scale.
• The Office of Global Learning supports Cornell’s commitment to all students participating in a meaningful international experience and supports instructors interested in integrating study-abroad.