Faculty FAQ

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1. How are Ames Christian University courses delivered?
All Ames Christian online courses are facilitated via our "virtual classroom" system. The virtual classroom consists of a course Web site and a series of discussion forums. As a Faculty member, you will provide us the materials to create your course Web site. Then you will faciliate and monitor the course via the discussion forums.

The course discussion forums include a general "lecture hall" where the course "meets" and up to three private "study rooms" for your and your learners' use. You will have access to all of these areas and responsibility to monitor activities in them.

Before your first course, you will receive materials that will assist you as you develop your course materials. And you will receive training in the operation of the course discussion forums.

2. How long are Ames Christian University courses?
All Ames Christian University courses are available in two formats: Six week instructor facilitated and independent, self-paced (with up to 90 days to complete).

As a Faculty member, your course can be deployed in either format. In the six week format, you will actively instruct the course, stimulating and monitoring discussion, managing assignments and measurement, and setting a pace for the course.

In the independent, self-paced format, you will set more general guidelines, remain available for questions and consultation, and administer any required measurements. The independent, self-paced format is designed to place much more responsibility for the course pace and timing on the learner.

3. Will I need special software to teach Ames Christian University courses?
The minimum tools are a World Wide Web browser and an email program (and Internet access, of course). Ames Christian's "virtual classrooms" are run by the browser and Faculty need to be available by email.

We recommend that Faculty have access to and proficiency with a suite of software applications (such as MS Office) to facilitate the submission of learner assignments and projects.

4. Do I need to be online at specific times while teaching?
Not necessarily. Ames Christian's virtual classrooms use asynchronous communication, which means that you communicate with learners by posting messages, but not necessarily in "real time."

You do have the option of requiring learners to "be in class" at certain times, but especially with geographically dispersed students dealing with diverse time zones, it tends to be inconvenient (and tends to defeat the purpose of taking the course online for many learners). It usually works better for general coursework to make a requirement that learners post at certain intervals or with a particular frequency. For special circumstances, you of course have the option to impose time requirements.

5. What is the time commitment for online teaching?
It depends. The biggest time investment is usually made early in the course development. The processes of assembling and deploying course materials, becoming acquainted with the virtual classroom and learning the environment can be time consuming the first time through. However, these activities represent an investment in good teaching that pays off across, we hope, many course assignments.

First time instructors commonly spend up to 20 hours per week in preparation and facilitating a course. However, time spent in subsequent courses will be less as proficiency is developed.

6. What is Ames Christian's compensation plan for Faculty.
Ames Christian pays on a per enrolled learner basis, based on course-ending enrollments. We use the per learner method to ensure that faculty earn approximately 40% of the tuition charged. While this makes instructional cost our highest expense, we believe that the person who is providing the knowledge should realize the gain.

We also use the per learner pay plan instead of a "flat rate" plan because we wanted to find a system that enables Faculty members to benefit as section sizes grow. In a "flat rate" system, the instructor does substantially more work with a 25 person section than with a 12 person section, but earns to addtional compensation.

Finally, Ames Christian is committed to working with a small, dedicated faculty. As our enrollment grows, it is our vision that excellent teachers can be rewarded with significant learner enrollments, and hopefully with the financial rewards that accompany them.

Degree Level and Course Type

Faculty Pay Per Learner

Undergraduate

Online
Blended
Classroom

$80
$120
$160

Graduate

Online
Blended
Classroom

$120
$180
$240

7. How much does that mean I can actually make teaching for Ames Christian?
It is difficult to project. Our enrollment limit for course sections is 30 in the six week undergraduate courses, 20 in graduate courses, with no preset limit on the number of learners concurrently taking independent self-paced courses.

Faculty members often find that the best way to maximize their opportunities for compensation is to offer a variety of courses in subject areas for which they are qualified.

8. Can I teach with only a Bachelor's degree?
Yes, in the Bachelors degree program. In lower level (1000 and 2000 level) courses, Ames Christian University makes Faculty assignments to individuals holding a Bachelors degree and significant work experience in the field under instruction. In upper division courses, Ames reserves the right to assign individuals holding a Bachelors degree who also have exceptional work experience in the field under instruction.

9. I have not taught at a college/university. Am I still eligible?
Yes. It is most important that candidates are committed to excellence in teaching, possess appropriate credentials, and have a foundation in the Christian faith. A facility with online tools, obviously, is also required.

10. Who pays for my official transcripts?
We do. Simply fill out the "Request for Transcript" form. Sign it and return it to us. (We do need to receive it in hard copy form with your original signature.) Exception: foreign transcripts must be requested and paid for by the applicant. They should be sent directly to the Ames Christian from the institution you attended.


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