Getting Acquainted with Rutgers-Camden

A Guide for Part-Time Faculty & TAs

Getting Settled
Our departmental secretary, Dee Jonczak, will probably be your most important Rutgers contact. She is located in Armitage 424 and oversees the process of helping PTLs and TAs get settled. She can also assist you with the paperwork necessary to get paid. Her phone is (856) 225-6121 and fax is 856-225-6602. Office hours are 8:30-4:30. Her email address is deedalee@camden.rutgers.edu. Director of the Writing Program, Dr. Holly Blackford, is located in Armitage 426 and oversees all TAs and PTLs. Her phone is (856) 225-6310 and office days are MW.

 Office
Space is very tight in Armitage Hall. Dee will assign office space in August. Please post office hours or have some arrangement with students about meeting you outside of class. If there is too much overlapping traffic in the PTL offices, contact the chair to see if there are any other options.

Keys
Keys may be picked up from Dee. The key works for the outer suite door and the specific office, as well as the locked bathroom (for women only) and the outer office area of Armitage 301 (where a copying machine is located).



Phone
Dee will give everyone correct phone extensions once office space is assigned.

Parking
Parking is one of the few real perks for part-timers at Rutgers-Camden: currently $18.00 for the year or $9.00 for the fall semester, a substantial discount from the rate full-time faculty and students pay. You will receive information about parking with your contract letter from the Associate Dean's office. Parking tags may be picked up in the Bursar's Office.

Campus ID & Library Privileges
To obtain a Rutgers ID and library privileges, either obtain a letter from the department chair saying who you are, or bring a copy of your Rutgers contract. Then proceed to the Impact Booth, located in the lobby
of the Campus Center, to obtain a photo ID. Take your ID to the circulation desk of the Paul Robeson Library to be assigned library privileges. For faculty, books taken out are due at the end of the semester. At the Rutgers University Libraries website, you may use IRIS to order both books and articles online (copies of articles in periodicals not available online or on the Camden campus are free). The library website provides links to a large variety of bibliographic databases, many of which include full-text options.

Computer Use
Lecturers and TAs have shared access to the computer in their office. The computer may be used for creating documents, emailing, or searching the web. Personal files should not be saved on the shared computer, as there is no guarantee of privacy. They should be saved to a diskette, which is available from Dee. The password for entering the computer is PTL. The English Department also has a number of laptop computers that may be used for classroom instruction. Contact Dee for reservations and passcodes.

Computer Account
If you wish, you may also establish a computer account, which enables you to use the computers in student labs, to send and receive email, to upload web and other materials on to the crab server, and to dial in to Rutgers for internet access from home. Rutgers mail can also be accessed through the web using WebMail. TAs and PTLs may contact the Computing Services Office to set up emails accounts: (856) 225-6065. Office computer support for the college is provided by Harold Winshel.

Constructing Syllabi
Dr. Blackford offers many models that can be found in her office. All syllabi should be copied and given to Dee or Dr. Blackford two weeks before the start of the semester. All assignments must be specified on the syllabi. No oral assignments please!

Payroll & TA Benefits
Contact Maria Garcia in the business office for information regarding taxes, direct deposit, and health benefits (TA's only). You can reach Ms. Garcia at x6100.

 

Course Support Resources

Department Website and Web-Enhanced Curriculum.
Please familiarize yourself with our department website: http://english.camden.rutgers.edu/

Ordering Books
Books may be ordered at the Campus Bookstore by filling out a form that is available from Dee. Books may also be ordered online (click on faculty and proceed from there; use 561 as the password). Most elementary and intermediate level textbooks are ordered the spring before a new academic year. If you have any questions, you can reach Jamal Parker at X6032 or by his email at jamalhparker@hotmail.com

Smart and Semi-Smart Classrooms
"Smart" classrooms have a console housing networked PC, VCR, DVD, and a document camera linked to a ceiling projector.  The smart classrooms currently are Armitage 121, Fine Arts 110, the Science Lecture Hall, and Penn 401. Armitage 124 is a distance learning classroom with most (but not all) smart classroom features. Nearly all classrooms are "semi-smart," meaning that they have VCR/DVD  and laptop hookups connected to a ceiling projector. Faculty must bring their own laptop (please see Dee about borrowing the Department's laptop). Regularly-updated information about smart and semi-smart classrooms may be accessed at: http://smartclassrooms.camden.rutgers.edu/

Xeroxing
You may Xerox teaching materials, but a department code from Dee is needed. The copier is located in the main office (Armitage 445). There is also a copier in Armitage 301. Because our budget is very limited, we ask you not to abuse the Xeroxing privilege and also to think about ways of reducing costs, such as using the Electronic Reserve system at the library or putting materials online for students to print out themselves. There is of course the traditional reserve shelf at the library as well.

Electronic Reserve
Please consult the library website for electronic reserve instructions. The librarians on this campus are excellent resources for instructors. Introduce yourself!
http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/lib_servs/reserve_services_faculty.shtml

Online Rosters
Rosters may be accessed from the Faculty/Staff Online Services webpage, using your email username and password. If you have any trouble accessing your rosters contact Dee. Hard copy class rosters are distributed by the Registrar's Office to Dee four times a semester. The initial roster, the revised roster, the warning roster and the final roster should all be reviewed for accuracy. There is an additional warning roster Student Life distributes in order to faciltate intervention if notices need to be sent home. The Registrar encourages everyone to attend the training sessions for online grading and warning issues. Dates for the training sessions will be announced.

Tutoring (Rutgers Learning Center)
Many students request tutoring assistance. Beyond what can be provided during office hours the Learning Resources Center (Armitage 231, Extension 6442), directed by Dr. Robert L. Ciervo, which helps put students in contact with private tutors. contact the center if you would like them to visit describe services available for students. The RLC provides both mandatory and optional assistance, and students can now schedule tutoring sessions online when visiting their website.

Grading and Classroom Practices
http://wire.rutgers.edu/instruction.html

Teaching Community

All PTLs are encouraged to attend composition program meetings and orientations for new teachers. Sharing ideas and innovations strengthens each instructor and the entire program. In addition, communication with the Writing Director allows instructors to voice ideas and questions that others might share.
We teach together, let's learn from each other!


Visit the university's PTL website for more information and community resources!

http://www.camden.rutgers.edu/RUCAM/facinfo/PTLinfo.html



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Department of English
Armitage Hall, Fourth Floor
Rutgers University,Camden, NJ 08102
Tel: (856) 225-6121, Fax: (856) 225-6602