Faculty Toolkit
What is Blazer Welcome: First Four Weeks?
Student engagement within the first four weeks of any semester is crucial to student success. Faculty and staff are encouraged to build relationships and create a sense of belonging, set expectations, promote active, engaged learning environments, integrate student support into learning experiences and help students know where they stand in class. To support campus-wide Blazer Welcome First Four Weeks initiative, below are some suggested ways to engage students in and out the classroom.
Download the Student Engagement Guide for Faculty & Staff
Early Academic Engagement and Feedback
- Let students know what they need to do to be successful in your course. Direct them to available student resources that can support their academic success
- Canvas Alerts will help students to recognize their progress in your class early on. Whether the alert is sent to congratulate the student on doing well or to let them know they have some deficiencies and may need additional support, setting up alerts will help with early academic engagement during the first four weeks. If you need help setting this up, contact E-Learning.
- Engage students in at least one active learning strategy during the first four weeks.
- Encourage students to introduce themselves to one another through a guided activity during class. Knowing another student quickly is a great way to connect students immediately to UAB, your class, and one another.
Campus & City Connections
- Connect one your first four week assignments to a campus resource. This will help the student to see the benefit of how this campus resource fits in with your course or the specific assignment you have given them.
Example: Chemistry 115 can connect students to Supplemental Instruction and have them submit a post on Canvas.
Inclusive Communities
- Be Seen in Green on Friday’s! Take this opportunity to show UAB pride and wear green or a UAB shirt to support our students your campus pride. Post about it on social media (if you subscribe) using the hashtag #blazerwelcome