College Closed? What to do

What a faculty member can do if MxCC has to close for a considerable length of time?

Pandemic? Snow Closing?  Hurricane Closing?

Use Faculty Self-Service to communicate with students via Email.
This is the simplest way to keep in touch with your students.  Step-by-step instruction with screen captures can be accessed at ../distance/facultyres/rosters.shtml

• Log on to MyCommNet with your NetID and password at my.commnet.edu.
• Click on Faculty tab.
• Under Faculty and Advisor Self-Service, click on the link "Click here to access the Faculty Self-Service system".
• Click on Middlesex Community College link.
• Click on Faculty Services link.
• Click on Summary Class List link.
• Select a Term such as Fall 2011.
• Select a CRN and click on Submit button. You will see your student names. If you see an email icon next to a student, the student has entered his/her email address in Student/Faculty Self-Service.
• Click on Email Entire Class link (bottom).  A new message window opens, you will type subject and message, click on Send.  You may also attach a file-class note in the email sent to your students.*

*In order to send an email to all students in your course, you need to have an Email application installed to your computer such as MS Outlook Express, MS Outlook, etc.  You also need to remind your students to have their most updated email address entered in the Student Self-Service via MyCommNet.  If you do not have an email application on your home computer, use Blackboard Vista instead.

Use Blackboard Vista to communicate with students.

• Log on to MyCommNet with your NetID and password at my.commnet.edu.
• Click on Blackboard Vista icon at upper right. You are then on My Blackboard page.
• Click on your class name. Select Set up a blank course. Click on Continue button (bottom).
• Select tools you need such as Announcements, Calendar, Mail, Discussions, My Files, Gradebook, Assignments, Syllabus, etc.
• Click on Save button (bottom).
  

Three ways to learn Blackboard Vista

1. Attend a Blackboard Vista training workshop offered at any of 12 community colleges.
   Search and register by going to IITT Course Cart at https://www.commnet.edu/academics/iitt/coursecart.asp
   Click on Launch Course Cart button.
   Log in with your NetID and password.
   Search for a Blackboard Vista workshop and register.
2. Watch or Download a Getting Started with Blackboard Vista training video or handout and follow instructions.
   Go to ../Content/Educational_Technology_Training.asp
   Under Getting Started with Blackboard Vista, click on either PPT link or PDF link or Video.
3. All faculty members have access to a Blackboard Vista training site on Blackboard.
   When you are at My Blackboard page, click on Blackboard Vista Orientation and Faculty Resources link.
   Click on Blackboard Vista Training Manuals & Resources icon.
   There are a variety of training materials to help you learn Blackboard Vista.