Faculty Resources
Resources for Program Faculty
Joining CSUN’s MFT Faculty
Tenure-Track Positions: Tenure-track positions come available periodically and are announced on the main CSUN webpage: https://www.csun.edu/eisner-education/employment-opportunities
Part-Time Adjunct Positions: Our adjunct pool opens each March and closes in April. Those interested in teaching in the following academic year must apply during this application window each year. Please email epcadmin@csun.edu in March to learn more.
Getting Started with Your Course
Step 1. Review the Syllabus Template with Program Curriculum Coordinator
Once you are assigned a course, request a phone or face-to-face meeting to review the syllabus with the Program Curriculum Coordinator, Dr. Diane Gehart. Carefully review the standards from BBS, our accrediting bodies, and the program learning objectives for the course. You are expected to assign all “signature” assignments with rubrics and readings; these are used across sections and courses. You may add other assignments and readings for your section. If you want to suggest alternatives to the signature readings, please contact the Program Curriculum Coordinator.
Review Program, Department, and University Policies
Program Student Responsibility Statement
CSUN Code of Conduct
Policy on Responding to Disruptive Behavior
Policy on Faculty Evaluation: Posted each year at: http://www.csun.edu/faculty-affairs/policies. Note that Union Contract applies to all faculty and Section 600 for Full-time faculty and Section 700 for Part-Time Faculty.
Step 2. Select Books and Place Order with Bookstore
You may want to review textbook and professional book websites. For textbooks, most publishers will offer free “review copies,” either digitally or in hardback; you will find links on the publisher’s website.
Some sites to visit:
Textbooks
www.cengage.com
http://www.pearsonhighered.com/educator/discipline/Psychology/91000065.page
https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/home
http://www.allynbaconmerrill.com/store/
Professional Book Sites
http://books.wwnorton.com/books/index.aspx
https://www.routledge.com
http://www.springer.com/us/
http://www.guilford.com
Place your order with the Matador Bookstore: http://www.csun.edu/tuc/matador-bookstore
Step 3. Select Academic Journal Articles and Videos
Journal Articles, Book Chapters, Etc.
To search for academic journal articles and other published resources, log on PsychInfo on the university library
1. Go to: http://library.calstate.edu/northridge/databases/alphabetical?alpha=P
Scroll down to PsychInfo and log on using your CSUN username and password.
2. Search for current articles related to your course.
3. If the article can be directly downloaded from PsychInfo, require all students to download the article directly. This allows the library to keep an accurate count of journal use (and we get resources based on use).
Videos
The library has two sets of videos for use in class.
1. Online Library of Counseling and Psychotherapy Videos: All students and faculty can access over 700+ videos from our online video collection that can be found on the library site under “Databases” and the “Counseling and Psychotherapy Videos”: http://library.calstate.edu/northridge/databases/alphabetical?alpha=C
2. Media Collection: The university’s library also has its own media collection that is accessible to faculty primarily. You can access this by clicking “audio/visual” in the One Search on the library’s homepage.
Contact Librarian for Additional Resources
If you have additional questions about resources (e.g., legal databases, research data sets, etc.), our amazing department librarian, Eric Garcia, is available for individual consultation and for making in-class presentations. http://library.csun.edu/egarcia
Step 4. Plan Your Simulations
If you plan to use the virtual reality simulator, schedule a time at: https://www.csunsimulation.com/scheduling
Students must purchase a $25 voucher for each simulation through the University Bookstore/Copy Center.
Step 5. Create Canvas Site for the Course
Although not required, most students appreciate a Moodle page, where you can post syllabus, assignments, links to websites, create sign-up sheets, exams, etc. The university provides online and face-to-face instruction on how to use Moodle.
Canvas Site: Use your CSUN username and password to log in: https://canvas.csun.edu
Online and In-Person Trainings: http://www.csun.edu/it/training
Academic Technology: Additional support for using technology in the classroom is available from Academic Technology; they offer support over the phone and in-person: http://www.csun.edu/it/academic-technology
Video Studio: Contact Tony Hillbruner in Media Services for video needs, including transferring VCR to digital formats, recording student practice sessions, etc. http://www.csun.edu/it/media-services
Step 6. Create Syllabus and Attend Faculty Meetings Week Prior to Class
Create a draft of your syllabus and bring it to the course faculty meetings scheduled the week prior to the first week of class. In these meetings, all faculty teaching a specific course meet to discuss issues with a specific course and to collaborate.
Access Academic Calendar with Holidays and Finals Week: http://www.csun.edu/faculty-affairs/calendar
You may also want to consider the calendar of Jewish holidays: https://www.hebcal.com/holidays/
Access Student Roster and Grade Roster on the CSUN Portal: Click the link to the “Skip to Portal” button on the CSUN webpage: http://www.csun.edu/#CollapsiblePanel1
Step 7. Revise Syllabus Assignment Instructions and Rubrics
Based on our discussions in the faculty meetings, refine your syllabus, assignment instructions, and rubrics. Students greatly appreciate assignment detailed instructions EARLY in the semester.
Step 8. Email Program Curriculum Coordinator Final Syllabus
Please email Dr. Gehart your final syllabus for the semester.
Step 9. Create Lectures, PowerPoints, and Secure Your Documents
The university has numerous technology supports available through Information Technology (http://www.csun.edu/it/academic-technology) and Academic Technology departments that offer phone support for computers, software, and the CSUN portal, as well as classes. Faculty can also access free and discounted software from IT and the Matador Bookstore (http://www.csun.edu/tuc/matador-bookstore).
Free Cloud Storage: http://www.csun.edu/it/mycsunbox
Step 10: Attend the Mid-Semester MFT Faculty Meeting
All MFT faculty are asked to attend the two-hour mid-semester MFT faculty meeting scheduled on the 4th or 5th Tuesday of October and March each year. These meetings are essential to coordinate signature assignments, manage concerns about student performance or conduct, address faculty concerns, and coordinate program, and student assessment.
Program Assessment
The MFT program uses a comprehensive data assessment process for ongoing program improvement. This process involves assessing student learning and surveying faculty, students, alumni, supervisors, and employers on an ongoing basis.
All faculty are required to participate in program assessment, including collecting data in specified courses, completing faculty surveys, and participating in faculty review of program data.
Highlights of this process include:
Student Learning Assessment: Formal student learning outcomes are assessed through academic and clinical courses, including fieldwork, clinical assessment, and culminating experience courses. Faculty teaching these courses must be involved in data collection and review.
Sufficiency of Academic, Clinical, Technological, Instructional, Supervisory, Fiscal, Physical, and Student Support Resources: Faculty and students are surveyed each year to determine the sufficiency of resources to enable the program to meet its goals. Areas of review include:
Student Learning Outcomes
Fiscal and physical resources
Technological resources
Academic resources
Student support services
Instructional and clinical resources
Faculty sufficiency
Supervisory sufficiency
Alumni and Employers: Alumni and employers are surveyed every 2-3 years to assess how well the program prepares students for contemporary work settings.
Review of Data: The Program Coordinator oversees data collection and aggregates data for review. Core faculty review data related to SLOs, program surveys, and fieldwork each spring semester at the April Program Assessment Meeting Faculty meeting to identify areas in need of improvement and evaluate the effectiveness of prior efforts to improve program outcomes. Additionally, the entire MFT Program Faculty (core and adjuncts) reviews key findings from the April review in the August All MFT Faculty Meeting.
Reporting Back to the Community: The results of the program assessment are reported (a) to core faculty in the April Core Faculty Meeting, (b) to Adjunct Faculty in the August All MFT Faculty Meeting, (c) to students in each semester’s Advising Meeting, and (d) to all communities of interest in the Program Director’s Report each summer.
Last But Not Least: Take Care of Yourself
CSUN has numerous support services for faculty.
Health Center: http://www.csun.edu/shc/faculty-and-staff-services
Reduced cost:
Massage therapy
Acupuncture
Dietitian
Dental
Optometry
Flu shot
Travel immunization
Oasis Wellness Center: http://www.csun.edu/oasis
Reduced cost:
Massage therapy
Acupuncture
Reiki
Meditation art, and wellness classes
Recreation Center: Faculty can workout at the extensive, state-of-the-art student recreation center for a discounted fee: http://www.csun.edu/src.
Employee Assistance Program: Contact the EAP office for resources to help address personal or work issues: http://www.csun.edu/enrichment/employee-assistance-program
Benefits Website: The Benefits Office can answer questions about your benefits: http://www.csun.edu/benefits
Payroll: To change your withholding, auto-deposit, name, etc. http://www.csun.edu/payroll