Topic outline
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Welcome to teaching at ArtCenter
This page provides information and resources to support Faculty preparing to teach in ArtCenter's Undergraduate and Graduate degree programs (in-person and online). Orientation for new faculty members begins with a “Welcome to Teaching at ArtCenter” email from the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning (CITL). Alongside the welcome message, this page includes the essential resources to prepare your coursework at ArtCenter.
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Important Dates
- Fall 2026
Friday, September 11: Canvas course & Syllabus publishedSaturday, September 12: Classes begin
Friday, September 18: Add/drop period closes at 6pm
Wednesday, November 11: Veteran's Day Holiday (No class session)
Friday, November 13: Withdrawal deadline for Fall 2026 classes
Thursday, November 26: - Sunday, November29: Thanksgiving Holiday (No class sessions)
Saturday, November 28: First day of Online Course Evaluations for the Fall 2026 semester
Friday, December 18: Last day to request an Incomplete for Fall 2026
Saturday, December 19: Classes End
Monday, December 21: Fall 2026 Grades Due from Faculty
- Summer 2026
Friday, May 15: Canvas course & Syllabus published
Saturday, May 16: Classes begin
Monday, May 25: Memorial Day Holiday (No class session)
Friday June 19: Juneteenth Holiday (No class session)
Friday July 3: Independence Day Holiday Observed (No class session)
Week 9, Friday, July 17: Withdrawal deadline for Summer 2026 classes
Week 12, Saturday, August 1: First day of Online Course Evaluations for the Summer 2026 semester
Week 14, Friday, August 21: Last day to request an Incomplete for Summer 2026
Saturday, August 22: Classes End
Monday, August 24: Summer 2026 Grades Due from Faculty
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Getting Started - Essential Steps
Login Credentials
New Faculty will receive login credentials and instructions from HelpDesk@artcenter.edu .
Once you have your artcenter.edu email you can log in to Canvas (ArtCenter’s learning management software) and Inside (ArtCenter’s internal website, which includes essential course information).
Faculty Dashboard
Navigate to Inside.ArtCenter.edu > Academics > Faculty Dashboard . On your Faculty Dashboard you can review course information, see a roster of your students with pictures, and utilize the email class function. Inside.ArtCenter also includes additional Faculty resources, under Employee Services & Resources, and hosts campus-wide information for Faculty, Staff, and Students.
Canvas
You can access ArtCenter Canvas in one of two ways:
- Go directly to https://artcenter.instructure.com and log in with your ArtCenter credentials.
- From your Inside.ArtCenter Dashboard
Preparing your Canvas course is covered in greater detail below. In addition, CITL hosts a support site for classroom software, including Canvas: https://inside.artcenter.edu/cms/course/view.php?id=189
You will use Canvas to:
- Publish your course syllabus
- Take attendance
- Submit Final grades
- Manage and organize course content for students
Syllabus
As of Fall 2025, course syllabi are created and published on Canvas through ArtCenter Syllabus. Faculty can access and edit ArtCenter Syllabus through the link in the left-hand sidebar of your Canvas course(s). Matt Sahlit, Associate Director of Digital Teaching and Learning , has provided Faculty tutorial videos on the ArtCenter Syllabus Support Page to help you get started.
The deadline to complete and publish syllabi is set as the Friday prior to the start of term (keeping in mind that Week 1 starts on a Saturday). This requires two steps – publishing your completed syllabus and publishing your course Canvas page. Detailed information about preparing your Syllabus in the section, below.
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Campus Resources
ArtCenter Library
You may want to check in with the Library as you prepare your teaching materials. Your librarians are familiar with the specific genre and content areas and our collections. Please contact the Library staff for help preparing your curriculum, identifying materials, and utilizing the course reserve system. Familiarize yourself with the library’s services for faculty (liaison program, reserve course material, digitize content, etc.) by visiting http://lib.artcenter.edu/faculty-services.
Classroom Supplies and Classroom Technology
Microsoft Suite
Faculty and staff have access to the Microsoft Suite and should use these tools as part of the college provided tech ecosystem. Please do not use Google Drive or any other personal software to communicate with students, collect student work, or store any student information.
You can download and use Microsoft 365 applications at home, including Microsoft Teams, Outlook, Word, and Excel, to support your teaching and administrative responsibilities. You also have access to OneDrive, which enables secure file storage and easy file sharing with students and colleagues.
Microsoft Teams provides a centralized platform where faculty can create and manage teams, schedule and host virtual meetings, communicate with students, and collaborate on documents in real time. Teams also integrates with OneDrive and other Microsoft 365 applications, making it easy to store, access, and share course materials and other files.
Questions? Reach out to HelpDesk@artcenter.edu
Microsoft Teams Guide (Faculty)
Copy Center
Copies can be made using a departmental copy code (budget code) at several copy machines across campus and in the faculty lounge(s). This code can also be used in the print shops and the campus store to purchase classroom and instructional materials. Please get in touch with your department/coordinator for budget codes, limitations and restrictions to purchases and amounts, and approval.
- Copy Center staffed at Hillside and South Campus ( copycenter@artcenter.edu )
Student Store
- Classroom materials can be purchased at the Student Store (Hillside Campus); Contact the Campus Student Store to order textbooks and student supplies studentstore@artcenter.edu
Classrooms
Please visit your classroom before the first day of teaching to familiarize yourself with the set-up and arrangement and confirm computer connectivity and displays.
- Zoom license and Tech Support / Audio Visual Department ( AV@artcenter.edu )
- Problems with Audio / Visual Technology (projector, mac mini, laptop connectivity, etc.) contact helpdesk@artcenter.edu | ext. 2390
- Problems with Classroom Set-up (chairs, tables, whiteboards, lights, etc.) contact facilitieshelpdesk@artcenter.edu | ext. 2307
Faculty Spaces on Campus
Faculty Lounges are located on Hillside and South Campus
Faculty Dining Room (FDR) is an open space for faculty at the Hillside Campus
Grab and go and pre-order food options are available in at both Hillside and South Campus Campus maps with locations identified are available on Inside.ArtCenter.edu
Learning Resource Center
The Learning Resource Center (LRC) provides educational services for ArtCenter’s classrooms, supporting faculty and students through its two distinct programs: the Writing Center and the Peer Coaching program . Staffed by undergraduate and graduate ArtCenter students, the Writing Center and Peer Coaching program offer general support to students of all majors and specialized feedback from within distinct programs. Faculty are encouraged to integrate the LRC into their courses through in-class talks and tutorials, course requirements, and/or as a recommended part of their students’ learning process. In addition to peer-to-peer support, the LRC regularly hosts campus-wide programs, interdepartmental collaborations, and student-led initiatives. Contact Amelia Yessayantz, Assistant Director of the Learning Commons for further information.
Model Shops
See Model Shop Services on Inside for up-to-date information on Model Shop hours, shop safety information, and demo schedules.
Heavin Studio
Heavin Studio offers faculty the following services:
- Media Creation for Teaching - Heavin will train and help faculty create high-quality videos—from lecture recordings to multi-camera demos
- Scalable Content Production - Heavin offers both 1:1 support and streamlined systems to help faculty create educational content—faster and more efficiently
- Studio & Home Recording Support - Record in the Heavin studio or get support filming at home/office
- Studio-in-the-Box Kits - Check out a portable recording kit to create content from home or your office—with training and support provided.
- Collaborative Planning - Heavin can help you design your media with purpose—aligning it with learning outcomes and course goals.
For more information please visit the Heavin Studios Inside page:
Or
Contact Kevin Lipnos:
Additional Campus Resources
See Inside.ArtCenter under Employee Services>Campus Resources for information on any of the following -
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ArtCenter Syllabus and Course Planning
As of Fall 2025, course syllabi are created through Canvas through ArtCenter Syllabus. Faculty can access and edit ArtCenter Syllabus through the link in the left-hand sidebar of your Canvas course(s), and to create and publish your syllabi. Matt Sahlit, Associate Director of Digital Teaching and Learning, has provided Faculty tutorial videos on the ArtCenter Syllabus Support Page to help you get started.
All faculty members must complete a syllabus in courses for which they are lead instructors and the syllabus must be published, along with their ArtCenter Canvas course, by the Friday before the start of the term . Please refer to the 'Important Dates' section at the top of this page for actual calendar dates.
Each ArtCenter syllabus is a teaching and learning agreement between the instructor, the students, and the department, and includes:
- A course description and Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs, provided by the department)
- A tentative schedule for the term, including projects and relative grade weights for course assignments (generated by the instructor)
- A detailed weekly plan and required materials and/or books
- A listing of major assignments and their alignment with Program or Course Learning Outcomes
- A list of pertinent institutional policies and resources.
Here's an ArtCenter Syllabus Template checklist to guide completion. A few reminders to consider when completing your syllabus:
- It is critical for students to know how they will be graded. Please make sure the grading box is completed and indicates clearly what percentage of the final grade each project or assignment carries.
- Complete the Alignment Chart. This is the section where you indicate how projects are evidence of CLO achievement.
- Provide details in your Weekly Plan to help students with time and project management, and in case they miss a class.
- Provide estimated costs for required materials for your course in the appropriate section. This is essential to help students with fiscal and financial planning.
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Canvas
Canvas is ArtCenter College of Design’s official Learning Management System (LMS). Faculty are required to publish their Canvas course, including publishing their Syllabus through ArtCenter Syllabus.
At minimum, Canvas must be used for the following:
- Publishing course & syllabus
- Attendance
- Final Grade entry
Canvas should also be used for the following :
- Assignment submission
- Assignment grading, feedback
- Organizing coursework through modules
- Providing course content (files, links, resources)
- Communication with student
- Tracking Attendance
CITL has numerous resources available to assist Faculty in preparing their Canvas courses, all of those resources can be found on the ArtCenter Canvas Support Page including both PDF and video tutorials.
Canvas support with Matt Sahlit, Associate Director, Digital Teaching & Learning
matt.sahlit@artcenter.edu
Request a Zoom Meeting
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Developing Rubrics
A Rubric is a teaching tool that guides evaluation of the effectiveness of a piece or work in reaching pre-established criteria, which are derived from the Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs). Completing a rubric for major projects is good practice in order to make sure the criteria for an assignment is clearly communicated. A Sample Rubric from a presentations class is provided for you to use as a guide, and here is a worksheet for developing rubrics:
Rubric Type
Links to Files
Six Elements of a Professional Presentation
Illustration Design Lab: Value (single assignment)
Illustration Design Lab: Project Grading (all)
Graphic Design Project Grading
Teamwork
Intercultural Knowledge and Competence
Need additional support? To make a coaching appointment with a member of the CITL team, email CITL@artcenter.edu -
Students Receiving Accomodations
A person with a disability is any person who has a physical or mental impairment, which substantially limits one or more major life activities. A student requesting accommodations from the college must provide professional verification documentation certified by a licensed physician, psychologist, or other professional health care provider qualified in the diagnosis of the disability. We advise students to request accommodations as soon as possible after being admitted to ArtCenter or after being diagnosis with a disability. A student who is granted an official accommodation from the college will be issued an accommodation letter.
Each term the student will have to decide which faculty members will be notified with the accommodation letter via email from the Center for the Student Experience. Once a faculty member receives an accommodation email for a student with a disability, they are encouraged to speak with the student directly about the accommodations and how they will best work in the context of the course.
All faculty members working with students who are receiving accommodations should watch the recording of the CITL Roundtable: Accommodations, where we discuss the accommodations process and faculty share how they engage with students receiving accommodations:
For questions about the accommodations process, please contact CSE@artcenter.edu .
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CARE: Communicate. Assess. Refer. Educate.
CARE is a campus-wide initiative that provides outreach to students who are demonstrating signs of behavioral, emotional, and/or academic distress. The CARE team, which receives and assesses referrals, consists of individuals from varied academic and co-curricular departments. The team will determine a plan to best address student and community needs and continue to provide resources regarding students in distress. Please note that the CARE Team does not respond to emergencies on campus; campus security should be notified in the case of a medical or safety emergency Further information on the CARE Team and guidance on when and how to make a referral is on the CARE webpage .
By submitting a CARE referral , you will be helping to connect students of concern to campus services, advisement, and off-campus resources, as needed.