Faculty Resources
Welcome to Online Teaching at UNM
Welcome to the vibrant and growing community of online educators at the University of New Mexico! We’re excited to have you join in shaping the future of higher education through innovative, flexible, and student-centered online learning.
Teaching online at UNM presents a powerful opportunity to connect with diverse student populations—including those in rural areas, working professionals, and individuals for whom online education is the only viable path to a degree. As an online instructor, you play a crucial role in advancing educational equity and supporting student success throughout New Mexico and beyond.
UNM supports its online faculty with a robust framework for course quality, professional development opportunities, and access to instructional design experts. Faculty may also benefit from stipends for participating in quality reviews of online courses, and enjoy the flexibility low-commute teaching offers.
UNM Online, in partnership with the Center for Teaching and Learning, offer online teaching support and resources. Thank you for being part of this important work.
Getting Started
For a data-driven perspective on online education at UNM, visit the Analytics page. To explore the range of ways online courses are offered, visit the Schedule an Online Course page. The UNM Online Handbook serves as a comprehensive guide to online education, with a particular focus on Accelerated Online Programs (AOP).
Distance education is governed by regulations that uphold student protections and ensure that online learners receive a high-quality, equitable educational experience.
Technology
UNM uses the Canvas learning management system to support online, hybrid and web-enhanced instruction. Faculty have access to comprehensive Canvas Support, including assistance with tasks such as grouping course sections. Academic Technologies provides additional support for teaching and learning tools used across classrooms, computer labs and online environments. For real-time updates on technology service issues, visit IT Alerts. For general IT assistance, contact UNM ServiceNow.
Teaching Online
The Center for Teaching & Learning (CTL) provides teaching resources and expert guidance in course design. Upon approval through the Online Course Proposal (OCP) process, an instructional designer is assigned to collaborate with the instructor on a course’s design and build. From initial concept to final delivery, instructional designers are invaluable partners in creating effective, engaging, and accessible online learning experiences.
Faculty also have access to ongoing professional development through CTL’s Teaching and Learning Workshops, which offer practical strategies and tools to enhance online instruction. Through Faculty Training, online instructors participate in an immersive workshop for designing a course tailored for online learners. These courses subsequently go through a Foundational Course Design Review to ensure quality and alignment with best practices.
Once a course has passed review and is scheduled, the instructor of record provides certain disclosures required for online learners. The Course Information Form (CIF) is a quick, guided form that fulfills this requirement. Upon submission, the information is automatically published to the UNM Online Schedule of Courses. CIFs must be completed after a course is scheduled and before registration opens.
When proposing an online course for the first time—or planning to redesign an existing one—the Online Course Proposals page provides step-by-step guidance and resources.
Outreach and Course Feedback
Each semester, UNM Online connects with students through two targeted email campaigns. The first is a welcome message sent approximately two weeks before the start of their online course. In the fall and spring semesters, this message is delivered to students enrolled in 16-week and first 8-week courses. During the summer, welcome emails are sent to students enrolled in 8-week courses. A second round of welcome emails is sent midway through the semester to students registered for second 8-week courses.
The second touchpoint occurs at the midpoint of each course, offering continued support and encouragement. Both messages direct students to key resources available at UNM Online/Support [hyperlink], helping them stay informed and connected throughout their learning experience.
In addition, student feedback is collected for every course offered at UNM, regardless of instructional modality. Course feedback is administered by UNM IT. For assistance, you can contact them via:
- Email: coursefeedback@unm.edu
- Phone: 505-277-0607
