If you haven’t already done so, summer is a great time to read up on the instructors who will teach your Fall 2012 courses . Even if you scanned the Faculty pages during enrollment, it’s not a bad idea to take a closer read before classes begin to refresh your memory of where your instructor is located, his or her research interests, and recent publishing. Having just recently done this myself, I was surprised to learn that one of my Fall professors lives in the U.K. and, interestingly, has done extensive research on crisis information management.

To search your professors, go to the Faculty page, scroll down the alphabetized list (or search by the first letter of the instructor’s last name), click the link, and your instructor’s truncated C.V. magically appears.

Forgot who your professors are? Assuming you have already enrolled, log into your MySJSU account. When your homepage pops up, direct your attention to the Academic module, located mid-page. You should see your Fall 2012 schedule with class numbers.

Cross reference these numbers with the courses listed on the corresponding schedule Fall 2012 (regular session) or Fall 2012 (special session). Next to the course number, you’ll find your professor’s last name.

Once you’ve read up on your instructors, it’s not a bad idea to see if they have posted their courses’ corresponding Greensheets, or course outlines. Many are already posted for Fall 2012 classes, and reviewing them now will enable you to get familiar with the assignments and reading requirements for your coursework – and perhaps even get a head start. To view these, go to the Greensheets page, click on the course number, then search for your professor’s name (this list is not alphabetized, so keep scrolling if you don’t see it at first.) Greensheets are updated each semester, but since professors often teach the same course from semester to semester, an old one will still give you a good sense of what’s to come.

This blog is a great way for students to begin connecting over courses and professors, so take a minute and let me know who your professors are and what you’re taking in the comments section, below. Feel free to post any questions too. I’ll look for them and respond ASAIC (as soon as I can)!