Students are more likely to stay engaged in online courses when they can see, hear, and feel the instructor’s presence. This session will offer practical ways to build meaningful interaction into asynchronous and hybrid courses while also aligning with Detroit Mercy’s new Distance Education and RSI policy through a learning-centered lens. Faculty will leave with concrete strategies for communicating regularly, giving feedback that supports learning, and documenting the good teaching they are already doing.

Learning Objectives: 1. Participants will connect the policy’s expectations to effective online teaching practices. 2. Identify what counts as regular and substantive instructor engagement in asynchronous courses. 3. Learn concrete ways to document teaching presence, feedback, and student support.

Presenters: Michael Verdusco, Shelley Wagnon