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Summer Online Teaching

the words "Summer Online" above and to the left of an illustration of the top of Notre Dame's Golden Dome, with horizontal green and blue bands running along the bottom of the frame

Notre Dame Learning’s Office of Digital Learning (ODL) partners with faculty, colleges, schools, departments, and administrative offices across campus to deliver the University’s Summer Online Program, which runs during Notre Dame’s standard Summer Session and annually enrolls approximately 1,000 students.

If you’re interested in learning more about offering a Summer Online course, we invite you to explore the information on this page, which is designed for Notre Dame instructors. Class listings can be found on the Summer Online website.

“Summer Online teaching is a great way to teach courses in a unique manner. The online format invites creativity, experimentation, and novel forms of student engagement. The students in the summer courses are looking for an intellectual challenge, and I enjoy working with them very much.”

—Peter Cajka, Assistant Teaching Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of American Studies

Teaching Support and Resources

Notre Dame’s Summer Online courses uphold the same academic rigor and teaching excellence that define the University’s residential courses. To help prepare faculty to be successful online instructors, the ODL provides a range of resources, including:

  • Course Design/Redesign – Our dedicated team of learning designers can partner with faculty on everything from redesigning their assessments to fully designing or redesigning a course for the online modality.
  • Academic Media Production – The ODL’s academic media team supports Summer Online instructors interested in creating media (lecture videos, screencasts, infographics, etc.) to enhance course design.
  • Online Teaching Workshops – Throughout the year, the ODL offers workshops for faculty interested in teaching in an online or blended format. Topics include creating asynchronous learning content, engagement strategies for live online sessions, and authentic assessments in online and blended courses. Workshops are added to the Notre Dame Learning calendar as they are scheduled.
  • Ongoing Support – ODL learning designers accompany faculty throughout the Summer Session, providing weekly updates, tips and strategies for online instruction, and reminders to help ensure instructors have a smooth and successful online teaching experience.

For detailed information about Summer Online Teaching, consult the Summer Online Handbook.

Summer Online Handbook

Getting Started

To express your interest in offering a Summer Online course, please email the Summer Online program at summeronline@nd.edu. Please also feel free to contact us with any questions.

FAQ

Where can I find information about compensation for summer teaching? For questions regarding summer salary, please contact the Office of the Summer Session at sumsess.1@nd.edu. Your department administrator is responsible for providing the list of summer faculty to the Office of the Summer Session before the Summer Session begins.
Can I teach a fully asynchronous course?

The University of Notre Dame does not offer credit-bearing asynchronous courses. While some course content is delivered asynchronously via Canvas, all online courses are required to be built around live, synchronous sessions conducted over Zoom. Consistent, direct interaction with students via these live sessions enhances their learning and is a hallmark of Notre Dame’s online offerings.

What are the dates for Summer Online courses?

Generally, Summer Online courses are six or eight weeks in length, usually beginning around Memorial Day and running through late July. Specific start and end dates depend on the timing of Notre Dame’s graduation each year. Please consult the Office of the Summer Session’s Session Dates page for specific dates.

How does the time commitment for teaching a Summer Online course compare to a residential course?

Designing and delivering an effective online course takes planning and time! If you are reconfiguring an in-person course for the online compressed modality, we recommend commencing work on this as early as the January before you will begin teaching the course. This will allow time to think through and design an appropriate balance of synchronous and asynchronous content.

During the semester, you can expect to meet with your students virtually for approximately three hours per week (this does not include office hours). The contact minutes for a six- to eight-week summer course are the same as those for a 16-week course during the fall or spring semester, making for a greatly accelerated experience for instructors and students alike.

Are live sessions required for students?

Yes, live sessions are a required part of Summer Online courses. Live sessions range in frequency from once to four times a week depending on the course. Please note that live sessions are not held on Fridays.

If I am teaching in the evening, what support is available to me if I encounter any issues, technical or otherwise?

There is 24/7 Canvas support available for both faculty and students through the "Help" button in Canvas. Additionally, you can reach a Summer Online team member by emailing summeronline@nd.edu.

What can I expect from the students in my Summer Online course?

The Summer Online Program serves a diverse range of Notre Dame undergraduate and graduate students, including student-athletes, students working internships, and those living in different time zones. Some students may also be traveling or working part-time (or even full-time) during the summer. And while Notre Dame students do account for the majority of Summer Online enrollments, the courses are open to anyone with a high school degree, so you may also have Notre Dame alumni, University employees, or individuals with no previous connection to Notre Dame enrolled in your course. You are encouraged to conduct a brief survey at the start of your course to understand your students' backgrounds and schedules better. The Office of Digital Learning provides enrolled students and faculty with guidance for navigating Summer Online courses.

Are there good resources on effective online teaching?

Absolutely! If you would like to learn more about something that is not covered in the resources listed here, please email online@nd.edu.