Six
Qualities We Seek in a CFU Teacher:
Why does CFU call itself a "Free University?"
Who
are CFU's clients: its students or its teachers?
Our
clients are the students. CFU teachers are our colleagues. Together we seek to
serve the students.
What
about protecting the topics and "turf" of current CFU teachers?
We
don't believe in it. We don't do it. We are committed to securing the best
courses taught by the best instructors who are willing to teach at the most
convenient times for the students. This requires that you keep your course
current and vigorous.
Does
that mean that CFU has no loyalty to its longtime faculty?
CFU
never goes out of its way to replace quality current faculty. Nor do we
intentionally add an excess supply of classes in proven topics. We have no
incentive to simply split enrollment into smaller sessions. However, if a field
is growing, we look for ways to serve it better--more depth, more sub-sets, etc.
Teachers who try to restrict supply to just a few "sweet spot" dates
are likely to find us recruiting new classes in that subject.
What
are the "sweet spot dates?"
CFU
gets its greatest across-the-board turnout in the months of September through
November, and from January through March. Summer enrollments can average 20%
lower. But CFU cannot exist as a seasonal institution. We must offer a rich
array of topics all year round.
How
often should I offer my course?
We
believe that a course "section" gets its best numbers if its dates
have appeared in three catalogs before its date arrives. We publish catalogs
about once every five-six weeks; hence, we incline to offer a section every 4-6
weeks if the topic is popular enough. Less popular or seasonal classes are
spread differently across the calendar.
How
do I find out how my class is enrolling?
Check
out our enrollments link. It’s updated daily, weekdays. Or call the
registration number: 303-399-0093, preferably in the mid afternoons when student
calls are at their lowest ebb for the day. Don't call on Saturdays (we have only
one registrar on duty), and please don't call between 8:30-10:30 a.m. or 5-6
p.m. These are the terribly busy times for our registrars.
As
my class date approaches, what should I do?
1)
Let
our programming assistant know that you are prepared to teach a
great class
at least 48 hours before your class session is scheduled to
begin.
2)
Prepare more handouts than you have enrollees to allow for
late-registrants.
3)
Make sure you know which facility you are going to. You should know the
combination to the pushbutton door locks, how to turn on the cooling system, and
how to lock up after you leave. You may not need to do these things, but you
should be prepared.
What
if enrollment looks real low a few days before the class start-date? Discuss
your plans with the program assistant. We encourage you to teach with low
numbers. It is the sign of a pro. If you decide to cancel, we try to hold out
until the last possible moment to see if latecomers can make the minimum.
If
my class is a low-enroller how soon should I try to fix it?
ASAP.
Don't wait for your class to cancel or run with only a few students for two or
three sessions before you accept that it needs a makeover.
What
is the CFU Learning Exchange (also sometimes called the "free list")?
Teachers
who elect to join this exchange can audit each other's courses on a
space-available basis. Learn, grow, study successful teachers, and have fun with
this program. Teachers not placing their courses on the "free list"
are ineligible to audit other teacher's courses and must pay full tuition for
them.
How
much money can I make from my materials fees?
None.
Materials fees are not intended to be an extra source of compensation for you.
They should simply reimburse you for the out of pocket expenses you incur
copying handouts and providing project supplies. Students know when materials
fees are inflated, and they complain to the CFU staff. You may make optional
materials (books, tapes, CDs, kits, etc. available after class or during breaks
for students to purchase, but they must be optional and not necessary for
students to have to enjoy the full class experience.
What
will the CFU program staff do to help me add future dates for my class sections?
We
send out re-submission forms, but you need not wait for them to arrive in the
mail to schedule yourself ahead on the calendar. Just make sure we get them in
neat, hard copy form. A fax is fine. E-mail is not yet acceptable for date
submissions, but we are working on making it so. Please do not simply leave a
voice-mail message about new dates! The chance for error is simply too great and
we have no means of verifying receipt of your information.
Can
I pick my favorite CFU classroom?
Unfortunately
not, but you can state your preference. We'll try, but we need to juggle rooms
at the last minute to make sure students are comfortable.
What
audio-visual equipment does CFU provide?
A
white board and dry erase markers. If you need a video or overhead, you must
count on providing your own. CFU does have some courtesy equipment, but we
cannot guarantee it to be available or in working order.
Can
I do business with my students after the class?
Yes,
many CFU teachers wind up accepting students as clients either for further
educational experiences or for their professional practices. But the initiative
for ongoing relationships must come from the students. It is appropriate for
teachers to make written material available for students to take with them that
outlines further opportunities available directly through you, but these should
not be part of your official class handout. (You can put your name, address,
phone #, place of business, and e-mail or website address on your class
handout.)
Teachers
who are most successful in achieving ongoing relationships do not promote them
in class. The best teachers undertake what we call paradoxical marketing. The
better you teach, care, and give value during class, the more the students want
to continue the relationship. If you sell, self-promote, or otherwise pollute
the class experience with hints of further relationships, it will have exactly
the opposite effect on the students.
If
my class is a success, how can I build upon or expand it?
If
your course is working well, think about adding a hands-on intensive practicum
or project-based workshop to it. If you have settled on a one-night, 2 1/2 hour
venue, try doubling it to two nights (or one full day). We avoid the idea of
Level II classes or intermediate-advanced classes because they seem only to draw
from the pool of students in your introductory course (and their publication in
our course catalog goes for naught). However, by example, let's say you have a
successful class in Starting a Stimulating Conversation and you want to build on
it. Perhaps doubling the time and renaming the class Starting and Continuing a
Stimulating Conversation is the answer.
How
do I get fired from CFU?
1)
Abuse or insult your students in any way.
2)
Use your class as a sales-platform for your professional services.
3)
Try to get your students to invest in something you are involved in.
4)
Try to
proselytize to students about an organization you are involved in.
5)
Conduct
your class in an unsafe manner or expose your students to dangers.
6)
Teach
a bad class more than once.
7)
Fail
to show up for class without permission in advance from the Program
Director or CFU's President.
8)
Fail
to notify us of changes of address or phone so that we lose touch with you.
9)
Overcharge
for materials.
10)
Make
a book or other publication mandatory for students to purchase.
11)
Be
cranky or rude to the CFU staff, no matter what department.
12)
Do
any other acts a reasonable person might consider unprofessional or
unethical.
13)
Fail
to support CFU's non-discrimination values.