Faculty Resources
GBS is an interdisciplinary program affiliated with over 350 faculty across more than 30 departments. The resources below are for faculty interested in mentoring and teaching GBS students.
Covid-19 Support
+ How to teach remotely
See here for further information on resources through UAB eLearning.
+ How to stay connected to GBS
GBS will be hosting a live chat with GBS Associate Dean, David Schneider, and GBS office every other Wednesday at noon. This will be a weekly forum to discuss the current state of affairs, as well as any other topics you'd like to bring to the discussion; even if it's just to check in with us.
+ How to obtain institutional updates on Covid-19
See here for more information and updates.
+ How to help UAB fight Covid-19
See here for more information on how to express thanks, donate, and show your support!
+ How to handle unethical or concerning behavior
If you see or suspect unethical or illegal behavior, you may report your concerns anonymously by contacting The University of Alabama System EthicsPoint, operated by Navex. Call toll-free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 1-866-362-9476
General How-to Guides
+ How to become a GBS Mentor
To have a GBS student join your lab, you must first:
- Get Graduate Faculty Status
- Get GBS Affiliation
Then you have students rotate in your lab (read about lab rotations here). To attract rotation students you can:
- Update your profile in Scholars@UAB.
- Get added to the list of faculty seeking rotation students by completing the following form.
- Present a poster for new GBS students at the GBS Symposium in August.
- Present a poster for prospective students at recruitment weekends in January and February.
To participate in the Symposium or recruitment weekends, watch for instructions in the GBS Faculty Newsletter (sent to all faculty with GBS Affiliation). For further details, contact the Admissions, Events, and Communications Manager.
If you come to an agreement with a rotation student that you both would like them to join your lab, the student is to complete the following forms:
- Mentor Selection Form (A financial agreement regarding coverage of the student's stipend, tuition, fees, and health insurance.)
- Best Practices for Mentor/Mentee Relationship
+ How to get Graduate Faculty Status
To learn more about gaining a UAB Graduate School Faculty appointment, please see the UAB Graduate School website.
+ How to get GBS affiliation
Participating GBS faculty are expected to be full-time UAB faculty with a current UAB Graduate School Faculty appointment. You are expected to be scientifically productive and possess expertise in the themes in which you request membership. You are also expected to be, or become, actively involved in one or more GBS themes. Evidence of such current or planned active involvement in GBS theme(s) includes:
- Mentoring a GBS student,
- Teaching in GBS courses,
- Service on student thesis or examination committees,
- Judging GBS rotation talks or posters,
- Teaching in advanced courses in GBS programs,
- Serving as a preceptor for a rotation student, or
- Interviewing prospective students.
Funding to support students' stipends and research projects is expected but not essential for GBS participation. However, to accept thesis students—and in most cases rotation students—into your laboratory, you will need to provide evidence of adequate funding.
Application materials for GBS faculty status review include:
- Completed GBS/MSTP Faculty Affiliation Request Form
- Current NIH Biosketch
- Current NIH Training Tables
- Information on past and current trainees.
Participating faculty will be reviewed on a three year cycle through their active UAB Faculty Profile.
If you have any further questions please contact the GBS Curriculum Manager.+ How to advertise your lab for rotations
GBS generates a list of faculty who are interested in hosting rotation students each year.
If you are considering recruiting one or more students for AY20-21, please complete the following form.
+ How to update/verify your information in Scholars@UAB
- Login to your profile using your Blazer ID here.
- From the “Home” tab, review the information in the “My Actions” section. There are two tasks that are important to complete in this section: a. Claim if they are your publications or Reject pending publications if they are not yours, but belong to someone with a name similar to yours. (if the publications contain any errors, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for help to correct )
- Click the “Edit Your Profile” button found directly under your picture on the “Home” tab. Please complete or review the information.
b. Link or create your ORCID # so future publications can be imported automatically.
c. There may be other items in this queue, which you are welcome to complete if you would like, but these will not display on your public-facing Scholars@UAB web profile.
d. Note: You can curate your external publications list by hiding certain publications you may not want to appear on the web. Once you claim a publication, there is an “eye” button on each individual publication entry. This eye allows you to hide these publications from external view.
+ How to find GBS forms
All forms can be found on the GBS Forms page.
Mentors submit the following:
- Lab Rotation Evaluation for Mentor
- GBS Mentor Committee Meeting Evaluation
+ How to resolve conflict between mentor and student
The first course of action between the mentor and student should be allowing open and honest communication with each other about the issue. Both individuals should actively listen to the other through a face-to-face discussion.
What conditions should be in place to allow for effective discussions of difficult issues?
Allow an objective and neutral mediator to discuss the case with the mentor and student. The mediator could be a supervisor or administrator within the department or program, such as theme department chair, theme director, or GBS Program Director. What can be gained following a dispute?
Allow time for personal reflection- how the individuals involved felt, the situations leading up to the situation, signs of disagreement, etc. This will provide guidance and coping tools for avoiding a similar situation in the future. Source: Adapted from the Practical Communication Tips for Resolving Conflict, OHSU Medicine Please reference the GBS handbook for further instructions on the GBS grievance policy.
- A feeling of mutual trust and respect.
- Past experience with open and frequent communication between mentee and mentor.
- An understanding that everyone makes mistakes.
- An ability to see each other as individuals.
- An ability to admit that one doesn't know everything.
- An understanding that there may be a completely unrelated issue that is the underlying cause of the problem.
- A willingness to entertain different ways of handling the issue.
- Sensitivity to cultural, gender, and personality differences that may influence perceptions.
- Attention to the development of communication and problem-solving skills.
- Identify an appropriate space for discussion.
- Agree to ground rules.
- Specify needs clearly.
- Be flexible in ways of handling the problem.
- Develop a solution that works for both the mentor and the mentee.
Allow an objective and neutral mediator to discuss the case with the mentor and student. The mediator could be a supervisor or administrator within the department or program, such as theme department chair, theme director, or GBS Program Director. What can be gained following a dispute?
Allow time for personal reflection- how the individuals involved felt, the situations leading up to the situation, signs of disagreement, etc. This will provide guidance and coping tools for avoiding a similar situation in the future. Source: Adapted from the Practical Communication Tips for Resolving Conflict, OHSU Medicine Please reference the GBS handbook for further instructions on the GBS grievance policy.
+ How to change your name in Banner
In order for a faculty member to change their name in Banner/Directory, they will need to update the Oracle HR system via an ACT data change document initiated by the department’s personnel officer.
+ How can I receive training on how to address stress, anxiety, and mental health concerns
Feedback from undergrads, grad students, postdocs and faculty at UAB indicates that stress, anxiety and mental health concerns are increasing across campus. To address these concerns, in part, UAB has subscribed to Kognito's At Risk training, an online interactive simulation platform that includes interactive role-play conversations to support student mental health and wellness. This training is designed for faculty, staff and students with learning objectives that include:
- increase knowledge and awareness of mental health and suicide
- identify the warning signs of psychological distress
- build skills to lead conversations with students in distress
Access Instructions
- Using a compatible browser such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, navigate to the Kognito site.
- Create a new account by selecting “Click Here” above the email and password fields.
- Follow the prompts and enter the appropriate enrollment key; Faculty/Staff: uabfas
- Follow the on-screen instructions to access the simulations page.
- Select the desired simulation tile and click “Launch” to begin the simulation.
Students: uabus
Instructor How-to Guides
+ How to get involved with a course
If you are interested in getting involved and lecturing in a course, we recommend reaching out to the course director(s) directly to indicate your interest!
You may view an active list of GBS courses by semester through the UAB class listing and selecting GBS as the department.
If you have questions about future course offerings, please contact the GBS Curriculum Manager.
+ How to propose a new course
Please submit your course proposal using the GBS Course Proposal Form. Please be advised that this submission is a proposal for a new GBS course. The course is not guaranteed until the final approval confirmation is received.
Summer: March 1
Fall: June 1
New courses in GBS are reviewed and approved by the theme directors within two weeks of the electronic submission of the GBS Course Proposal Form. If the course is approved through the theme directors, the GBS Program Director will provide an approval within one week. Once the final approval is reached, the GBS Curriculum Manager will list the course and send further details of confirmation.
All new courses will be added as a special topics course, indicating a non-permanent course number. Once attendance and continual course offering is confirmed, the course may be given a permanent course number.
Proposals are due by the following dates:
- Spring:
If you have any additional questions, please contact the GBS Curriculum Manager.
+ How to submit textbook requirements and recommendations
Faculty to login to Faculty Enlight and submit the course materials.
Effective Fall 2010, the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA) requires all institutions receiving federal financial aid to "publish," in time for registration, a list of all required and recommended books and other course materials for all classes offered at the institution. This includes all schools—undergraduate, graduate and professional. The items we must display are:
- Book title, including edition
- Book author
- ISBN number
- Retail price
PURPOSE AND INTENT—The purpose of this section is to ensure that students have access to affordable course materials by decreasing costs to students and enhancing transparency and disclosure with respect to the selection, purchase, sale, and use of course materials. It is the intent of this section to encourage all of the involved parties, including faculty, students, administrators, institutions of higher education, bookstores, distributors, and publishers, to work together to identify ways to decrease the cost of college textbooks and supplemental materials for students while supporting the academic freedom of faculty members to select high quality course materials for students.
If you have any further questions, please contact the GBS Curriculum Manager.
+ How do I view the course roster
Course directors and co-course directors can view course rosters by entering BlazerNet and selecting the applicable class.
If you have any additional questions, please contact the GBS Curriculum Manager.
+ How to utilize Canvas in a course
Canvas is a very helpful tool for students and course directors.
Here are a few pointers that I believe will be helpful:
- Most important rule- PUBLISH YOUR COURSE! Often times, we assume the course is live, but students will not be able to view any course details on Canvas until the course is published. I would suggest setting up the course then setting the publish date when the course is set up correctly.
- If you would like students to have access to files before the class starts, you must set the start/end dates in the settings section and publish the course. I would suggest that all course directors set their course dates for the entire semester.
- Guides/Tutorials- You will find UAB created Canvas guides that range from assisting with files, communication, settings, and basic instructor training.
- Recording System- Canvas has a recording system through the Kaltura program. This recording method is utilized in the core courses. The recordings are initiated through Canvas and automatically uploaded to Canvas for student access. You may access the attached Intro to Kaltura guide for further assistance.
- Importing course data from a previous course- For those of you that have ran your course through Canvas before, you have the opportunity to transfer all course materials into a new semester. This may be very useful, but please remember to change the dates! You may access the attached the Canvas Course Import Tutorial for more assistance.
- If you would like to add TA’s to your course, you may request the addition through the Canvas Request Form.
If you need additional training, please contact the GBS Curriculum Manager.
+ How to record a lecture using Zoom
See the Zoom Instructor Guide.
If you have any additional questions, please contact the GBS Curriculum Manager.
+ How to evaluate my courses
UAB utilizes IDEA Evaluations for course evaluations of didactic-style courses. You may find more information here and detailed Faculty Dashboard instructions. As you will notice in the article, faculty members will have access to a faculty dashboard. In this dashboard, you may select objectives, see response rates in real time, and access your responses when released.
If you have any additional questions, please contact the GBS Curriculum Manager.
+ When to submit grades
Grades open approximately one month prior to the deadline.
See the UAB Academic Calendar for each academic year's deadline.
Faculty will receive reminders through emails from the GBS Curriculum Manager and the GBS Faculty Newsletter.
If grades are not submitted on time, the student will receive a grade of "N". To change, faculty must complete the Change of Grade process. Faculty will have until the end of the next term to submit a grade or change of grade. Any grade that has not been entered will result to an F.
If you have any additional questions, please contact the GBS Curriculum Manager.
+ How to submit grades
- Log into BlazerNet.
- Click on Final Grades; you will see a drop-down menu for the semester(s).
- Select the correct semester and submit.
- This should bring up a drop-down menu of your courses. Click on the one you want to submit for first.
- You must then enter a grade for each student.
- Submit.
- A box should appear at the top of the screen. Click Yes.
- Return to the Main Menu.
If you have any additional questions, please contact the GBS Curriculum Manager.
+ How to submit a change of grade
- From the Faculty Profile page in Blazernet, select "Grade Changes" in the green ribbon area.
- Select "Term Code" from the drop-down menu, then press "Submit".
- Select the class from the drop-down menu for which the change of grade is needed.
- The class roster will appear. The system will allow you to submit an individual change of grade for a student or a change for the entire class.
If you have any additional questions, please contact the GBS Curriculum Manager.
+ How to submit grades after the deadline
- Log into BlazerNet.
- Click on "Grade Changes"
- Select the correct semester and submit.
- Click on the correct course and select Batch Grade Changes.
- You must then enter a grade for each student, AND you will have to use the drop-down menu to the right and select Reason NS, no grade submitted. You must do this for each student.
- Submit.
- A box should appear at the top of the screen. Click Yes.
- Return to the Main Menu.
If you have any additional questions, please contact the GBS Curriculum Manager.
