Teach Online FAQs | BYU-Idaho

HOW MUCH ARE ONLINE INSTRUCTORS PAID?

Instructors are compensated on a per-credit basis and according to degree level. As of January 2023, those with a master’s degree earn $1,225/credit and those with a bachelor’s degree receive $1,125/credit.

WHAT IS THE TIME COMMITMENT FOR ONLINE INSTRUCTORS?

BYUI builds its pre-developed online courses around a time expectation of 3 hours per week per credit. Online adjunct faculty work from home. The schedule is flexible, but instructors should plan to be present in their course 5 days each week (Monday through Saturday).

ARE THERE SPECIFIC MEETING TIMES INSTRUCTORS ARE REQUIRED TO BE ONLINE?

There are no set times for instructors to login to their class, though some courses may require instructors to hold an office hour each week. From time to time, there are online meetings. These are often recorded for later viewing.

I AM INTERESTED IN TEACHING BYU-PATHWAY WORLDWIDE COURSES. HOW DO I APPLY?

BYU-Pathway Worldwide offers a three-semester program that provides a stepping stone for further education through BYU-Idaho. Though there are courses specific to this one-year program, most online courses offered through BYU-Idaho may include students from BYU-Hawaii, Ensign College, and BYU-Pathway Worldwide.

I WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR MORE THAN ONE CLASS. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

Applications are course specific, and candidates must apply for each posting separately. By using the previously established applicant profile, all personal, academic, and professional details will be auto populated (and can be edited) for each successive application. Previously attached resumes, transcripts, and other documents are also available; however, it is strongly encouraged that resumes be tailored to each specific position. Supplemental questions must be answered for each separate position.

HOW DOES BYU-IDAHO’S ACADEMIC CALENDAR WORK?

Each year consists of three full semesters, which are 14 weeks, and a 7-week summer session. The general schedule is as follows:

Fall Semester —  September to December

Winter Semester — January to April

Spring Semester  — April to July

Summer Session is held between Spring and Fall Semesters (July/August/September)

Most online courses are offered each semester. Few online instructors teach during Summer Session as online offerings are limited.

HOW CAN I IMPROVE MY CHANCES FOR BEING HIRED?

Content experts look for applicants whose backgrounds most closely match the posting criteria. Thorough completion of the application, as well as specific, relevant details in the resume, are especially important. Performance in the Candidate Assessment Course is also a determining factor when hiring decisions are made. Hiring is dependent upon instructor vacancies and student demand, and some time may pass until an opening arises. Applying for multiple courses for which you are qualified will provide more opportunities for selection.

I AM A FULL-TIME CHURCH-AFFILIATED EMPLOYEE. AM I ELIGIBLE TO ALSO TEACH ONLINE?

Full-time employees of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may be hired concurrently as online instructors. Those who choose to end Church-affiliated employment for reasons other than retirement and are no longer full-time benefited employees of a Church-affiliated employer must wait 26 full weeks (6 months) from the end of their full-time employment before being eligible to resume teaching online. (This is due to the Affordable Care Act. Different regulations apply to retirees.)

I AM A PART-TIME CHURCH-AFFILIATED EMPLOYEE. AM I ELIGIBLE TO ALSO TEACH ONLINE?

Part-time employees of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including BYU graduate work, may not be employed in a part-time capacity for two Church entities simultaneously. As a result, while part-time Church employees are welcome to apply, they are not eligible for hire unless they end existing part-time Church employment. Ending alternate part-time Church employment would not need to occur until an employment offer has been extended.

I HAVE RETIRED FROM CHURCH EMPLOYMENT. AM I ELIGIBLE TO ALSO TEACH ONLINE?

Those who retire from Church-affiliated employment are not eligible to teach online. Church-affiliated retirees are eligible for a medical benefit (Deseret Alliance) upon their retirement. Resuming additional Church-affiliated employment of any kind after enrolling in Deseret Alliance will negate this retiree-only health plan, and BYU-Idaho is not able to provide part-time instructors with another type of medical benefit.

I WOULD LIKE FEEDBACK REGARDING MY APPLICATION. WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME?

Most applicants meet minimum qualifications; however, we are only able to select a few final candidates for each highly competitive position. We process hundreds of applications and it is not uncommon to receive requests from applicants for individual feedback. We do not provide feedback concerning non-selection or guidance to individual applicants.

I DO NOT LIVE IN AN APPROVED HIRING STATE BUT MAINTAIN A RESIDENCE THERE. AM I ELIGIBLE TO TEACH ONLINE?

Online instructors must be physically residing in the state where the work is being performed. Employees may not maintain a residence in an approved state and live elsewhere. Instructors who do not adhere to this requirement are not eligible to continue teaching.

WHEN WILL BYU-IDAHO BE HIRING FROM MY STATE OR AREA?

BYU-Idaho makes every effort to ensure compliance with all state employment and tax laws. As a result, moving into new states is an extensive process. Those wishing to be notified if/when their state is approved may sign up to receive notifications.

CAN I TEACH WITHOUT A MASTER’S DEGREE?

Most online courses require an advanced degree. Degree requirements are listed in each individual posting. The application website allows candidates to search for those open postings where a bachelor’s degree is accepted. We are not able to hire those without a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.

I AM CURRENTLY IN A MASTER’S PROGRAM. CAN I APPLY NOW?

Although candidates may apply at any time, we encourage application submission after advanced degrees have been awarded. Applicants who have more than 3 months remaining of their graduate work will not be considered and will need to apply when their education is complete.

I WANT TO APPLY FOR A COURSE THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY OPEN. WHEN WILL IT BE AVAILABLE AGAIN?

Postings are managed as interest lists and may be opened or closed at any time. Timing is dependent on anticipated hiring needs for the course in the coming semesters as well as the number of qualified applicants who have previously applied. Interest list postings do not have set hire or close dates as this allows for increased flexibility in meeting hiring demands. A notification system is available for those interested in being contacted when a closed posting has been reopened. Applicants need only complete this questionnaire one time for all courses/subject areas for which they are interested in being contacted.

I AM HAVING TROUBLE ADDING MY ELECTRONIC TRANSCRIPT TO THE APPLICATION. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Official electronic transcripts are encrypted for security. Print your transcript, scan it as a new pdf file, and then attach the newly created file. If you have done this and it still does not work, an additional problem may be the size of the new file. The size limit of file attachments for an application is 9 MB. Unofficial transcripts are sufficient for the application.

I WAS SCREENED OUT FOR A POSITION, BUT THE POSTING IS STILL OPEN. WHY?

Interest list postings do not have open and close dates and are not used to fill immediate hiring needs. Interest lists are used to build pools of well-qualified candidates for anticipated vacancies. Therefore, postings remain open until a sufficient number of applicants have been identified. Candidates are vetted on an ongoing basis and may be removed from the selection process even though the posting remains open.

ONCE HIRED, DO INSTRUCTORS CONTINUALLY TEACH?

Online instructors are adjunct employees and are contracted as needed on a semester-by-semester basis. Though the intent is for instructors to continually teach, this is dependent upon student demand, instructor performance, and changes to course offerings.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO TEACH MORE THAN ONE COURSE?

Online instructors are hired in a part-time capacity. As needed, it may be possible to teach two sections of the same course. In order to maintain flexibility with scheduling for each class, instructors are not scheduled to teach two separate courses unless there is an emergency and no other instructors are available. Instructors may submit requests to teach a different course, but accommodating these requests is dependent upon department approval, student demand, and instructor performance.

I ONLY WANT TO TEACH ONE SEMESTER EACH YEAR OR I WANT TO TAKE A SEMESTER OFF. IS THIS POSSIBLE?

Instructors may opt out of teaching. If this requires an additional hire to cover their assigned section, it may mean a delay in returning to teach until the next vacancy occurs. Resuming online teaching is also dependent on prior positive instructor performance.