New Faculty Orientation
New Faculty Orientation takes place the week of August 15-19, 2011. The core of the program will be two half-day sessions at the beginning and end of the week, with three distinct mid-week workshops and luncheons related to course planning and student support services, developing scholarly activity, and faculty support services. New faculty members are encouraged to attend all sessions that will be immediately applicable to the roles of their appointment. Agenda details including session locations will be posted and sent to participants by the first week of August.
MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 1:00-4:30PM: Roles of the Faculty & The WPI Plan and Educational Philosophy
This session will introduce WPI’s distinctive approach to education at the undergraduate level, from both the faculty perspective and from a student panel. A wine and cheese reception will follow from 4:30-6pm.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 10:00AM-NOON: Planning Courses at WPI
This interactive workshop will help new faculty consider situational factors in course design including student characteristics and WPI-specific operations, especially the seven-week term for undergraduate courses. Several experienced faculty will present case studies of course designs: how they consider situational factors, state student learning goals, design teaching and learning activities, and evaluate student work.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, NOON-2PM: Student Support Services and the Campus Judicial System
Lunch with staff from Student Affairs, Academic Advising, and the Writing Center to discuss student support and development services, disability services, and academic honesty policy.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, NOON-2PM: Developing Scholarly Activity at WPI
Lunch with Academic Deans, faculty, and administrative staff.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, NOON-2PM: Academic Support Services for Faculty
Lunch with research librarians and staff from the Technology for Teaching & Learning group within the Academic Technology Center, all of whom serve as important resources for faculty teaching and scholarship.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 9:00AM-1:00PM: Survival Skills
Legal Landmines; Annual Reviews and Tenure Evaluation; and a Faculty Panel on Balancing Teaching, Scholarship, Service, and Life. A networking lunch with early career faculty will follow from noon-1pm.
The New Faculty Mentoring Program and Extended Orientation Events (available at NFO) provide additional opportunities to address questions that arise during the early years of being a faculty member at WPI.
