New Faculty Institute

About the New Faculty Institute

The New Faculty Institute (NFI) is a year-long professional development community, facilitated by the Teaching and Learning Center. Every faculty member who is new to campus, inclusive to all departments and ranks, is invited to participate.

Our goal is to help new campus members acclimate to the ��ɫ�� community and prepare for success in classroom and academic pursuits here.

Format

The NFI meets in person on campus every two weeks during the academic year. Light refreshments are provided.

2025-26 Schedule

Pre-semester Events

Date & Time	Event	Location	Description
Wed. Aug. 13 10:30-11:30am	Campus Walking Tour for New Faculty & Staff	Meet in Doty Hall Lobby	Hosted by the TLC & Admissions Get to know the campus on this custom tour led by a student tour guide. We will focus on academic and administrative spaces and campus gathering spots. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a water bottle for the best experience.
Wed. Aug. 13 11:30am-1:30pm	Summer Knights Picnic Lunch	Red Jacket Dining Hall	Hosted by the Office of the President Faculty and staff are warmly invited to the annual faculty & staff lunch celebration. To help with food planning, by August 6th.
Wed. Aug 20 10:00-10:25am	Welcome to the New Faculty Institute	Welles 111 (Harding Lounge)	Hosted by the TLC Get to know one another and preview the year-long New Faculty Institute, to start the orientation day activities.
Wed. Aug 20 10:30-11:50am	New Faculty Orientation & Technology Overview	Welles 123 (hybrid classroom)	Hosted by the TLC & CIT Meet with Computing and Information Technology (CIT) staff for an overview of classroom technology, an introduction to Brightspace (��ɫ��’s learning management system), and other digital resources.
Wed. Aug 20 12:00-12:50pm	Welcome Lunch for New Faculty & Staff	Doty 302e (Digital Seminar Room)	Hosted by the TLC Following the CIT Information session, enjoy lunch with new faculty, deans, the Provost, and departmental mentor colleagues.
Wed. Aug 20 1:00-4:00pm	Academic Affairs Retreat	TBD	Hosted by the Office of the Provost Convene with the division in preparation for the start of Fall 25.
Thurs. Aug 21 11:00am-12:00pm	New Student Convocation	Wadsworth Auditorium	Hosted by the Office of the President Join colleagues, incoming students, and their families as the students are formally inducted into our learning community.
Fri. Aug 22 3:00-4:15pm	Opening Convocation	Alice Austin Theater, Brodie Hall 248	Hosted by the Office of the President Officially welcome the beginning of the new academic year with campus faculty and staff colleagues.

Date & Time

Event

Location

Description

Wed. Aug. 13

10:30-11:30am

Campus Walking Tour for New Faculty & Staff

Meet in Doty Hall Lobby

Hosted by the TLC & Admissions

Get to know the campus on this custom tour led by a student tour guide. We will focus on academic and administrative spaces and campus gathering spots.

Wear comfortable shoes and bring a water bottle for the best experience.

Wed. Aug. 13

11:30am-1:30pm

Summer Knights Picnic Lunch

Red Jacket Dining Hall

Hosted by the Office of the President

Faculty and staff are warmly invited to the annual faculty & staff lunch celebration. To help with food planning, by August 6th.

Wed. Aug 20

10:00-10:25am

Welcome to the New Faculty Institute

Welles 111 (Harding Lounge)

Hosted by the TLC

Get to know one another and preview the year-long New Faculty Institute, to start the orientation day activities.

Wed. Aug 20

10:30-11:50am

New Faculty Orientation &

Technology Overview

Welles 123

(hybrid classroom)

Hosted by the TLC & CIT

Meet with Computing and Information Technology (CIT) staff for an overview of classroom technology, an introduction to Brightspace (��ɫ��’s learning management system), and other digital resources.

Wed. Aug 20

12:00-12:50pm

Welcome Lunch for New Faculty & Staff

Doty 302e

(Digital Seminar Room)

Hosted by the TLC

Following the CIT Information session, enjoy lunch with new faculty, deans, the Provost, and departmental mentor colleagues.

Wed. Aug 20

1:00-4:00pm

Academic Affairs Retreat

TBD

Hosted by the Office of the Provost

Convene with the division in preparation for the start of Fall 25.

Thurs. Aug 21

11:00am-12:00pm

New Student Convocation

Wadsworth Auditorium

Hosted by the Office of the President

Join colleagues, incoming students, and their families as the students are formally inducted into our learning community.

Fri. Aug 22

3:00-4:15pm

Opening Convocation

Alice Austin Theater, Brodie Hall 248

Hosted by the Office of the President

Officially welcome the beginning of the new academic year with campus faculty and staff colleagues.

Fall Semester Events

NFI meetings will be held bi-weekly on Wednesdays from 4:15-5:30pm. The first meeting in Fall semester will be Wednesday, September 3rd.

Date & Time	Event	Location	Description
Wed. Sept 3 4:15-5:30pm	Settling In	Erwin 206	Discussion about how the year is starting off, and what our priorities will be together this year
Wed. Sept 17 4:15-5:30pm	Mentoring	Erwin 206	We’ll be joined by TLC faculty mentors from current and previous years
Wed. Oct 1 4:15-5:30pm	Accessibility Services	Erwin 206	With guests Amy Fisk, Director of Accessibility Services, and Anjali Shiyamsaran, Digital Accessibility Analyst
Wed. Oct 15 4:15-5:30pm	Advising	Erwin 206	With guest Alexandra Rouse, Director of the Office of Advising
Wed. Oct 29 4:15-5:30pm	Registration & Scheduling	Erwin 206	With guest Keely Bielat Soltow, College Registrar
Wed. Nov 12 4:15-5:30pm	Successes and Challenges	Erwin 206	Discussion about how the first semester has been so far. What’s worked, and what still needs work? What questions do we still have?
Wed. Nov 26 4:15-5:30pm	THANKSGIVING	--	No meeting. Enjoy the holiday!
Wed. Dec 3 4:15-5:30pm	Student Counseling Services	Erwin 206	With guest Jaime Castillo, Director of Counseling Services

Spring Semester Events

The spring schedule is under development, and will be available by January, 2026.

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