The Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, Teaching and Learning with Technology, the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence, the Office of Research Protections, and the University Libraries are excited to announce new and revamped programs for new full-time Penn State faculty.

New Faculty Orientation (NFO) has been reimagined to consist of a one-afternoon virtual live event held from 1:00 – 4:30 pm on August 16, 2023 and an accompanying Teams site. This event will feature Executive Vice President and Provost Justin Schwartz and other executives, highlighting the institution’s mission as a Land Grant University, its multi-campus structure, and its commitment to teaching, research, and faculty success. Furthermore, faculty members will be able to interact with Penn State students, facilitating a deeper understanding of the University’s vibrant educational community.

New Faculty Canvas Site. This new resource provides vital information for new faculty members, offering insights into over 20 offices and entities across the university. President Bendapudi has recorded a warm welcome video, ensuring new faculty feel supported from the start of their journey at Penn State.

The New Faculty Network, run by the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, is a mentoring program to support professional growth and foster connections within the University. By leveraging the expertise of mentors from the Penn State Emerging Academic Leaders program (PSEAL), this program focuses on academic and professional development, knowledge sharing, guidance, and enhancing academic performance.

Teaching and Learning with Technology is hosting two Prep & Practice sessions to empower new faculty members further. These sessions, titled “Creating your Digital Syllabus” and “Introduction to Canvas,” will equip faculty with the necessary skills and knowledge to leverage technology effectively in their teaching practices. Faculty will learn about syllabus requirements and recommendations, best practices for organizing course content in Canvas, setting up assignments and grade books, and providing meaningful feedback to students.

The Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence invites new faculty at Commonwealth Campuses to participate in monthly conversations with their peers and Schreyer Institute consultants. Throughout the academic year, group members will discuss topics such as engaging students in the classroom, finding mentors, advising students, and using student feedback. In this supportive, collegial community, participants network with other new faculty members and meet experienced Penn State educators who will share their lessons learned and unique perspectives.

The Office for Research Protections (ORP) is offering a series of workshops on research integrity and compliance, including how to submit research protocols to the IRB and IACUC for those working with human subjects or animals. The ORP offers additional workshops on navigating the CATS systems and on a variety of research ethics topics.

The University Libraries is offering workshops for new faculty on understanding copyright, Penn State’s Open Access Policy, and Open Education Resources (OER) and low-cost materials at Penn State. Additionally, they offer programming aimed at affordable course transformation, including faculty fellowships and programming and resources on data management and sharing.

For more information about opportunities for new faculty, contact Ann Clements, Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs – Faculty Development, at acc13@psu.edu.