UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — 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 have announced new and revamped programs for new full-time Penn State faculty. These offerings include initiatives to foster professional growth, build a sense of belonging, and facilitate connections within the University community.
"We are thrilled to partner with colleagues across the University to launch comprehensive opportunities, which combine orientation, mentoring, technology training and skill building to help ensure a successful start for our new faculty members," said Kathy Bieschke, vice provost for Faculty Affairs. "By providing a supportive environment and valuable resources, we aim to empower our faculty to excel in their roles and contribute to our institution's mission of excellence in education, research and service."
New Faculty Orientation
New Faculty Orientation (NFO) has been reimagined to consist of a one-afternoon virtual live event to be held on Aug. 16, from 1– 4:30 p.m. and an accompanying Teams site. The orientation 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
One of the critical components of the new offerings is the launch of the public-facing New Faculty Canvas Site. This platform provides vital information for new faculty members, offering insights into more than 20 offices and entities across the University. President Neeli Bendapudi has recorded a warm welcome video, expressing support to new faculty as they start their journey at Penn State.
New Faculty Network
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.
‘Prep & Practice’ sessions
Teaching and Learning with Technology is hosting two “Prep & Practice” sessions to help further empower new faculty members. These sessions, titled "Creating your Digital Syllabus" and "Introduction to Canvas," will equip faculty with the necessary skills and knowledge to use 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.
Schreyer Institute monthly conversations
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 can network with other new faculty members and meet experienced Penn State educators who will share their lessons learned and unique perspectives.
Research integrity and compliance workshops
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.
Copyright and open access workshops
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 the University. Additionally, the libraries 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, at acc13@psu.edu.