New Faculty Onboarding

Teaching at a new university brings excitement and challenges. New Faculty Onboarding is designed to help faculty:

Understand DU students and the rhythums of the quarter system

• Navigate workload as a new faculty member in their series and rank
• Create a professional development goal for the term and plan for winter break
• Connect with other faculty who are new-to-DU

New Faculty Welcome Guide & Orientation Materials

Thank you so much to those who were able to attend September 8th orientation and luncheon! We are looking forward to get to know you better in the year to come. I wanted to share here a digital copy of the resource folder than in-person attendees received, as well as two important and helpful guides for all new faculty.

New Faculty Orientation Agenda & Handouts 9.8.23

We’d like to officially share our “New Faculty Welcome Guide” which has helpful links that help respond to some of the most common questions and resources we receive.

We’re also  sharing the “Early Career Faculty Guidebook” from the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD), with whom we have an institutional membership (Learn how to access here).

New Faculty Academy

Faculty in their first three years will be invited to a range of community conversations, workshops, panels and professional development opportunities to connect them with each other and campus supports including: Division of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Faculty Affinity Groups, the MERISTEM-DU-DEVELOP mentoring team for STEM faculty, the Office of Teaching and Learning, the Office for Research and Sponsored Projects, and Student Success & Mentoring in Academic Affairs.

Faculty who complete the following requirements will receive a letter detailing their accomplishment and a $500 stipend. Complete:  

• At least six sessions of the “From Surving to Thriving” faculty learning community (FLC) (see below)
• At least two new faculty workshops or panels, including NCFDD content.
• A meeting with a chair, mentor, associate dean or VPFA staff to discuss sustainable personal and professional goals.
• A “Choose your own Adventure” opportunity such as Writing Accountability Group, additional FLC (Teaching and Professional Faculty, Thriving in Color, Thriving Across Borders), OTL Badge (Teaching for Inclusive Excellence. Etc.), a Faculty Affinity group or collective, or completing the “core curriculum” in NCFDD.
• A final reflection and assessment survey

To sign up, join the FLC (below) and watch for email invitation to events as well as a “schedule-at-glance” in late August 2023. 

Join the “From Surviving to Thriving” Learning Community for New Faculty 

New Faculty (anyone in their first three years at DU in a full-time, appointed role) are invited to sign up for the 2023-2024 learning community, to join other faculty who’ve recently joined DU in a supportive cohort. This FLC will meet roughly bi-weekly, in a hy-flex format from 11am-12pm. Co-hosted by Alison Staudinger in the VPFA (Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs) office and faculty/staff colleagues from across campus. Held in Community Commons 3700 and on zoom.  

Fall dates: 9/15, 9/29, 10/13, 10/27, 11/3

Sign up here: https://udenver.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2iwHircSg8o5ZB4

Topics covered include:

• The faculty role and workload, including understanding expectations for tenure and promotion in context of a faculty member’s series, academic unit, and discipline.
• Navigating DU as an historically marginalized faculty member
• Academic governance and freedom of expression
• Finding research funding on and off campus
• Creating academic strategic plans for sustainable time management and productivity
• Aligning teaching and service with values
• Universal design for learning, and other student-centered approaches to pedagogy
• Creating a service “mission,” and strategy for saying “yes” and “no.”
• Developing a mentoring network and setting expectations in mentoring relationships

Welcome Letters 

We are so glad you are here! To help orient new faculty to DU, a series of coordinated welcome letters are sent over the summer and as the quarter begins. Please find copies of the 2022-2023 letters here. 2023-2024 letters will be added as they are sent out.

Welcome from Provost Mary Clark

Welcome from the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, Jenn Bellamy

Welcome from Office. of Teaching. and Learning Director Leslie Alvarez

Welcome from the Office of Grants, Research, and Sponsored Programs

Welcome from the Dean of Libraries, Michael Levine-Clark

Welcome from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Welcome from Faculty Senate

Asynchronous Canvas Resources

Teaching @ DU Short Course

This self-paced course is designed to introduce new faculty to DU resources and provide an overview of the latest best practices in higher education pedagogy and educational technology. Through the university’s learning management system, Canvas, you will have access to important information, resources, and strategies that can be explored in as much or as little time you need. Teaching@DU will be available to new faculty in Canvas in early August. Don’t see it? Email otl@du.edu to request access. 

Resource Links

The Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs (VPFA) supports the continued excellence of DU faculty by working with academic leaders and faculty across the university to enhance faculty development initiatives, increase faculty diversity, and build a strong, inclusive, and collaborative faculty community.

The Office of Teaching and Learning (OTL) fosters innovation and strengthens practices in teaching, course design, and curriculum development to improve learning across the university:

The Faculty Senate acts as the primary body through which the faculty participate in the shared governance of the University of Denver.

Faculty and Staff Affinity Groups help represent and support the diversity of our institution.

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) is committed to providing the financial and regulatory stewardship required in today’s research climate.

 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) provides leadership, guidance, and resources in support of the University of Denver’s commitment to building a more diverse and inclusive institution.  ODEI is responsible for addressing Inclusive Excellence and diversity matters that impact the academic experience at DU for faculty and students.

Visit the Inclusive Teaching Practices website for resources to support inclusivity in the classroom.

Human Resources & Inclusive Community (HR) helps you prepare for your first day and beyond by providing information about benefits and resources available at DU.

The University Libraries are here to provide outstanding collections and services to the University community, as well as support for research through the Library Research Center. Each discipline has its own Reference Librarian that is responsible for instruction in collaboration with their campus academic departments.

Information Technology (IT) at DU supports many of the technology resources used for teaching, research, and day-to-day connections at DU.

DU has an institutional membership to the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD) which is an independent faculty development center dedicated to supporting academics in making successful transitions throughout their careers.

The DU Faculty web page provides additional helpful resources and links.