On Aug. 21, the Office of Faculty Affairs (OFA) hosted its annual new faculty orientation for 136 new tenure-track and instructor-track faculty members.
Chancellor Philip DiStefano and Acting Provost Ann Schmiesing addressed the in-person orientation, focused on creating a student-centered campus culture.
“The research, teaching and service you’ll do here ensures that we can meet those ambitious goals as a university and prepare successful graduates who will support and sustain our democracy,” DiStefano said.
Schmiesing echoed DiStefano and called on new faculty to engage their work with “compassion, cooperation and concern.”Ěý
“Our goal is to create a strong, permanent sense of belonging in our students, faculty and staff,” Schmiesing said.
During the daylong orientation program, new faculty attended sessions centered on building faculty community, preparing for their first classes, advising and supporting students, and listing resources to support their research and creative work.
The sessions also kicked off Thriving at CU, an extended orientation series that features workshops on mentoring, shared governance, and wellness. Other orientation activities introduced campus support services in a faculty resource fair staffed by representatives from more than 20 campus offices. OFA staff also unveiled a and a “Who’s Who” directory of new faculty.
The day concluded with a welcome social co-sponsored by Faculty SPACE, a faculty development and support initiative.
“Faculty are the backbone of our university, so it is crucial they feel well-prepared and at home here from day one—valued, supported and celebrated,” said Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Michele Moses.
Email facultyaffairs@colorado.edu for more information.
