Four days of orientation help new faculty connect with the university, prepare for the classroom, explore research opportunities, and begin building their Michigan Tech community.
Every academic year brings new people, new ideas, and new energy to Michigan Technological University. This week, Michigan Tech welcomed 17 new faculty members and 4 Research Assistant Professors to the University.
New Faculty Orientation, held this year August 17-20 is designed to help new colleagues get acquainted with the university, understand the resources available to them, and begin building connections that will support them throughout their careers at Michigan Tech.
Getting to Know Michigan Tech
The week began with Human Resources orientation, helping new faculty navigate the practical information and responsibilities that come with joining the university.
Tuesday shifted the focus to the broader Michigan Tech community. New faculty heard from President Richard Koubek and Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Andrew Storer before exploring topics ranging from faculty responsibilities and university resources to student support, teaching and learning, graduate education, promotion and review, and early-career mentoring.
The goal isn’t simply to give new faculty a list of offices and policies to remember. It’s to help them begin to understand how Michigan Tech works—and, perhaps more importantly, who is here to help them along the way.
Preparing for the Classroom
Wednesday brought the new faculty together for a teaching-focused workshop organized by the Center for Faculty Excellence.
The afternoon session provided practical preparation for the work of teaching at Michigan Tech, with sessions covering technology-enhanced teaching and learning, the Testing Center, accessible course content, course design, and preparing for the first day of class.
The final session, “How to Have a Great First Day!” was presented by Distinguished Teaching Award winner Zack Fredin, ending the day with a focus on the experience that will soon be shared by every new faculty member: standing in front of a classroom full of Michigan Tech students for the first time.
Together, the sessions offered new faculty both the tools and the perspective they need to begin creating meaningful learning experiences for their students.
Discovering the Research Community
Thursday focused on another important part of life at Michigan Tech: research and scholarship.
New faculty were introduced to Michigan Tech’s research enterprise and the many people and offices involved in supporting research, from research development and sponsored programs to research security, integrity, and facilities. A proposal submission session provided an introduction to the process of developing and submitting research proposals at Michigan Tech.
And then came the Tech Talks.
Two Slides. Two Minutes. A Lot to Share.
For the new faculty members engaged in research and scholarship, Tech Talks offered a chance to introduce their work to the broader Michigan Tech community.
The challenge is simple—but not necessarily easy: two slides and two minutes.
Rather than providing an in-depth research presentation for specialists in their fields, the new researchers were asked to give the campus community a high-level overview of their work that could be understood by people from across the university.
The result is a rapid-fire introduction to the research interests, expertise, and ideas that Michigan Tech’s newest researchers are bringing to campus.
The Tech Talks also serve a purpose beyond the event itself. A compiled version of the presentations will be shared with the campus community, giving faculty, staff, and others an opportunity to discover the research taking place across disciplines—and perhaps find a future collaborator.
Following the Tech Talks, the new faculty gathered for a President’s Reception, providing an opportunity to relax, celebrate the completion of the initial orientation, and continue getting to know their new colleagues and members of the university community.
The Welcome Continues
Welcoming new faculty is not just a four-day activity. Throughout the fall semester, new faculty will continue to meet weekly on Wednesdays from 3–4 p.m. as part of Michigan Tech’s Extended New Faculty Orientation. These sessions provide additional opportunities to explore topics relevant to faculty life, teaching, research, and professional development while continuing to build connections with colleagues.
That continued connection is an important part of the orientation experience. Starting a new faculty position means learning much more than a new campus, a new course schedule, or a new set of university policies. It means becoming part of a community.
And that community includes all of us.
As you meet Michigan Tech’s newest faculty members—in classrooms, laboratories, offices, committees, events, and around campus—take a moment to introduce yourself. Invite a new colleague to lunch. Point someone toward a resource. Say hello at an event.
A simple welcome can make a difference.
We are excited to welcome Michigan Tech’s newest faculty members and look forward to seeing the ideas, teaching, research, and contributions they will bring to our university.
Welcome to Michigan Tech!