A2300.35 Faculty Orientation

Statement

Shawnee Community College is committed to preparing all newly hired faculty for a successful transition into the academic environment. A comprehensive and inclusive faculty orientation ensures that faculty are equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to fulfill their responsibilities, understand institutional expectations, support student success, and engage meaningfully in the college community.

Orientation fosters a sense of belonging and professional identity, promotes awareness of shared governance, policies, and procedures, and ensures compliance with accreditation and regulatory requirements. A consistent onboarding process supports quality teaching, equity in practice, and institutional effectiveness.

Guidelines

Faculty Orientation Goals

Faculty orientation will:

• Provide a structured introduction to college operations, resources, and expectations.
• Establish early relationships with key personnel and support departments.
• Address legal and compliance requirements, including mandatory trainings.
• Support equity-minded teaching practices and inclusive student support.
• Promote a shared understanding of assessment, curriculum, and academic standards.
• Familiarize faculty with instructional technologies and campus systems.

Orientation Components

The Faculty Orientation includes, but is not limited to:

• Welcome from College Leadership
• Overview of Student Services, Academic Affairs, and Administrative Services
• Human Resources onboarding, payroll, and benefits information
• Review of the Academic Affairs Faculty Handbook and Collective Bargaining Agreement
• Introduction to technology tools: MySCC faculty resources, Moodle, Smart Evals, Simple Syllabus
• Academic Assessment Handbook and institutional assessment practices
• Campus tour and office/schedule assignments

An updated orientation agenda (sample attached) shall be developed annually and reviewed by Academic Affairs leadership.

Participation Requirements

• Full-time faculty are required to attend all sessions of the Faculty Orientation upon hire.
• Adjunct faculty may attend select sessions or an alternative condensed orientation as offered.
• Attendance records and training completions (e.g., Title IX, FERPA) will be maintained by Human Resources and Academic Affairs.

Procedures

Initial Setup

• The Academic Affairs Office shall coordinate all aspects of Faculty Orientation in collaboration with Human Resources, Student Services, and Administrative Services.
• An annual agenda (sample attached) is prepared based on institutional priorities, compliance requirements, and feedback from past participants.

Pre-Orientation Preparation

• Invitations (sample attached) and welcome materials are sent to all new faculty hires prior to the event.
• An onboarding packet shall be provided, including:
  • Faculty Handbook
  • Academic Calendar
  • Syllabus templates
  • Campus map and directory
  • Contact list of key personnel

During Orientation

• Sessions are facilitated by College administrators, department chairs, and key staff.
• Opportunities for Q&A, peer networking, and hands-on support with technology tools are provided.
• Evaluation forms are distributed to collect participant feedback.

Post-Orientation Follow-up

• Summary of orientation evaluations is reviewed by Academic Affairs for continuous improvement.
• Faculty who miss mandatory sessions must complete alternative training sessions or make-up meetings.
• All orientation materials are stored in a shared digital folder and updated annually.

Evaluation and Improvement

• The Faculty Orientation is reviewed annually by the VP of Academic Affairs and Deans.
• A summary of attendance, feedback, and revisions shall be documented and retained for compliance and institutional improvement.
• Orientation effectiveness is assessed through participant surveys and faculty feedback.
• Improvements and agenda updates will be incorporated before the next orientation cycle.
• Faculty Orientation contributes to the College’s HLC accreditation and employee onboarding benchmarks.