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New Faculty Orientation

UNF New Faculty Orientation: Quick Guide

 We are thrilled you are here. We realize New Faculty Orientation is overwhelming – so much information in a three-day window. This quick guide has a brief summary of the information you will receive throughout orientation, so you are able to reference back when you need it. This is not a comprehensive guide to campus resources but simply a consolidated resource to get started.

 After Orientation (hopefully before), you should:

  • Have an assigned N number
  • Attended New Faculty Orientation
  • Attended Human Resources New Employee Orientation
  • Set up your email and voicemail
  • Obtained a UNF ID card
  • Purchased a parking pass
  • Obtained and programmed your office and classroom key
  • Completed required employee trainings

 If you need assistance with the onboarding process, work with your department office manager.

Your Syllabus

Your syllabus sets the stage for the student experience. A syllabus is required for each class taught at UNF and a copy must be submitted to the department office and myWings each semester, and in some courses, the syllabus must available for students in advance of the start of the semester. Consult with your department chair to determine when your syllabus needs to be available. The Office of Faculty Excellence has a syllabus template and best practice tips. Review the UNF Grades policy and clearly state your grading scale.

 If possible, use Canvas to design your syllabus. Work closely with UNF Instructional Designers to set up a syllabus built in your Canvas course shell. This technique will save you hours in future semesters.

 Make yourself familiar with the UNF Academic Calendar and UNF Religious Observation Policy to ensure your course deadlines align with observed holidays, non-instructional days, and final exam schedules. Review the Student Attendance Policy and determine how you will handle attendance.

Office Hours

Being available for students is a critical part of their learning experience. Keeping weekly office is a requirement of our collective bargaining agreement. Faculty are expected to make five hours available weekly for students during the fall and spring semesters. These hours should be included in your syllabus, posted on Canvas, and outside of your office. Additionally, it is good to offer appointments for students who have complicated schedules.

Free Campus Resources for Students

Student Accessibility Center promotes and facilitates partnership among UNF students with disabilities and the UNF community. Registration and services are voluntary, confidential and free of charge to all UNF students with documented disabilities.

Student Academic Success Services is dedicated to helping Ospreys succeed in challenging programs of study, transition from high school to college, and become better students by developing supportive programming. SASS offers tutoring, supplemental instruction, peer-assistance, academic coaching, and persistence advocacy.

Writing Program and Center serves as a place for students to work on writing with a writing consultant or attend a writing-focused workshop. Additionally, they offer in-class presentations, will develop targeted workshops for specific courses, work with faculty to design writing diagnostics and writing referral programs, and assist faculty to develop writing assignments and assessments.

Counseling Center supports students who are having difficulties managing stress, adjusting to college, or who are experiencing difficult or overwhelming feelings. You can reach the UNF Counseling Center by calling (904)-620-2602 during and after business hours for appointments or if someone you know is in crisis.

Additionally, Supporting Our Students, in partnership with the Dean of Students, enables members of the UNF community to express their concerns about students exhibiting disturbing or alarming behavior. SOS provides a safety net when a student's behavior becomes problematic or when a student simply is not functioning well at the University. The purpose of the SOS program is to identify, intervene and mediate students experiencing distress. The SOS Team responds to issues such as physical, psychological, academic, and substance abuse.

Office of the Student Ombuds operates in accordance with the International Ombudsman Association rules and guidelines. It provides an independent, neutral, confidential and impartial environment for students to raise issues and learn what alternatives are available for addressing them.

One-Stop Student Services serves as the student-facing hub for Enrollment Services, which includes Financial Aid, Records and Registration and Admissions.

Student Health Services is funded by student health fees and provides diagnosis and treatment of illness, injury and emergencies on campus, referrals for specialist care, and consultation for specific concerns. Additional services are provided at a nominal cost.

Academic Advising includes first year advising and specialized advising in each of the colleges. Identify the advisor assigned to your department as they are an invaluable resource in student success.

UNF offers an abundance of high impact practices for students including the Taylor Leadership Institute, the Office of Undergraduate Research, the Office of Service-Learning and Civic Engagement, and the International Center.

Academic Integrity and Misconduct

The University of North Florida encourages the free and open pursuit of knowledge; we consider this to be a fundamental principle and strength of a democratic people. To this end, the University of North Florida expects its students, its faculty, its administrators, and its staff to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity.

Academic Misconduct refers to violations related to coursework or within the academic setting, including but not limited to, unauthorized collaboration, misuse of materials (course or otherwise), plagiarism, and improper publication. These violations are outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.

In cases of academic misconduct, faculty are required to use the formalized reporting system by the Dean of Student’s Office. The reporting mechanism is intended to be a resource for faculty to navigate this difficult situation and keep account of potential patterns of academic misconduct across courses.

Preparing to Teach

Work with your department to schedule your classes and use the department schedule to verify your class time, location and day.

FERPA

Ensure you’ve completed your FERPA training. Faculty who will have access to student information are required to complete FERPA (Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) training. Be sure you complete your FERPA training prior to the first day of class and that you are mindful of student privacy in your course structure and delivery.

Be mindful of confidentiality of student records when planning your courses.

Textbooks

Use these Textbook Adoption Deadlines and directions to ensure that you submit your textbook on time. In addition to be a great service for our students, it is directly tied with the university’s evaluation by the Board of Governors. Summer and fall adoptions are generally due towards the end of March. Spring adoptions are generally due at the end of October. Add the deadlines in your calendar on a recurring basis so you won’t forget.

Additionally, it is recommended that faculty consider participating in the Open Educational Resources program by CIRT and the Library to adoption of high-quality Open Educational Resources (OER) in place of traditional and expensive textbooks. You can apply for the program here.

If you are teaching courses with required materials costing students no more than $20/credit in total out-of- pocket expenses (includes courses that cost $0) submit your course to receive the Affordability Counts medallion and be recognized statewide for their efforts to promote access and increase savings for students. Include the badge on your syllabus.

Additionally, please remember that we are required by state law to:

  • Post textbook requirements as early as is feasible, but at least 45 days before the first day of class for each term.
  • Keep the posting available for at least 5 academic years.
  • Be searchable by the course subject, the course number, the course, title, the name of the instructor of the course, the title of each assigned textbook or instructional material, and each author of an assigned textbook or instructional material. And
  • Be easily downloadable by current and prospective students.

Canvas

UNF uses Canvas as our Learning Management System and makes course materials, deadlines and grades convenient for you and your students. Canvas is a great resource for both online and in person courses. Your Canvas dashboard will automatically populate with your assigned courses four to six weeks prior to the start of the semester. The Center for Instruction and Research Technology (CIRT) Online Learning Support Team (OLS) provides Canvas support to UNF faculty.

CIRT offers a comprehensive Canvas Instructor Orientation

  • Visit the Canvas Community covers to explore all things Canvas
  • Calendar tool will automatically display any assignment deadlines that you create in Canvas and it will update the dates automatically when you copy the course to a new term.
  • Book a one-on-one appointment with an Instructional Designer to take a deeper dive in Canvas options
  • Chat can be a good way to hold virtual office

Classroom Technology

What an exciting day for you and your students. Prior to the first day:

Visit your assigned classroom(s):

  • Test the computer: log in, open all files, access all software
  • If you will be using your own laptop or mobile device, test out the connections and cables
  • If you need help, contact the Help Desk (904) 620-HELP (4357)
  • Test the microphone (if using)

If you experience an emergency audio-visual situation during class time, call this number (904) 620-2909 (program it in your cellphone now). However, this number is only to be used for classroom emergencies. Use the Help Desk for all other matters.

The general use technology-equipped classrooms are managed and maintain by Academic Technology - Audio Visual and first level supported by the Helpdesk.

Student Photos

Knowing your students’ names go so far in creating a welcoming environment. Use the Photo Roster feature in MyWings to print a color photo roster.

Resources for Faculty

The library liaisons are a wonderful resource to help you and your students.

Create your faculty bio page in MyWings and consider your own website (called faculty domains).

Review internal grant funding opportunities offered across campus.

For promotion (available for tenure and non-tenure track) and tenure, set up your Interfolio account to start storing documents for your dossier.

Make note of Promotion and Tenure resources (Non-Tenure Track | Tenure Track) available through the Office of Faculty Excellence.

Get to know your friends in the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects for research and scholarship support.