August 2025 New Faculty Orientation Agendas

Please register for 2025 new faculty orientation through this link: https://forms.gle/PVqPRtwPLvrxBHoY6  to help us with catering counts and any accommodation requests to make the program more comfortable for you.

 

Teaching Launch Session

Thursday, August 14 from noon – 4 pm

Center for Teaching and Learning Conference Room (589 Lucas Hall)

This optional session covers information about technology and tips related to teaching at UMSL, including the Canvas system that we use for both online and on-campus courses, as well as the systems we use for student advising and faculty training. It will also include supported work time and an opportunity to receive support and get your questions answered as you finalize syllabi and set up of courses for fall. Although everyone is welcome, this session is likely to be most useful to faculty who are completely new to UMSL and unfamiliar our with instructional tools and processes. A light lunch will be provided.

 

 

New Faculty Orientation - Tentative Schedule

Tuesday, August 19 from 8 am - 3 pm

Millennium Student Center, Century Room C  (third floor)

 

8:00 Morning Refreshments

Meet other new faculty members as well as campus partners from UMSL’s Marketing and Communication Office, the Office of Academic Affairs, and the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) colleagues eager to support your transition to UMSL.

8:30 - 9:15 Welcome to the University of Missouri - St. Louis

Meet and be welcomed by UMSL’s Academic Affairs leadership who will highlight the amazing community you are joining.

9:15 - 10:30 Meeting UMSL Students 

A brief introduction about UMSL’s student body followed by an opportunity for invited UMSL students to introduce you to campus, themselves, and their expectations of their professors.

10:30 - 10:45 - Break

10:45 - 11:30  Promoting Student Well-Being & Safety

Representatives from key UMSL offices lead a discussion about how to support student well-being and success, topics include student counseling, social worker assistance available to help students address unmet basic needs, resources for student parents, classroom security, and how to support or get help for students who may be in need. Examples and resource contacts will be provided.

11:30 - 12:15 Supporting Students in Learning

Campus colleagues share insights and details about student success topics you’ll experience in the first weeks of the semester as well as resources for who to contact when. Information and examples will be provided of how to handle disability access accommodation letters, supporting academic integrity, and submitting flags for student academic performance concerns or reports of academic dishonesty

12:15 - 1:00 Lunch

Enjoy an informal boxed lunch with colleagues and campus notables. 

1:00  - 2:00 Nuts and Bolts: What Every New Faculty Member Needs to Know

This session shares key information every new faculty member needs to know regarding policies and procedures that come up during the semester in areas such as: 

  • Syllabus components and requirements
  • Enrollment verification and automatic drops
  • Faculty engagement policies 
  • Instructional continuity and handling student absences
  • Student withdrawals and timelines
  • Testing and Testing Accommodations
  • Delayed Grades
  • Class Scheduling

2:00 - 3:00 Tips and Insights from Second and Third Year Faculty

A panel of returning faculty who share wisdom and insights they gained in their first years at UMSL.