New Faculty Checklists
Being a new full-time faculty member can be a bit of a rollercoaster ride. First, the elation and excitement and imagining new opportunities! This exhilaration may be followed by anxiety about new responsibilities, new colleagues, and managing your work/life balance. With the right strategies and support, stepping into your new role can be energizing and enjoyable! These checklists have been designed to help you get your career off to a great start.
Prior to Your Arrival
- View the New Faculty Orientation Schedule and register for NFO 2023. New full-time faculty will receive an email invitation in mid-July.
- Discover RIT! Take a look at this collection of resources: Overview, Mission Statement, History and take a look at our commonly used Acronyms.
- Contact your department chair/unit head to discuss your arrival date and schedule any meetings.
- Meet your department’s staff assistant/admin, as they will be a key contact and great source of information!
- Watch for an important packet from RIT's Office of Human Resources.
- Familiarize yourself with Rochester’s unique deaf/hard-of-hearing culture and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID).
- Familiarize yourself with the Rochester community if you are new to the area.
- Notify FCDS@rit.edu if you have a new mailing address or email address so we may keep in touch.
Upon Arrival
- Complete your I-9 Form.
- Obtain your RIT user ID and password to access email and campus networks (the form must be submitted by your department). Accounts are ready for activation within 12 hours of Human Resources processing the appointment or hiring information.
- Register your computers/phones with ITS (iPad, laptop, etc. for accessing wireless).
- Obtain your RIT Identification card.
- Register your vehicle for on-campus parking.
- Register for trainings and workshops on RIT's technologies.
- Familiarize yourself with RIT's University Policies.
- Start a "kudos" file for yourself to keep positive notes from students, colleagues, peers, and department heads.
Within your first six months
- Create a “Plan of Work” with your department head around your teaching, scholarship, and service (differs depending on rank).
- Tenure Track and Tenured Faculty should plan a research agenda (see your department head).
- Depending on your department’s mentoring policies, meet with your assigned mentor.
- Register for workshops and events offered by Faculty Development and the Center for Teaching and Learning.
- Connect with your library liaison.
During your first year
- Evaluate annual milestones for goals established in your Plan of Work.
- Set goals for the next academic year for your Plan of Work.
- Evaluate your mentoring network and benefits of building relationships with colleagues.
- Maintain a healthy work/life balance.
Conclusion of your first year
- Congratulate yourself on a job well done!
- Reflect on your first year and see your department chair if concerns around your roles in:
- Teaching - Take a look at your teaching evaluations. Not what you expected? Don't beat yourself up over them—it’s your first year and there are many resources here at RIT to help! Consider what you might do next year to improve and seek support and guidance from units across Campus.
- Scholarship – (for Tenured/Tenure-Track faculty) Look at the research agenda you set. Are you reaching your milestones for publication or works in progress? Consider joining a faculty writing group or community of practice.
- Service - (for Tenured/Tenure-Track faculty/Non-Tenure Track) have you achieved your goal for service in establishing yourself as a member of internal or external committees?
- Consider how you have balanced your work and life responsibilities this year. Does something need to be adjusted? If so, consider the many resources RIT provides.
- Revisit your "kudos file" for positive reinforcement.
- Plan your summer vacation!