Checklists

Being a new faculty member can be a bit of a rollercoaster ride. First, the elation and excitement—sharing and celebrating with family and friends—imagining new opportunities!

This exhilaration may be followed by anxiety, nervousness about new responsibilities and colleagues, and managing your work/life balance. This important transition does not have to be full of tension and anxiety. 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.

Upcoming Trainings and Workshops for Faculty

Full-time Faculty Checklists

Prior to arrival

View the Orientation Schedule on this site. 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.
Contact your department chair/unit head to discuss your arrival date and schedule any meetings.
Meet your department’s staff assistant; s/he 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).
Register your computers/phones with ITS (iPad, laptop, etc. for accessing wireless).
Obtain your RIT Identification card.
Register your vehicle for on-campus parking.
Discover workshops and trainings to assist with effective teaching and use of RIT’s technologies.
Take a look at RIT’s commonly used Acronyms.
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 chair/unit head around your teaching, scholarship, and service (differs depending on rank).
Tenure Track and Tenured Faculty should plan a research agenda.
Depending on your department’s mentoring policies, meet with your assigned mentor.
Continue networking and making connections throughout the academic year and at opportunities offered by Faculty Development and the Innovative Learning Institute.
Explore the resources available to you from:
- Faculty Career Development
- Innovative Learning Institute
- Sponsored Research Services
- University Writing Program’s Faculty Writing Community – considering joining this online community; details available in early fall.
Connect with your library liaison.

Within the 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.
Continue networking and making connections throughout the academic year and at opportunities offered by Faculty Development and the Innovative Learning Institute.
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 set goal for service in establishing yourself as a member of internal or external committees? Are you working with student clubs in the capacity of advisor?
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!

New Adjunct Faculty Checklists

Welcome to RIT! As an RIT adjunct faculty member you’re not just teaching a course, you are joining RIT’s community of teaching and learning excellence. You will play a fundamental role in the lives of RIT students! The orientation materials provided on this website will introduce you to critical information, resources, and where to find support at RIT.

You may wish to download this “Getting Started Checklist” to guide you, and visit any of the guides and tutorials on this virtual orientation site to help you get started.

National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity

Join the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD). The Divisions of Academic Affairs and Diversity & Inclusion have partnered to offer career development tools through NCFDD. The Center provides skills and strategies intended to help RIT faculty, post-docs and graduate students thrive in academic life. The NCFDD offers a wide variety of resources, from tools to increase your research productivity, to writing and time management.

Learn more and register here