Nebraska's New Faculty Development Program is designed to welcome new and recently hired faculty to the university, assist with becoming acquainted with UNL's community and programs, and provide advice on getting off to a productive and fulfilling start to their career at Nebraska.
New Faculty Orientation
July 15, 2024 —Nebraska’s New Faculty Development Program kicks off with a Canvas Course that introduces new faculty to the university in an asynchronous online manner throughout the summer.
August 21, 2024 — New faculty will join together in-person at Nebraska Innovation Campus for an interactive, all-day event, which will include sessions with campus leadership, an information fair, and a panel of “recently new” faculty.
Following orientation, all faculty are invited to kick-off the fall semester with Faculty Club Night at The Mill Coffee and Bistro on Nebraska's Innovation Campus from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
A detailed invitation will be emailed with more information.
Additional onboarding resources are available at hr.unl.edu/onboarding.
New Faculty Development Workshops
The Executive Vice Chancellor’s Office offers a series of New Faculty Development Workshops throughout the academic year to enable a deeper dive on topics of importance to new faculty. While primarily targeted toward first-year faculty, invitations to these workshops are also extended to those in their second and third years. Those who attend at least five workshops (tenure-track faculty, research faculty, and faculty of practice) or four workshops (lecturers) over the course of their first three years on different topics will receive a certificate of completion.
All New Faculty Development Workshops will be held virtually via Zoom with the exception of in-person workshops on February 13 and May 1, 2025. Detailed invitations for each workshop will be emailed before the event.
September 12, 2024
Teaching at Nebraska
Student success in any course requires high levels of instructor and student engagement. In this workshop, the Center for Transformative Teaching and Academic Technologies will present resources and services available to instructors to promote evidence-based, inclusive, innovative, and effective teaching for all learners. Key topics will include artificial intelligence, digital accessibility, and learning analytics, as well as Canvas, Zoom, YuJa, and the Digital Learning Center. Led by CTT Instructional Designers and the Assistant Director of Academic Technologies, the workshop will also cover teaching tips and address common faculty questions.
October 10, 2024
Discovery, Creativity, and Innovation at Nebraska
This workshop focuses on practical advice and resources from the Office of Research and Innovation (R&I) to help new faculty successfully launch their career at the university, including: internal funding opportunities, capacity-building and faculty development programs, support for developing proposals and managing grants and contracts, responsible conduct of research, and more. Workshop led by R&I leaders.
November 7, 2024
Supporting Students' Academic, Social, and Emotional Well-being
This workshop will introduce faculty to leaders of the Academic Navigators team, Student Advocacy and Support team, Center for Academic Success and Transition, and Counseling and Psychological Services. Faculty will learn how to make student referrals to these units, engage in discussions of typical student scenarios, and receive resources they can use to support their students' success. Workshop led by Amy Goodburn, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Undergraduate Education.
February 13, 2025 - In-person
Mid-year Check-In
After successfully making it through the fall semester, new faculty may have additional questions about their experiences at UNL. This informal session is a Q&A opportunity with Chris Marks, Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Affairs, and Kevin Hanrahan, Director of Faculty Development. New faculty can share their experiences, connect with peers, and receive continued support in their progress.
April 3, 2025
Mentoring & Teaching Graduate Students
This workshop is designed to equip faculty with the essential knowledge and skills to effectively guide and support graduate students in their academic and professional development. Recognizing the unique challenges and responsibilities involved in mentoring students at the graduate level, this workshop will provide a comprehensive framework for fostering a productive and inclusive mentorship environment. Participants will delve into various aspects of teaching and mentoring graduate students, and explore best practices, strategies, and techniques. Through a combination of presentations, discussions, and hands-on activities, attendees will gain practical insights and actionable tools to enhance their mentoring capabilities. Workshop led by Lisa Rohde, Associate Director, Teaching and Research Development in the Office of Graduate Studies.
May 1, 2025 - In-person
Preparing Now for Promotion and Tenure
New faculty will learn what they can do now to prepare for the promotion and tenure process. This workshop is for tenure-track faculty, professors of practice, research faculty, and extension educators. Representatives from the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the colleges will be available to discuss institute- and college-specific requirements. Workshop led by Rich Bischoff, Associate Vice Chancellor, and Christopher Marks, Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Affairs.