By Tammy Gay

The program is designed to inform faculty about the teaching, research and service activities of new faculty and to help them quickly become productive members of the UK community.

July 25, 2002 (Lexington, Ky.) -- A University of Kentucky new-faculty orientation program that for the first time includes faculty from the Chandler Medical Center, Lexington Community College and other UK colleges will be conducted Aug. 21-22. More than 200 new faculty have been invited from the Provost's units, Medical Center and Lexington Community College, said Bill Burke, associate director of the Teaching and Learning Center.

The program is designed to inform faculty about the teaching, research and service activities of new faculty and to help them quickly become productive members of the UK community.

The Teaching and Learning Center, the office of the associate provost for undergraduate education, and the office of the associate vice president for academic and student affairs are coordinating the event with additional assistance and sponsoring coming from the Provost's Office, the Medical Center Chancellor's Office, and the vice president for research.

The orientation includes overviews of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the campus, and the faculty and students at UK. There are sessions on teaching, research, service, diversity, and the tenure and promotion process.

Representatives from 50 UK campus units will participate in a resource fair, which will provide information about everything from employee benefits to teaching and research services to recreation in Kentucky. Plus, there are opportunities to meet and interact with colleagues from across campus during lunch, dinner, a barbecue and a social event fit for the Bluegrass -- a "virtual" night at the races.
Also, there will be follow-up events during the academic year, including brown bag lunches that address classroom teaching issues, workshops and seminars on a variety of topics (e.g., assembling a teaching portfolio, using instructional technologies, student diversity), social/networking events on and off campus, and a bus tour of the Commonwealth.

"Research on new faculty indicates that among the variables contributing to a successful start are getting acclimated to and familiarized with the new campus, applying proven scholarship and instructional skills and behaviors, networking with colleagues, and, generally, feeling comfortable with the new campus culture," Burke said. "This orientation offers opportunities and information for all of the above and should greatly assist new faculty in starting their positions in the most effective and efficient manner."

An information/registration Web site has been created at www.uky.edu/Faculty/NewFaculty. New faculty can contact Bill Burke at (859) 257-1877, via e-mail by clicking here or at the Teaching and Learning Center. If their appointment is in the Medical Center, new faculty can contact Cathy Owen at (859) 323-8047, via e-mail by clicking here or in the Medical Center Chancellor's Office.