New Faculty Orientation: Bridging New Faculty to Key Resources
Columbia’s University-wide virtual orientation highlights offices that support faculty success.
Learn More
Adjusting to a new campus environment can be overwhelming and intimidating. Fortunately, for the 175+ new full-time faculty members joining Columbia this year, the Office of the Provost’s virtual orientation is designed to guide them effectively.
“Starting as a new professor can feel like navigating a whirlwind of challenges and opportunities. Remember, you’re not alone—we’re here to support you every step of the way,” said Dennis Mitchell, Senior Advisor to the President for Inclusion and Belonging and Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement.
Office of the Provost Faculty Virtual Orientation
CTL and the OVPFA partner with multiple offices to ensure the comprehensive academic success of our faculty. Presented by the Office of the Provost's Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement, the asynchronous orientation introduces faculty to a broad spectrum of University resources and offices dedicated to supporting their teaching, scholarship, and overall well-being.
The orientation begins with a welcome from Provost and Professor of Astronomy and Physics, Angela Olinto. In her address, she encourages new faculty to explore the orientation modules at their own pace. Designed to answer common faculty questions, the modules cover topics such as course design strategies, tenure track and review processes, and resources for fostering a more inclusive Columbia. Olinto emphasizes the importance of these tools, stating, “It’s important that we set you up for success. This virtual orientation will introduce you to resources and offices at Columbia that can support your teaching, research, and life outside of work. Take your time with the modules and remember, you can refer back to them anytime.”
The online modules also include resources from the Office of Faculty Affairs, Academic Affairs at CUIMC, the Office of Work/Life, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Office of Institutional Equity, Columbia University Information Technology’s Academic Services and Research Services, the Office of Research Initiatives, University Libraries, and the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library. Each module features an introduction from leadership, a list of key contacts, and a checklist of action items.
“We’re thrilled to welcome our new faculty members for the year ahead. We encourage them to explore these comprehensive online modules to get to know Columbia’s teaching community and its extensive resources,” said Amanda Irvin, Executive Director of the CTL.
With a strategic focus on fostering a supportive climate for new faculty recruits, Olinto urges new faculty to register for the orientation to ensure they take advantage of the critical information curated by the various offices. "The University provides an extensive array of resources. As you adjust to your new academic environment, the Office of the Provost will guide you in connecting with the key offices and support systems you'll be working with in the future."
Faculty Programming
Beyond orientation, CTL and the OVPFA build community by connecting scholars with their peers through professional development events, pedagogical workshops, and other programming. Through CTL Faculty Programs and Services, faculty can request general and instructional technology consultations, receive confidential, individualized feedback through teaching observations, and learn new educational approaches to pedagogical innovation, including teaching with AI tools through the this semester’s sessions and offerings.
This fall, CTL and OVPFA continued their Dialogue Across Difference (DxD) programming, an initiative designed to foster a resilient and inclusive community. This initiative engages students, faculty, and staff in diverse and challenging conversations with a commitment to mutual understanding and respect.
The first session, led by Martin Epstein, a lecturer in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at the School of Professional Studies, provided skills for empathetic listening to enhance classroom management. After the workshop, one faculty member favorably described their experience, saying, “I enjoyed the session. It felt like a group therapy session, with teaching as the loose context.” Epstein remarked that, like all skills, effective listening takes practice and time to develop fully, but when one commits to the process, "eventually, the door opens and the light comes on." Additional sessions focused on exploring specific strategies and tactics to de-escalate behaviors that may disrupt learning in the classroom as well as learning restorative justice approaches as a way to build community and repair relationships.
Faculty seeking guidance on career development, HR benefits, accessing our New Faculty Checklist, and more can find key resources here.
New Faculty Meet and Greet Reception
At the New Faculty Meet and Greet reception, held in Faculty House, new faculty had the opportunity to connect with their peers, Columbia administrators, and staff. They were serenaded by the Columbia Clefhangers, who harmoniously welcomed them into their new ‘Chosen Family’ (Arr. Tasnim Azman CC '23). Interim President Katrina Armstrong and Provost Angela Olinto joined the latest cohort to speak to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead.
In her remarks, President Armstrong encouraged faculty to expand their network by pursuing and developing relationships within and beyond their department. Building on Mark Granovetter’s concept of "The Strength of Weak Ties," she suggested that one of the campus environment’s key advantages is its capacity to foster and access new information and opportunities, highlighting that profound growth often arises from unexpected connections.
Provost Olinto shared her personal journey to Columbia, having recently joined the faculty earlier this spring, and reflected on her experience as the only woman doctoral candidate at MIT. She emphasized that the Provost’s Office is deeply committed to ensuring that new faculty members feel welcomed, supported, and connected to the broader university community. These efforts provide essential resources and foster a sense of belonging and collaboration, reinforcing the office’s mission to create an inclusive and supportive environment where faculty can thrive both professionally and personally.
Enroll in the Faculty Orientation Course to learn more about the offices that support faculty success.