New faculty gets oriented
By Dodi Hodges, associate professor and director of CeTEAL
The New Faculty Orientation was held on Aug. 11 and 12 in the Lib Jackson Student Union, acclimating the 48 new faculty hired by Coastal Carolina University’s colleges.
The faculty come from a variety of locations including Australia, Hawaii, the Northeast, Midwest, Southwest and the Southeast. There are some new freshly-minted master’s level lecturers and tenure-line faculty who within days of the Orientation successfully defended their dissertations, as well as veteran faculty who have taught for several years.
The New Faculty Orientation included more than 30 speakers, and 60 exhibitors were scheduled for four EXPOs. The EXPOs are a relatively new addition to the New Faculty Orientation over the past four years. During morning and afternoon breaks of about 45 minutes, offices and programs participating in the EXPOs were given the opportunity to meet the new faculty in small groups or one-to-one. Before the EXPOs, the new faculty were given a “Passport,” and as they visited each exhibitor, they collected a “stamp.” The passports were then submitted for opportunities to win door prizes at the end of the orientation. Jean Bennett led the charge and was able to acquire donations for the door prizes worth approximately $3,100. In the meantime, at the EXPOs, the new faculty were also collecting “goodies” from the offices that ranged from brochures explaining a program to thumb drives and bags.
President David DeCenzo and Provost Ralph Byington welcomed the faculty the first day and gave the new faculty an opportunity to ask questions. Debbie Conner, vice president for campus life and student engagement, provided the faculty with information about CCU students. Through other presenters, faculty learned more about Title IX, student conduct issues and student athletes. They were able to meet their deans at lunch and discuss specific expectations for their respective colleges. Faculty governance and universitywide initiatives like experiential learning and online learning were shared as well. At the end of the day, they had an opportunity to have their picture taken with Academic Chauncey.
On the second day, the history of CCU was shared, and Byington offered another opportunity for questions. Professor Louis Keiner followed by getting the new faculty members actively engaged in thinking about effective teaching. They also learned what to do the first day of class and what is required on their syllabi. The group was separated into two sessions: one about research on campus, and the other about acclimating to academia for faculty who are not required to do research. The faculty panel -- he most popular session -- ended the day prior to door prizes being awarded.
