New faculty development: Creating a community of practice

When new faculty arrive for a new position at a college or university, they are typically flooded with information on all the 'things to know and do' before the start of their first semester. They often participate in orientation sessions that give them snapshots on human resources, research protocol, departmental requirements, getting a computer account, using the library, using the course management system, ordering textbooks, getting a parking permit and, if time permits, participating in a teaching and learning workshop. This paper will discuss how an instructional support specialist with expertise in faculty development created a semester-long program for new faculty based upon requests from department heads and new faculty hires. The paper will also discuss how this program evolved into a regular component of new faculty development, forming a community of practice among the participants. This paper will describe the New Faculty Development Tips Program, how and why it was established, the topics of the sessions, and the assessment data collected from the cohorts.