Following summer NFO, new faculty continue to be supported with focused programming throughout their first and second years at the College. Monthly sessions focused on the needs and interests of each new faculty cohort are offered. Previous NFO sessions have focused on balancing teaching, scholarship, and service, building a mentoring network, leading effective class discussions, and interpreting and utilizing student evaluations.
New faculty also have the opportunity to request a peer partner, a faculty mentor outside of their department, through MCTL. Peer Partners are typically assigned during the faculty member’s first semester at the College, and assignments are made based on survey results from new faculty and interested senior faculty partners. A community building event (e.g., a dinner or zoom event) for peer partner pairs is typically held sometime in the first year to allow faculty to meet their peer partners and other faculty on campus. Modest funds are also provided to support meetings between peer partners throughout the year. This program is an excellent opportunity for faculty to get advice about a range of topics such as developing courses, balancing teaching with scholarship and service, navigating interpersonal relationships with students and colleagues, and campus culture. It is also helpful for new faculty to have a trusted mentor outside of their department.
