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New Faculty Onboarding Welcome

This succinct, 2-hour onboarding welcome is structured to welcome new, full-time faculty starting at off-peak times to ensure they have the information they need to feel confident and successful.

The information in this section is summarized from the Faculty Handbook (see below). At Marian University, teaching extends beyond the classroom and includes laboratories, studios, clinical settings, internships, community-engaged learning, and individual mentoring. Faculty-student relationships play a critical role in student success.

 

Course Delivery

Marian University prioritizes campus-based instruction, particularly for traditional undergraduate programs. Online and hybrid courses may be offered if they enhance student success and maintain instructional quality. These courses require approval from the Dean, and faculty teaching a fully online course load must obtain written approval from the Provost.

 

Professional Expectations

Faculty are expected to:

  • Prepare and submit syllabi that clearly outline course details, learning objectives, grading policies, and expectations.
  • Be available outside of class by holding regular office hours and responding to student inquiries.
  • Meet academic deadlines and adhere to university policies.
  • Maintain content expertise through professional development activities such as conferences and scholarly engagement.
  • Manage courses effectively, ensuring punctual class meetings, timely student feedback, and accurate grade reporting. In cases of illness or emergency, faculty must notify the Dean and Provost before canceling a class. Final exams must be retained for at least one year.

 

Teaching Performance

Effective teaching is evaluated through:

  1. Course Design
    • Up-to-date and well-structured content
    • Engaging and varied teaching methods
    • Well-developed assessments that promote higher-order thinking
  2. Classroom Engagement
    • Student-centered learning approaches
    • Integration of research and scholarship
    • Effective use of discussion and technology
  3. Assessment of Student Learning
    • Thoughtfully designed assessments (exams, projects, etc.)
    • Use of assessment results to improve courses

Faculty are expected to meet both university-wide and discipline-specific teaching standards, which are outlined within their departments.

 

Course Reflection and Peer Evaluation

At the end of each term, faculty submit a Course Analysis to reflect on successes, challenges, and planned improvements. Peer evaluations are also a key component of tenure and promotion reviews, following guidelines available on the Provost’s portal page.

By upholding these teaching responsibilities, faculty contribute to the academic excellence and student success that define Marian University.