Advice from Near Peer Early Career Faculty at KSU
Welcome to KSU!
The following advice is from your peers in the Early Career Faculty Learning Community.
First Things First …
Your email is set up after you complete the Human Resources onboarding process. Start checking it right away so that you don’t miss any important announcements.
Campus Card and Parking
As soon as you reach campus, get your campus ID card and a parking permit. Card services is in the Carmichael Student Center on the Kennesaw campus and in the Joe Mack Wilson Student Center on the Marietta campus. Finding a parking space can be tricky, depending on the campus and the time of day. Check with your department colleagues for their best parking strategy.
New Faculty Orientation
You should receive information via email to the early August New Faculty Orientation. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with colleagues from across disciplines and campuses! You’ll also receive valuable information there about teaching at KSU.
And then …
Mutual Mentoring Groups
CETL offers a variety of mutual mentoring groups which can help you build community and answer questions that arise as you navigate your first years at KSU.
Meet with Your Chair
Full time faculty should set up a private, formal meeting with your chair early in the semester to establish expectations for the first semester.
Professional Headshot
You can get a professionally done headshot by the KSU Photography Studio on both the Kennesaw and Marietta campuses. Visit the Photography Services section of the Strategic Communication website to schedule your headshot.
Decorating Your Office
Contact Facilities Services if you would like to browse through surplus furniture, art work, decorations... for your office.
Faculty Meal Plan
Faculty meal plans are available and described on the Dining Services website.
Helping Students In Distress
KSU's Behavioral Response Team is a wonderful resource and your support team for dealing with students in distress. The team is ready and willing to speak with you about any situation. They also provide guidance on dealing with student misconduct.
Questions New Full Time Faculty Should Ask
- What allowance do I have for travel or other needs? Who controls the department/program p-card? How can I pay to register for conferences, etc.?
- Are there members of other college departments that research a field similar to mine?
- What are the departmental sentiments on research, teaching and service?
- Who is typically charged with making the future class schedules?
- What are the program/department advising roles of faculty?
- What is the hierarchical structure for handling student issues? What if I have an emergency?
- What department or college committees are ideal for junior faculty?
- What type of department social life exists?
- For faculty with joint appointments, who is going to do your tenure and promotion reviews?
- Where is the archive of department or program previous reports/accreditation/self-study? Such documents can provide a wealth of information to the new faculty member.
- How do I get business cards?
- Who could be a mentor and help me decode politics (inside and outside departments)?
- Where are the department by-laws and T&P guidelines?
- What is Concur and how can I learn how to use it?
- What is Watermark/Activity Insight and the ARD/FPA process? What kinds of faculty events are hosted at the university level to aid in integration? (For example, AAUP events, CETL events, File Series in Dance.)
- How can I faculty get involved in larger university communities? Like mutual mentoring groups and faculty learning communities?
- Are community groups actively seeking university faculty members to get involved? How can a new faculty member become involved with the community?
- Who are the members of your Department Faculty Council (DFC)?
Questions New Faculty Who are Part-Time or Full-Time Limited Term Should Ask
- Do I have access to an office? Where is it located? If not, where can I prepare for class and meet with students outside of class?
- What phone number should I put on my syllabus for student questions (the department phone number or my personal phone number)?
- Where can I find resources for my classroom, like whiteboard markers, notecards, etc.?
- Do I have an allowance for travel or other needs?
- What are my departmental obligations as a faculty member?
- Who is typically charged with making the future class schedules? How far in advance will I know if I am needed to teach in future semesters?
- What is the hierarchical structure for handling student issues? What if I have an emergency?
- What type of department social life exists?
- Am I invited to department meetings? When are the department meetings?
- Who could be a mentor and help me decode politics (inside and outside departments)?
- Where are the department by-laws?
- What kinds of faculty events are hosted at the university level to aid in integration? (For example, AAUP event, CETL events, File Series in Dance.)
- How can faculty get involved in larger university communities? Are community groups actively seeking university faculty members to get involved? How can a new faculty member become involved with the community?
