Orientation for First-Year Faculty and Librarians

Getting Connected

2009-2010

The Bridgewater community is excited to welcome 31 new faculty to campus this year. Our campus cares deeply about your success in the classroom, in scholarship, and in your career. The primary purpose of this orientation program is to help you connect to colleagues and to resources at BSC and to provide a forum for sharing experiences and ideas during this formative year.

Session I: Welcome, Introductions, and Getting Started, Monday, August 31, Heritage Room, Maxwell Library: At 8:30-10:00 a.m., you will meet each other and members of the administration, MSCA and faculty. Presiding will be Dr. Dana Mohler-Faria, President, and Dr. Howard London, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

At 10:15 a.m.-12 noon we move to Harrington 202, where Mr. Reid Kimball from the Teaching and Technology Center will offer a hands-on workshop for new faculty on using the college's electronic and online resources. Basic "survival skills" will include: accessing BSC e-mail from off campus; resources available via Outlook; Web for Faculty, the website where faculty access class rosters, submit course grades, and obtain vital advising information; and the Blackboard course management system, which provides faculty with an easy-to-use template for course Web sites. The session will start with a brief overview and a check to determine that your accounts are set up and functional. You will then do some hands-on work with Web for Faculty and Blackboard, based on participants' interest and prior experience.

At 12:15 – 2:00 p.m. we will move to the Bridgewater Dining Room (BDR), Rondileau Campus Center for lunch, RSVP requested.  After lunch there will be a walking tour of the BSC campus. 

Session II: Thursday, September 10, 9:30-10:45 a.m., and Friday, September 11, 2:00-3:15 p.m. in East Campus Commons, ECC 113.

Human Resources: Representatives from the Human Resources Office will discuss important information to help with your transition to the College. Topics will include:  the BSC mission, institutional statistics, the structure and function of the seven divisions at BSC, various policies and procedures, and the resources that are available to you. In addition, the HR representatives will answer any benefit and payroll questions.

Counseling and Consultation Services on Campus: Counseling Center staff will speak with faculty about clinical and consultation services, including counseling resources, the administrative team that addresses extreme or troubling student behaviors, and how and when to make referrals to the Counseling Center.

Session III: Faculty-to-Faculty Networking: Mixer, Thursday, October 1, 3:00-5:00 p.m.,  Barry House, Park Terrace (across from Library): A group of Bridgewater faculty called the Faculty Advocacy Network (FAN) have volunteered to serve as contacts for you. This mixer is an informal get-together to meet and talk with them. This event is being conducted by Dr. Pam Russell, Associate Professor of Movement Arts, Health Promotion, and Leisure Studies, and Dr. Jeffery Bowen, Associate Professor of Biology. RSVP requested. Subsequently, you will be invited to an end-of-semester event, session VI below.

Session IV: Essential Faculty Development Resources, Monday, September 21, 12:15-2:00 p.m., Dunn A AND Tuesday, September 22, 8:00-10:00 a.m., Dunn B: In this session, you will learn about four faculty development services key to your success at BSC:  the Office of Teaching and Learning (OTL), the Faculty Advocacy Network (FAN), Teaching and Technology Center (TTC), and the Center for the Advancement of Research and Teaching (CART).  Join us for a meal and small group discussions of these crucial services and how they support your professional development as a new Bridgewater State College faculty member.

Session V: Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure, Tuesday, October 13, 3:30-4:45 p.m. AND Monday, October 19, 3:30-4:45 p.m., location TBA: What are the standards and procedures for reappointment, promotion, and tenure at Bridgewater State College? This important question will be addressed by the two people best able to answer: Dr. Howard London, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Professor Jean Stonehouse, President of the Bridgewater chapter of the Massachusetts State College Association. Come to this session, see the process demystified, and get pointers on building your portfolio. This session is also important enough to repeat on two consecutive days to accommodate everyone's schedules.

Session VI: First-Year Social, Friday, December 4, 3:00-5:00 p.m., Davis Alumni Center: You will be invited by the Faculty Advocacy Network headed by Drs. Pam Russell and Jeff Bowen to participate in some end-of-semester regrouping and down time, while talking in a relaxed setting with colleagues.

Session VII: Faculty Development Resource Fair, Tuesday, January 19, 3:00-5:00 p.m., Dunn Conference Room: Join us for an interactive, informative and fun open session on the many faculty development resources available at BSC.  Meet colleagues and administrators who will share information and lead small group discussions on internal and external financial resources for scholarship, mentoring undergraduate research, seminar development, student academic support services, engaged learning and teaching resources, and technology support for teaching.  You will also have an opportunity to meet the Faculty Advocacy Network (FAN) director and sign up for as faculty advocate. 

Session VIII: Conversation with President Dana Mohler-Faria and Provost London, Tuesday, January 26, 3:30-4:45 p.m., Heritage Room, Maxwell Library: This session features an open conversation with President Dana Mohler-Faria and Provost Howard London. It is informal, off-the-cuff, and unscripted. It is a time to report on your experiences at the college and ask any question you want about its future.

Last Modified: September 1, 2009