To support new faculty as they transition to a new job, at a new institution, in a new city, we offer a multi-pronged and collective system of guidance and mentorship. Academic Affairs, which prepares faculty contracts and oversees institution-wide faculty development efforts and resources is the administrative first point of contact for faculty members and provides formal and ad-hoc guidance to all new full and part-time faculty. All new full-time faculty members are also given a thorough introduction to the faculty member benefits package and RISD’s employment practices by Human Resources.
Department heads are responsible for orienting new faculty members, full and part-time, to the culture, degree requirements, facilities, programs, budget constraints and logistical support specific to their department. The Office of the Dean of Faculty offers a number of ongoing orientation events, mentorship programs, and sources of funding for research, pedagogy, and professional development. General issues related to teaching, advising, and the research culture at RISD are central to these programs and sessions:
1. New Faculty Orientation Sessions (summer preceding start of teaching)
a. an introduction to some “nuts and bolts” including: Canvas, Workday for tracking payments, rosters, advising, textbook and materials costs reporting and grading.
b. typically scheduled on the Friday before Convocation, faculty will learn about academic support systems – The Center for Language and Arts, the RISD Museum – general requirements, and policies related to accommodation, inclusion, and behavioral issues in the classroom.
2. New Faculty Seminars, organized by the Dean of Faculty and held throughout the academic year, are a forum for the discussion of teaching and advising, and aim to help faculty become more effective in the classroom and to introduce them to developmental support on campus.
3. The Evaluation and Dossier Workshop, typically scheduled early in the fall semester, guides faculty through the steps necessary for evaluation and the preparation of the dossier submitted for promotion and critical review.
4. The New Faculty Mentorship Program pairs new faculty with a mentor selected from the full-time faculty usually from a department other than the new faculty member's home department in order to encourage engagement with the broader RISD community. After an initial, introductory reception, subsequent meetings are organized by the mentor and the new faculty member.
5. Research and Development Grant. As a companion to the New Faculty Seminar, the $5000 New Faculty Research and Development grant is intended to supports new track faculty as they establish their teaching, research, professional and creative practice as a member of the RISD faculty.