Onboarding is the “connective tissue between new employees and a long-lived, highly productive career within an organization” (Perna, 2021).
You may have transitioned to a new role or are brand new to the University of Alberta. We are so glad you chose to be a part of our exceptional community of teachers, scholars, colleagues and students, and we look forward to supporting you throughout your onboarding experience at the University of Alberta.
A great onboarding experience will set you up for success, help you develop a sense of belonging, and empower you to positively contribute to the university’s mission and priorities. We want you to grow and thrive in your new role, and we have designed an onboarding experience that will support you in your journey.
The U of A Onboarding Program is an institutional process focused on creating a consistent, coherent, and comprehensive onboarding experience.
If you are a new faculty member, please refer to the faculty onboarding page
Complete required onboarding actions, including mandatory training
Complete U of A Orientation Course
Complete role specific training
Meet objectives and key deliverables outlined in your 90-Day Plan
Identify additional developmental needs and collaboratively plan activities for the first 90 days
Meet regularly with your supervisor for feedback and coaching
Resources for New Employees
Learn about how your 90-day plan sets you up for success.
Learn about how to make the most of your 1:1 conversations with your supervisor.
Orientation Courses**
The U of A orientation courses provides a tailored introduction university for both full time and causal employees. These courses are designed to empower you to co-pilot their onboarding journey, and to set them on a path where you can thrive and grow in their role.
Combined with the U of A Onboarding Program, this self-paced, multimodal and interactive course provides employees with a structured overview of the university’s mission, values, priorities and community expectations. Throughout the course, you will be equipped with tools and resources to support your onboarding journey.
**Most new employees are required to completed an orientation course within the first 30 days of their appointment. New employees required to take an orientation course are automatically enrolled in the appropriate version by HRHSE upon creation of their CCID. Any employees can self-enroll using the course links.
Mandatory Safety Training
To support your success, and to support our safety culture, all employees are required to complete mandatory training. Visit the HRHSE website for more details
Complete within the first 10 days of your appointment.
Supervising Safely (for anyone who has authority over a worker/charge of a work site): This course provides information on the roles and responsibilities of a supervisor as they pertain to environment, health, and safety. Intended for principal investigators, managers, lab coordinators, instructors, and anyone else who directs the work of others. NOTE TO CLINICIANS: AHS offers an orientation for clinicians that is specific to their work in AHS facilities. However, a clinician who supervises U of A undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research associates, administrative or technical staff must complete Supervising Safely to comply with the law. Topics include:
Hazard management
Inspections
Incident and emergency management
Environmental management
Training and competency
Contractor management
Working Safely (2023) (for all employees not required to complete Supervising Safely): This course is mandatory for all U of A workers who do not supervise others. (Note: supervisors must complete the Supervising Safely course instead.) Course outcomes:
Recognize the value of the U of A's Culture of Care Safety Action Plan
Identify worker rights and responsibilities
Know how to apply the Health, Safety, and Environment Management System (HSEMS) in the workplace
Workplace Violence and Harassment Prevention 2024: This course is mandatory for all U of A staff. Topics include:
Safety and respect in the workplace
Responding to violence and harassment
Related legislation and university policy
Additional resources
Your supervisor leads your onboarding experience. They will select an onboarding colleague for you and will meet with them to discuss their role. Your supervisor will communicate this information to you and your onboarding colleague will reach out to you directly to set up a meet and greet.
Remember, your onboarding colleague will support you to develop a sense of belonging with your team, reduce confusion and uncertainty, and will respect confidentiality. They are not responsible for the onboarding process, nor are they a coach or mentor, and do not evaluate your job performance.
Questions about your employment?
Visit the HRHSE Website or contact the Staff Service Centre