University of Virginia Health System

Departmental Orientation Guidelines

The annual New Faculty Survey, given by the Office of Faculty Development, consistently reveals that the orientation process, both within the department and through faculty development programs, is key to the retention, success, and satisfaction of our new faculty. View the New Faculty Survey results here.

Goals of both Faculty Development Orientation and the Departmental Orientation Process are:

• Prepare each new faculty member for the Annual Review process, to commence during May-June of their initial academic year.
• Provide each new faculty member with a well-informed entry into the Promotion and Tenure process of the School of Medicine. View the P&T Calendar (Timeline).
• Provide ample Resources for Career Success within the home department and within the School of Medicine as a whole.

Towards support of new faculty orientation resources already in place:

1. Strongly encourage all new faculty to attend the day-long SOM New Faculty Orientation offered annually and provide assitance as needed in resolving any staffing/covering issues. The New Faculty Orientation Session for current in-coming faculty is scheduled on September 12, 2007 at the Colonnade Club.

2. Direct new faculty to the New Faculty Orientation web site, either from the left-menu navigation bar of this page or by providing the URL: http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/faculty-dev/orientation/home.cfm

3. Make sure that new faculty obtain the Orientation List of New Faculty Resources, which may be printed from this link.

Recommendations for development of the Departmental Orientation:

1. Set up a departmental protocol for Preparing for Arrival of New Faculty. The SOM Office of Budget & Compensation has a number of forms available for download which itemize the required preparations. These are subdivided into forms specific to the following types of SOM appointments: Clinical Faculty New Hire Checklist, Faculty Salaried Personnel Hire Form, Non-Clinical Faculty New Hire Checklist, & Professional Research Staff New Hire Checklist.
    
2. Provide a Formal Welcome for each new faculty member, to include a tour of all related facilities, introductions to colleagues, and a formal introduction to their faculty mentor. Provide appropriate phone lists and organization charts to clarify the faculty and staff of the department, chains of communication, and contact information.
    
3. Provide a thorough introduction to the Policies and Procedures of the University of Virginia and the UVa School of Medicine, including such topics as salary, benefits, procurement procedure, parking, space use and request protocols, safety procedures, etc. Direct new faculty to the appropriate web and print resources to learn more about these topics.
    
4. Human Resources of the University of Virginia offers extensive suggestions through their web site for the orientation of new employees. 
   View the UVa HR  Orientation Guide for New Employees.
   UVa HR also offers a full Departmental Orientation Checklist (pdf).
   Additionally, UVa HR offers a full Resource Directory for Faculty and Staff.
    
5. The SOM Office of Faculty Development offers a full resources directory for both personal and professional matters, Word of Mouth: Resources for Successful Balance of Work, Life, & Family.
    
6. Provide new faculty with opportunities for continual feedback and inquiry, during their first year and beyond. In this way, the orientation process can serve as the direct bridge to the career development and satisfaction of our esteemed faculty of the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

With further questions, please contact:
Sharon Hostler (982-3353) or Susan Pollart (982-1754).