IV.1 ORIENTATION OF NEW STAFF MEMBERS

Welcoming new staff members to the department and making sure they have a thorough explanation of what is expected of them is an important responsibility of the chair.  The university administration has, in recent years, stepped up its efforts to welcome and orient all staff -- faculty (including those who are visiting), academic staff, teaching assistants, and classified staff.  Information relevant to orientation (including an orientation checklist) is available online, through the Office of Human Resources at http://www.ohrd.wisc.edu/employeeorientation/resources/index.htm.  Links to policies and procedures, connections to employee groups, to community events and to campus tours (real and virtual) help convey a sense of what it's like to be part of the UW-Madison community.  A new feature (first offered in the year 2000) is the New Employee Celebration, which welcomes newcomers with opportunities that help them develop cross-campus connections.  For more information, see http://www.ohrd.wisc.edu/employeeorientation/index.htm. 

The department chair should take care to give new faculty a comprehensive overview of the departmental structure and policies, an outline of the general faculty governance structure of the University, and a reminder of those considerations likely to be of greatest importance to a new faculty member. These include such information as Graduate School Research Committee opportunities and deadlines, departmental and Divisional Committee expectations for tenure, details about course assignments, policies governing teaching assistantships, and the mechanics of dealing with course needs, insurance, parking, etc. In large departments it is especially important to make sure new faculty members meet other colleagues and get a sense of belonging to a vibrant community of scholars. The departmental chair is in the best position to make sure this happens.