POLICY ON ORIENTATION OF NEW FULL TIME FACULTY
ON THE FSU CAMPUS
Approved by the Executive Committee August 2003 

Introduction

FSUCOM recognizes the importance of an orientation program to provide professional support and familiarity with the mission, infrastructure, policies, and procedures of the COM.  This orientation will be coordinated by the Assistant Dean for Faculty Development and will include presentations by COM faculty and Staff, as needed. The program will address four important areas: 

1. Administrative Orientation
2. Information Technology Orientation
3. Education Program Orientation
4. Social Orientation

Upon acceptance of an offer of employment by a new faculty member, the department chair or division chief will notify the Faculty Coordinator who will than provide the name, title, department, brief position description, and start date to the following:

Associate Dean for Academic Affair
Assistant Dean for Faculty Development
Director of Information Technology
Director of Medical Informatics
Facilities Manager
Data Base Administrator
Director of Public Information

The Director of Medical Informatics will immediately send the new faculty member a questionnaire to assess his/her level of familiarity with information technology (IT).  The results of the IT assessment will determine the level of orientation/training that will be scheduled for the new faculty member upon his/her arrival.

The Assistant Dean for Faculty Development in concert with the department chair or division chief will begin to plan the remaining orientation sessions which will include other faculty and staff, as needed.

Administrative Orientation

First day on Campus
The department will assign a member of the staff to assist the new faculty member with the following:

• Obtaining an ID Card
• Setting up a Mailer Account-ACNS after obtaining card
• Obtaining a Parking Permit (and electronic gate opener if desired).
• Picture taken by for the web site
• COM online directory entry
• Entering bio sketch on faculty member’s web page.

Departmental Information Session (can occur in the first month)
The department will provide orientation on the following:

• Department/Division mission, vision, roles, and responsibilities
• Department/Division organizational structure
• Promotion and/or tenure criteria, policies, and procedures

COM Informational Sessions – First month
The Assistant Dean for Faculty Development will plan and coordinate orientation on the following:         

• Mission and Vision of FSUCOM
• Overview of FSUCOM organizational structure
• Overview of Student Affairs
• Overview of Faculty Handbook
• Faculty Development Opportunities

Information Technology Orientation

Information technology is a key component of the College of Medicine and is critical to the effective operation of the education program and the overall administration of the College.  IT Orientation should occur within the first week of employment, if possible.  Based on results of the IT assessment that was mailed to the new faculty member, the Director of Medical Informatics will ensure that the faculty member has the basic prerequisite skills to:

• Launch a computer application.
• Save work to a computer file.
• Print a file.
• Copy a file for use on another computer.
• Use a standard word processing program to create and edit a formatted document.
• Use electronic mail effectively, including proper etiquette.
• Access and use the World Wide Web.
• Able to use a key board and have reasonable typing skills.
• Understand and use windows.

If the new faculty member is not proficient in these prerequisite skills, the Director of Medical Informatics, in collaboration with the faculty member’s chair or division chief, will arrange for training during the first week of employment or as soon as is practically possible.  Faculty may also choose to obtain these skills prior to arrival at the COM, with the advice and assistance of the Director of Medical Informatics.

Basic IT orientation for all faculty who have the prerequisite IT skills will include an introduction to the office computer as well as:  

• FSU COM network resources
• FSU COM e-mail system, including internet etiquette
• FSU COM internet and intranet web site
• Policy on the distribution and management of IT resources
• Security Remote Access
• IT in the classrooms
• Blackboard
• Use of library resources
• PowerPoint if needed

Education Program Orientation

This will be planned and presented by the Office of Medical Education with the assistance of the Assistant Dean for Faculty Development.  Year Directors and Course Directors will participate as requested.

• Overview of the Office of Medical Education
• Philosophy and structure of the curriculum
• How the curriculum is administered
  - Curriculum Committee
  - Role of Year Directors
  - Education Directors
  - Clerkship Directors
• Overview of structure and administration of courses
• verview of teaching methods used at FSUCOM
• Teaching evaluation procedures
• Overview of Regional Campuses

Social Orientation

• The Department will provide an information packet on the area, including maps of the campus and Tallahassee/Leon County to all interviewees for a faculty position.
• When a new faculty member joins the COM, he/she will provide a brief bio sketch to the chair or division chief.  The bio, accompanied by a statement of welcome, will be distributed via e-mail to all faculty, staff and students.
• A COM reception will be held on a monthly basis to welcome all new faculty and staff. Information on new hires, including names, titles and departments will be sent to all faculty and staff prior to each reception. Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend these receptions.