Carnegie Mellon University
Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty  ›  Faculty Development and Resources  ›  Incoming Faculty Orientation

Incoming Faculty Orientation

Welcome to Carnegie Mellon University’s university-wide Incoming Faculty Orientation, brought to you by the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty in partnership with the Eberly Center for Teaching Excellence and Educational Innovation.

This two-day orientation is an opportunity to meet other new faculty and explore what CMU has to offer. The program is designed to help new faculty learn about many aspects of their faculty role and to begin their professional development journey at CMU. In particular, the program will focus on supporting success across teaching, research and service.

The goal of the Incoming Faculty Orientation is to: 

  • Provide practical information that will help new faculty members succeed in their new faculty role
  • Connect new faculty members with useful resources, including key university policies and professional development opportunities
  • Introduce the Eberly Center for Teaching Excellence and Educational Innovation and its unique approach to enhancing teaching and learning at CMU
  • Build a cross-disciplinary community by connecting new faculty members to each other and to other faculty, staff, and leaders in key roles at the university

Contact

Fall 2025 Orientation Information

August 18 - 19, 2025 (in person)

Thank you to everyone who attended the fall 2025 orientation! We hope you found the programming meaningful and informative. 

Time

Session

8:30 - 9 a.m.

Breakfast 
Join us for breakfast and a chance to meet CMU leadership, faculty, and staff, as well as network with other incoming faculty and postdocs from across the university. 

9 - 9:30 a.m.

Provost's Welcome
Join Provost Jim Garrett for a warm welcome to the CMU community. Provost Jim Garrett will share insights about the university’s mission, values, and the vital role that faculty and postdoctoral scholars play in advancing its academic and research endeavors. This is an opportunity to learn about the university’s vision and to begin building connections as you embark on your journey at CMU.

9:30 - 10 a.m.

Orientation Overview: People, Policies, and Pathways
This session provides an essential foundation for your transition into the CMU community. We will review the university’s organizational structure, introduce the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty, and highlight key faculty policies and resources to help you navigate your role effectively. We will conclude with an overview of the orientation schedule.

10 - 10:15 a.m.

Break

10:15 - 11:45 a.m.

Cultivating a Culture of Inclusion and Belonging for All
Join us for an interactive session that explores CMU’s core values, expectations, and resources designed to foster a thriving, inclusive community. Discover the transformative workshops, programs, and consultative support offered through the Office of the Vice Provost for Community, Cultural, and Engagement and our partners. Bring your questions, share your ideas, and engage in a meaningful conversation about building a vibrant university where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed.

11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

Lunch 
Enjoy lunch as you network with other incoming faculty and postdocs or stop by our informational tables to learn about other CMU offices. 

12:45 - 1:45 p.m.

Intro to the Eberly Center and Support for Teaching
The Eberly Center for Teaching Excellence and Educational Innovation integrates pedagogical, technological, and research expertise to support Carnegie Mellon University educators of all experience levels via evidence-based practice. Learn about the services and resources the Eberly Center offers to help make the most of your teaching role at CMU.

1:45 - 2 p.m.

Break

2 - 3:30 p.m.

How Learning Works: Effective Teaching Strategies for All Students
Participants will engage in a broad overview of research on teaching and learning topics like cognition, mastery, and sense of belonging, and will discuss research findings regarding the benefits of inclusive active learning learning in different disciplines and teaching contexts. You will experience and learn about a variety strategies and begin developing your own activities to use in your classroom.

Time

Session

8:30 - 9 a.m.

Breakfast 
Join us for breakfast and a chance to meet CMU leadership, faculty, and staff, as well as network with other incoming faculty and postdocs from across the university.

9 - 9:45 a.m.

Academic Freedom & Freedom of Expression
This interactive session introduces the principles of academic freedom and freedom of expression. We will begin with an overview of the terms, followed by small-group discussions of real-world cases that highlight common challenges and opportunities related to these principles and insights about how faculty can navigate and uphold these values in their teaching, research, and service.

9:45 - 10:45 a.m.

Frameworks of Support - Education Policies and Practices
This interactive session invites participants to explore complex situations that may arise while teaching at CMU and consider effective strategies for navigating them. Through case-based discussions, faculty will engage with university policies, strategies, and resources designed to support and guide faculty in managing course issues.

10:45 - 11 a.m.

Break

11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Calibrating Your Teaching to CMU Students (Faculty Panel)
To help you teach effectively to CMU students, we have invited 5 current CMU faculty members to share their teaching experience with you. This faculty panel is a chance to ask about what CMU students are like, from the teacher's perspective, and how to best support your future students. Bring questions!

12 - 1 p.m.

Lunch
Enjoy lunch as you network with other incoming faculty and postdocs or stop by our informational tables to learn about other CMU offices. 

1 - 2 p.m.

Research and Scholarly Work at CMU
Learn about CMU's research ecosystem, including the offices and resources that support faculty in advancing their scholarly and creative work, from proposal development to compliance and dissemination. We will highlight the broad spectrum of scholarly work at CMU and review essential first steps to help you get started in your field of study.

2 - 2:15 p.m.

Break

2:15 - 3:30 p.m.

Next Steps - Plotting Your Trajectory
After learning about various CMU offices and resources, take time to reflect and identify your own professional development goals through an individual development plan. The Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty will also review additional professional development opportunities throughout the year designed specifically to support new faculty and postdocs.

In addition to the scheduled sessions, faculty and postdocs also have the opportunity to interact with a variety of CMU offices through the following informational tables that will be located in rooms 1308 and 1309 in the Eberly Center. During breaks, participants are encouraged to visit the tables to ask questions and learn more about each office.