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Center for Teaching Excellence

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New Faculty Orientation: First-Year Success at USC

Teaching, Research, Resources, and Community

To help new, full-time faculty prepare for a successful first year at USC, we recommend the following key actions. These resources and opportunities are designed to support your teaching, connect you with the university community, and help you start the semester with confidence.

1. Register for New Faculty Orientation

Date:           Friday, August 28, 2026
Time:          8:15 a.m.. - 2:00 p.m.
Location:  Pastides Alumni Center  (in person only)
                      900 Senate St., Columbia, SC 29201

Register Now for New Faculty Orientation

New Faculty Orientation (NFO) supports your first-year success in teaching and research, helps you foster student success, and connects you with the university and Columbia community through concurrent sessions, leadership presentations, networking opportunities over breakfast and lunch, and a campus and community resource fair.

New Faculty Orientation Agenda

8:15 a.m.  Networking Breakfast
Connect with leadership and fellow new faculty in a relaxed, community-building setting.
9:00 a.m.  Opening Remarks
Matt Thatcher, Ph.D. | Director, Center for Teaching Excellence
9:05 a.m.  University Welcome
Michael Amiridis, Ph.D. | President, University of South Carolina
9:20 a.m.  A New Beginning
Mary Anne Fitzpatrick, Ph.D. | Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
9:35 a.m.  Becoming Part of USC
Jennifer Ng, Ph.D. | Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Dean of the Faculty
9:50 a.m.  Just-in-Time Resources
Matt Thatcher, Ph.D. | Director, Center for Teaching Excellence
10:10 a.m.  Break & Transition
10:20 a.m.  Breakout Session I

Participants choose one of the following:

  • Teaching and Learning at USC
  • Technology and Computing at USC
  • Research and Scholarship at USC
10:50 a.m.  Break & Transition
11:00 a.m.  Breakout Session II

Participants choose a second session from the following options:

  • Teaching and Learning at USC (repeated)
  • Technology and Computing at USC (repeated)
  • Student Success at USC
11:30 a.m.                 Break & Transition
11:40 a.m.              Breakout Session III + Key Takeaways and Next Steps

Participants choose a third session from the following options, immediately followed by guided reflection by CTE staff:

  • Research and Scholarship at USC (repeated)
  • The Columbia Community
  • Student Success at USC (repeated)
12:20 p.m.  Lunch & Resource Fair
Enjoy lunch with fellow faculty, browse resource tables, complete your Resource Passport, and enter the raffle for a chance to win prizes!

Important: NFO does not include HR onboarding (e.g., benefits, payroll). See below for required onboarding steps to complete before arrival. 

New Faculty Orientation (NFO) does not include HR onboarding. To ensure a smooth start, you should complete your benefits and payroll onboarding before arriving on campus.

The Office of Human Resources offers Employee Benefits and Payroll Orientation – Live Webinars throughout the summer. These virtual sessions provide important information about health and retirement benefits, payroll setup, employee assistance programs, and required onboarding steps.

You are strongly encouraged to attend one of the following sessions: 

•  Tuesday, May 12, 2026 | 10:00 am - 12:30 pm | Register

•  Tuesday, June 16, 2026 | 10:00 am - 12:30 pm | Register

•  Tuesday, July 14, 2026 | 10:00 am - 12:30 pm | Register

•  Tuesday, August 11 | 10:00 am - 12:30 pm | Register

If you have questions about benefits or onboarding, please contact:

2. Complete the Effective Teaching Course by August

You will be automatically enrolled in this short, self-paced Blackboard course. After logging in with your USC credentials, click on “Courses,” search for “Foster Student Learning,” and begin. 

Access “Foster Student Learning through Effective Teaching"

Modules 1–4 focus on the core practices that support a strong start in any course format, including:

  • Designing a clear, well-organized course using backward design and aligned learning outcomes
  • Creating a structured syllabus and Blackboard site
  • Communicating expectations through transparent grading practices
  • Building an inclusive, supportive learning environment
  • Using active learning to promote engagement and deeper understanding

These modules are especially helpful as you prepare your courses for the first day of class, offering guidance on effective teaching practices aligned with USC’s academic policies and expectation

3. Plan Your Teaching with Pre-Semester Support

To support your transition into teaching at USC, the Center for Teaching Excellence and eLearning Services offer a series of live, virtual sessions during the week before classes begin to help you prepare your course and start the semester strong.

Teaching Week Sessions: Preparing Your Course for Day One and Beyond

A Purposeful Syllabus: Strategies and Tools | Register 
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Design a clear, effective syllabus using USC templates and resources to communicate expectations and support student success.  

Course Design and Student Readiness | Register
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Structure your course for a strong start by aligning learning outcomes, assessments, and course flow.

Accessible and Universal Design: A Beginner’s Guide | Register
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Learn practical strategies to make course materials and activities more accessible for all students using Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

 

Wednesday, August 12 (CTE)

First Day, First Week, and Student Engagement | Register
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Plan an engaging start to the semester with strategies for day one, early participation, and connecting students to support services. 

15-Minute Active Learning | Register
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Use simple, time-efficient strategies to increase student participation and interaction during class.

Blackboard Learn Ultra Course View 101 | Register
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Learn the basics of Blackboard, including navigation, communication, content creation, tools, and grading.

Blackboard Ultra Gradebook: A Deeper Look | Register 
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Explore best practices and advanced tips for setting up and managing the Blackboard Ultra Gradebook.

Take Your Blackboard Ultra Course from Drab to Fab: Add Some Pizzazz! | Register
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Learn how to organize and customize your Blackboard course to create a more engaging and user-friendly experience.

Create, Connect, and Engage: Using Panopto & Zoom in Blackboard | Register
2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Discover how to use Panopto and Zoom within Blackboard to create, manage, and deliver engaging video and live learning experiences.

Fix Your Content: Universal Design as an Empowerment Tool | Register
9:00 – 9:40 a.m.
Learn how to improve accessibility and apply universal design principles in your Blackboard Ultra course.

Blackboard Learn Ultra Course View 101 | Register
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Learn the basics of Blackboard, including navigation, communication, content creation, tools, and grading.

Increasing Student Engagement with iClicker Cloud | Register
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Learn how to use iClicker Cloud in Blackboard to increase student engagement through polling, quizzing, and real-time feedback.

Name Dropping: Building Rapport Through the Science of Names | Register
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Apply research-based strategies for learning and using student names to build connection, belonging, and engagement. 

4. Get Individual Support as Needed

Our Center for Teaching Excellence instructional designers are available to support you before the semester begins whether you have questions about your syllabus, Blackboard, course design, or teaching strategies.

5. Continue with New Faculty Academy

Together, New Faculty Orientation and the Effective Teaching course are the first components of the New Faculty Academy, a 9-month program designed to support your continued growth and success at USC.

Details and registration information will be shared following New Faculty Orientation.

We’re excited to welcome you to USC and look forward to meeting you at New Faculty Orientation. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if we can support you as you prepare for the semester.

How to Prepare

  • Register for NFO using the “register” link above.
  • Bring your questions.
  • Be ready to connect and engage.

Explore the New Faculty Video Library

Get a head start with our curated New Faculty Video Library featuring:

  • Teaching Tips
  • Student Support Services
  • Course Design Strategies

Questions?

Contact the Center for Teaching Excellence at cte@mailbox.sc.edu.  

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