Welcoming New Faculty to Kennesaw State

Welcome New Faculty! We are pleased that you have chosen KSU and look forward to supporting you throughout your career. In addition to information about New Faculty Orientation (NFO), this page will connect you with resources and groups on campus that will help you get off to a successful start whether it's your first semester in a new position or your first semester at the university.

Sign-Up for New Faculty Orientation

New Faculty Orientation (NFO) is hosted by the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning each August and is open to all new full and part-time faculty, as well as faculty that have changed their role at KSU. 

The goals for NFO are to:

  • Help new faculty develop an understanding of KSU’s mission and culture.
  • Provide new faculty with an overview of available resources that can help achieve professional goals.
  • Provide an opportunity for new faculty to complete essential onboarding activities in one place.
  • Facilitate connections with faculty and staff across both campuses.
  • Lay the groundwork for an energizing, productive, and successful career at KSU.

2025 New Faculty Orientation Schedule

  • Monday, August 11, and the morning of Tuesday, August 12, will be in-person located in the Carmichael Student Center on the Kennesaw Campus (address: 395 Cobb Avenue; Kennesaw, GA, 30144). The afternoon of Tuesday, August 12, will be online through a Microsoft Teams link (links will become available on the day of orientation). 

    • Time Session Title Facilitator(s) Location
      8:30 - 8:45 am Registration/Check-In   University Rooms 

      8:45 - 9:00 am

       

      New Faculty Orientation Overview and Introductions

       

      Dr. Carmen Skaggs, Assistant Vice Provost

      Dr. Michele DiPietro, Executive Director of Faculty Development, Recognition, and CETL

      University Rooms

       

      9:00 - 10:00 am

       

      Welcome from the KSU President and Provost

      Dr. Kathy S. Schwaig, President of Kennesaw State University

      Dr. Ivan Pulinkala, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

      University Rooms

      10:00 - 11:30 am

      Designing Your Syllabi to Support Student Learning

      Dr. Carmen Skaggs, Assistant Vice Provost

      Dr. Rebecca Weaver, Teaching and Learning Consultant, CETL

      University Rooms

      11:30 am - 12:15 pm

      What Educational Psychology Tells Us about Student Success

      Dr. Meghan Bankhead, CETL Faculty Fellow for Learning-Centered Teaching

      University Rooms

      12:15 - 1:00 pm

      Lunch and New Faculty Q&A

       

      University Rooms

      1:00 - 3:00 pm

      Student Success Resources

       

      University Rooms and Academic Learning Center

      3:00 - 3:45pm

      Connecting Assessment of Student Learning and Student Success

      Institutional Assessment

      University Rooms

      3:45 - 5:00 pm

      Excellence in Teaching: Taking and Documenting a Scholarly Approach

      Dr. Tris Utschig, Director for Scholarly Teaching, CETL

      Dr. Laura Howard, Senior Teaching and Learning Consultant, CETL

      Dr. Hillary Steiner, Associate Director for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, CETL

      University Rooms

    • Time Session Title Facilitator(s) Location
      ONLY Full-Time Faculty with a Research Workload Join for this Session
      8:30 - 8:45 am Registration/Check-In for those with a Research Workload who did not attend day 1 University Rooms

      8:45 - 10:00 am

       

      Supporting Research and Creative Activity at KSU

       

      Dr. Heather Abbott, Director of Research Development, Office of Research

      University Rooms

       

      ALL Full-Time not Limited Term Attend

      10:00 - 10:15 am

      Break - Full-Time Faculty without a Research Workload Arrive

      University Rooms

      10:15 - 11:30 am

      Expanding the NEST (Nurturing Environments through Scholarly Teaching)

      Dr. Misty Grayer, Senior Teaching and Learning Consultant, VITAL, CETL

      Dr. Laura Howard, Senior Teaching and Learning Consultant, CETL

      University Rooms

      11:30 am- 12:30 pm

      Faculty Success at KSU, Part 1. Strategies for Your Success

      Dr. Michele DiPietro, Executive Director for Faculty Development, Recognition, and CETL

      University Rooms

      12:30 - 1:30 pm

      LUNCH BREAK (on your own)

      ONLINE

      1:30 - 2:30 pm

      Sustainable Course Design and Preparing to Teach Online (Synchronous)

      Digital Learning Innovations

      Microsoft Teams

      2:30 - 3:30 pm

      Faculty as Learning Scientists: Using D2L and Data to Enhance Student Learning (Synchronous)

      Digital Learning Innovations

      Microsoft Teams

      3:30 - 5:00 pm

      Faculty Success at KSU, Part 2: Preparing for Annual and Multi-Year Reviews (Synchronous)

      Mr. Wes Daggerhart, Faculty and Academic Services Manager

      Mr. Jamie Grimes, Faculty and Academic Services System Specialist

      Dr. John Havard, Chair of the Department of English

      Dr. Carmen Skaggs, Assistant Vice Provost

      Microsoft Teams

  • Monday, August 11, will be in-person located in the Carmichael Student Center on the Kennesaw Campus (address: 395 Cobb Avenue; Kennesaw, GA, 30144). Tuesday, August 12, will be online through D2L and Microsoft Teams links (links will become available on the day of orientation). 

    • Time Session Title Facilitator(s) Location

      8:30 - 8:45 am

      Registration/Check-In

       

      University Rooms

      8:45 - 9:00 am

      New Faculty Orientation Overview and Introductions

      Dr. Carmen Skaggs, Assistant Vice Provost

      Dr. Michele DiPietro, Executive Director of Faculty Development, Recognition, and CETL

      University Rooms

      9:00 - 10:00 am

      Welcome from the KSU President and Provost

      Dr. Kathy S. Schwaig, President of Kennesaw State University

      Dr. Ivan Pulinkala, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

      University Rooms

      10:00 - 11:30 am

       

      Designing Your Syllabi to Support Student Learning

       

      Dr. Carmen Skaggs, Assistant Vice Provost

      Dr. Rebecca Weaver, Teaching and Learning Consultant, CETL

      University Rooms

      11:30 am - 12:15 pm

       

      What Educational Psychology Tells Us about Student Success

       

      Dr. Meghan Bankhead, CETL Faculty Fellow for Learning-Centered Teaching

      University Rooms

       

      12:15 - 1:00 pm

      Lunch and New Faculty Q&A

       

      University Rooms

      1:00 - 3:00 pm

      Student Success Resources

       

      University Rooms and Academic Learning Center

    • Time Session Title Facilitator(s) Location

      11:30 am - 12:30 pm

       

      Expanding the NEST (Nurturing Environments through Scholarly Teaching, Asynchronous)

       

      Dr. Misty Grayer, Senior Teaching and Learning Consultant, VITAL, CETL

      D2L Course

       

      12:30 - 1:30 pm

      Lunch Break (on your own)

      1:30 - 2:30 pm

      Sustainable Course Design and Preparing to Teach Online (Synchronous)

      Digital Learning Innovations

      Microsoft Teams

      2:30 - 3:30 pm

      Faculty as Learning Scientists: Using D2L and Data to Enhance Student Learning (Synchronous)

      Digital Learning Innovations

      Microsoft Teams

      3:30 - 4:30pm

      V.I.T.A.L. at KSU: Your Reflections and Questions (Synchronous)

      Dr. Misty Grayer, Senior Teaching and Learning Consultant, VITAL, CETL

      Microsoft Teams

  • The online content will be available through D2L as well as the Microsoft Teams links (links will become available on the day of orientation)

    • Time Session Title Facilitator(s) Location
      8:45 - 9:15 am Welcome & Overview of D2L (Synchronous) Dr. Misty Grayer, Senior Teaching and Learning Consultant, VITAL, CETL Microsoft Teams

      9:15 - 10:15am

       

      Designing Your Syllabi to Support Student Learning (Asynchronous)

       

      Dr. Carmen Skaggs, Assistant Vice Provost

      Dr. Rebecca Weaver, Teaching and Learning Consultant, CETL

      D2L Course

       

      10:15 - 10:45 am

      What Educational Psychology Tells Us about Student Success (Asynchronous)

      Dr. Hillary Steiner, Associate Director for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, CETL

      D2L Course

       

      10:45 - 11:45 am

      Expanding the NEST (Nurturing Environments through Scholarly Teaching, Asynchronous)

      Dr. Misty Grayer, Senior Teaching and Learning Consultant, VITAL, CETL

      D2L Course

      11:45 am - 12:30 pm

      Student Success Resources at Kennesaw State University

      Dr. Misty Grayer, Senior Teaching and Learning Consultant, VITAL, CETL

      Microsoft Teams

      12:30 - 1:30 pm

      Lunch Break (on your own)

      1:30 - 2:30 pm

      Sustainable Course Design and Preparing to Teach Online (Synchronous)

      Digital Learning Innovations

      Microsoft Teams

      2:30 - 3:30 pm

      Faculty as Learning Scientists: Using D2L and Data to Enhance Student Learning (Synchronous)

      Digital Learning Innovations

      Microsoft Teams

      3:30 - 4:30 pm

      V.I.T.A.L. at KSU: Your Reflections and Questions (Syncronous)

      Dr. Misty Grayer, Senior Teaching and Learning Consultant, VITAL, CETL

      Microsoft Teams

*V.I.T.A.L. = Visiting, Instructor, Teaching Assistant, Adjunct or Part-Time, and Limited-Term

University Opening Week Schedule

  • New Faculty Orientation

    Foundations for Faculty and Student Success at KSU

    Location: Kennesaw Campus, University Rooms, Carmichael Student Center

    8:30am-3:00pm

    University Rooms,

    Student Center

    New Faculty Orientation Sessions for ALL New Faculty (Full-time and V.I.T.A.L. faculty)

    Full-time, contracted (Tenure-track, Clinical, Library, or Lecturers)

    V.I.T.A.L. (Visiting, Instructor, Temporary, Adjunct or Part-time, and Limited-term)

    3:00-5:00pm

    University Rooms,

    Student Center

    New Faculty Orientation Sessions continue for Full-time Faculty only

    (Tenure-track, Clinical, Library, or Lecturers)

     

  • New Faculty Orientation

    Location: Kennesaw Campus, University Rooms, Carmichael Student Center

    Virtual (Teams)

     

    For Full-Time Faculty (Tenure-track, Clinical, Library, or Lecturers)

    8:30am-12:30pm

    University Rooms,

    Student Center

    New Faculty Orientation Sessions for Full-time Faculty only

    (Tenure-track, Clinical, Library, or Lecturers)

    1:30-5:00pm

    Virtual (Teams)

    New Faculty Orientation Sessions continue for Full-time Faculty only

    (Tenure-track, Clinical, Library, or Lecturers)

     

    For V.I.T.A.L. Faculty (Visiting, Instructor, Temporary, Adjunct or Part-time, and Limited-term)

    8:45am - 12:30pm

    Virtual (Teams)

    New Faculty Orientation Sessions for V.I.T.A.L. Faculty participating in the Online Option only

    (Visiting, Instructor, Temporary, Adjunct or Part-time, and Limited-term)

    11:30am - 12:30pm

    Virtual (D2L)

    New Faculty Orientation Sessions for V.I.T.A.L. Faculty participating in the Hybrid Option only

    (Visiting, Instructor, Temporary, Adjunct or Part-time, and Limited-term)

    1:30 - 4:30pm

    Virtual (Teams)

    New Faculty Orientation Sessions for V.I.T.A.L. Faculty only

    (Visiting, Instructor, Temporary, Adjunct or Part-time, and Limited-term)

  • P & T Portfolio Reviewers Workshop (for Portfolio Reviewers only)

    Virtual (Teams)

    9:30-11:30am

    Virtual (Teams) 

    P & T Portfolio Reviewers Workshop (for Portfolio Reviewers only)
  • Launch ‘25

    Location: Kennesaw Campus, Convocation Center

    8:30am: Doors open

    9:00-10:30am

    Convocation Center

    Launch ’25 (all KSU Faculty and Staff)
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant Orientation 9:00am-12:15pm (Teams)

    College and Department Meetings as scheduled by units

    9:00am-12:15pm

    Virtual (Teams)

    Graduate Teaching Assistant Orientation

    TBD by unit

    College and Department Meetings

Frequently Asked Questions

  • If you cannot attend, contact your supervisor to let them know.
  • Faculty who teach part-time should contact their KSU supervisor to find out what their expectations are for participation in New Faculty Orientation (NFO). We do offer a completely virtual NFO offerring with a mixture of synchronous and asynchronous sessions for faculty who teach part-time or are limited-term. For part-time and limited-term faculty who are unable to attend NFO, we will have a completely asynchronous option. If your schedule allows, we hope you will join us synchronously for NFO. 
  • Please submit your accommodation request via email to cetl@kennesaw.edu.
  • No, sessions will not be recorded. 
  • Completing the Human Resources onboarding process for new employees will enable you to setup essential access to KSU Systems (NetID, email, etc). Human Resources will reach out with additional onboarding tasks after your background check clears and is approved.  If you have not heard from Human Resources 30 days prior to your start date, please reach out by calling 470-578-6030 or contacting TAM@kennesaw.edu for further assistance. 

    If you have already completed the HR new employee onboarding process and still do not have essential access to KSU systems, contact University Information Technology Services (UITS) at 470-578-6999 or email, service@kennesaw.edu. If UITS tells you that you are not yet set up in the system, contact tam@kennesaw.edu or call 470.578.6030 to let HR know.

    Please note that it may take several days for your access to be set up once you complete the HR new employee onboarding process.

  • Once you have access to KSU systems, you may see additional information about parking and the link purchase your parking permit. 
  • No, you do not. During this week, Parking and Transportation is aware of  your arrival for orientation. They will not be ticketing. You will need a parking permit by the first week of classes.
  • All in-person sessions will take place in the Carmichael Student Center on the Kennesaw Campus. Please allow yourself extra time to find parking as the lots closest to the Carmichael Student Center tend to fill up quickly.

    Below are some options for parking:

    • Lot B (295 Kennesaw State University Road NW; Kennesaw, GA 30144) 
    • Lot C (371 Paulding Avenue; Kennesaw, GA 30144)
    • East Parking Deck (305 Hopkins Drive NW; Kennesaw, GA 30144)

    These parking lots are accessible to the Carmichael Student Center for those who need an accessible entrance to the building.

    You can also view an interactive map through our website.

KSU Human Resource New Employee Requirements

Completing the Human Resources onboarding process for new employees will enable you to setup essential access to KSU Systems (NetID, email, etc). Human Resources will reach out with additional onboarding tasks after your background check clears and is approved.  If you have not heard from Human Resources 30 days prior to your start date, please reach out by calling 470-578-6030 or contacting TAM@kennesaw.edu for further assistance.