The beginning of the academic year always gives rise to a plethora of activities to ease the integration of new students on campus. However, the University of Ottawa spares no effort in also welcoming new professors.
The orientation, training and integration program for new professors, co-ordinated by the Centre for University Teaching (CUT), is unique in Canada in terms of its scope and theme. The centre's director, Aline Germain-Rutherford, says that, out of some 108 newly hired professors, 88 participated in activities that took place over a seven-day period during the last two weeks of August. Among the participants were another 10 professors who were hired previously but had not yet taken advantage of sessions.
"The theme is a very ambitious one," says the director, because the program aims to cover the three aspects of the academic's role: as teacher, as researcher and as member of the university community. Through the various activities, participants have the opportunity to hear colleagues, university administrators and representatives of the library network and the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. There were also presentations by Research Grants and Ethics Services, the Teaching and Learning Support Service and the Student Academic Success Service.
One feature that makes the program special is that it combines more formal activities with social activities, such as a family-oriented barbecue. It is during this kind of social event that "people begin to establish the networks that will later become friendships and, of course, interdisciplinary research connections," explains Germain-Rutherford.
The director of the CUT is thrilled with the "great success" achieved by the program this year, a success that is reflected in the number of participants and by the fact "that we managed to keep people interested until the end." The program concluded with the Kesarwani lecture, which was attended by more than 130 new and older professors. The event ran with a services fair, which provided an opportunity for professors to get better acquainted with the various services that can assist them in their work. This event marked both the conclusion of the orientation days and the launch of the academic year.
The reaction of the participants was also very positive overall, says Germain-Rutherford.
The centre will keep in touch with new professors throughout the year, not only through professional consultations, but also through informal meetings.
Centre for University Teaching
A look at upcoming activities at the CUT (Article in French only)
Answers to professors' frequently-asked questions about communications (PDF document)
