New Faculty Orientation (NFO)
Introduction
Welcome aboard! It is our absolute pleasure to welcome you to the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). We are delighted that you have chosen to join us, and we are glad that you are now a member of our engaged community of internationally recognized educators, scholars and researchers.
Online Modules
To support your introduction to all things UIC, we’ve developed a range of resources to help you navigate the many aspects of teaching and research here.
- The New Faculty Orientation online modules are designed to serve as a helpful guide throughout your first several months.
- Explore a menu of topics and discover a variety of useful campus resources at your own pace.
- We encourage you to complete these modules prior to attending New Faculty Orientation in August 2026.
Access Online Modules
New Faculty Pre-Orientation: August 19, 2026
Join us for optional pre-orientation activities on UIC’s East Campus. Families are welcome to participate.
August 19, 2026
Instructional Design and Media Production Studio (IDMPS) Open House
Location: Student Services Building (SSB), Room 665
Address: 1200 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 PM
Join us for the New Faculty Social Exchange at the Instructional Design and Media Production Studio (IDMPS).
This move marks an exciting new chapter for the IDMPS, now centrally located between UIC’s East and West campuses. Faculty are invited to stop by and mingle, explore the new space, and celebrate this milestone.
Enjoy light refreshments while connecting with Faculty Affairs and IDMPS staff, touring the space, and learning more about instructional design and media production resources available to faculty across UIC.
Self-Guided Campus Experiences
| Location | Address | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Addams Hull-House Museum | 800 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60607 | Open during regular hours: 10:00 AM - 4:50 PM |
| Richard J. Daley Library | 801 S. Morgan St., Chicago, IL 60607 | Open during regular hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Student Recreation Facility | 737 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60607 | "New Faculty Family Day" Hours: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM |
| Chancellor Miranda's Ice Cream Social (Student Center West) | 828 S. Wolcott Ave., Chicago, IL 60612 | 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM |
SELF-GUIDED TOUR FACT SHEET
This mobile-friendly fact sheet can help guide you through the campus tour.
Planning Your Pre-Orientation Visit
1
Getting to UIC
For driving directions, please visit UIC’s Visit and Directions webpage.
Parking Information
Parking is available at the Halsted/Taylor Parking Structure (760 W. Taylor St.), and complimentary parking passes will be provided at check-in.
Public Transportation
If you are taking public transportation, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) website offers helpful route-planning tools and up-to-date service information.
2
Getting Around UIC
To help you navigate campus, refer to the UIC Campus Map.
Reminders:
- Plan your travel accordingly, as commute times may vary throughout the day.
Attire
- We recommend wearing comfortable, breathable clothing and walking shoes as you explore campus.
- If participating in New Faculty Family Day at the Student Recreation Facility (SRF) we recommend bringing swimsuits (if you wish to swim), closed-toe shoes (for climbing wall), and a lock. Towels are provided.
New Faculty Orientation: August 20, 2026
Location: Cardinal Room, Student Center East (SCE) | 750 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60607
Attendance: Attendance is mandatory for all newly appointed regular faculty (tenure-system and non-tenure-system tracks).
Agenda, Presenters, Logistics
Agenda
| Time | Activity | Facilitator(s) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30 AM - 9:15 AM | Coffee and Check-In | Cardinal Room | |
| 9:15 AM - 10:00 AM | Welcome Remarks and Conocimiento | Mike Stieff, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs | Cardinal Room |
| 10:05 AM - 11:05 AM | Presentation – Student Affairs: Understanding UIC Students | Sue Farruggia, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Assessment and Planning | Cardinal Room |
| 11:10 AM - 12:10 PM | Workshop – CATE: When Rooms Go Silent: Boosting Student Engagement in Your Teaching | Margaret Gonzales, Crystal Tse | Cardinal Room |
| 12:10 PM - 1:00 PM | Lunch | Cardinal Room | |
| 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Workshop – Promotion & Tenure at UIC | Faizan Abid, Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs; Allyson Holbrook, Co-Chair, University P&T Committee, and Professor; Sandy Sufian, Co-Chair, University P&T Committee, and Professor; Cindy Tekobbe, Professor; Kathleen Kashima, Clinical Associate Professor | Cardinal Room |
| 2:05 PM - 3:05 PM | Workshop – CATE: Let's Talk About AI | Lori Mumpower, CATE Executive Director; Patrick Horton | Cardinal Room |
| 3:10 PM - 4:10 PM | Workshop – Scholarly Productivity Panel | Miquel Gonzalez-Meler, Assistant Vice Provost for Leadership Development; Memoona Hasnain, Associate Dean and Professor; Karl Rockne, Associate Dean and Professor | Cardinal Room |
| 4:10 PM - 4:25 PM | Letter to Future Self | Elizabeth Houlihan, Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Engagement | Cardinal Room |
| 4:25 PM - 4:45 PM | Leadership Remarks | UIC Senior Leadership | Cardinal Room |
| 4:45 PM - 6:00 PM | New Faculty Reception | East Terrace |
Workshops
Understanding UIC Students
Facilitator: Sue Farruggia
This presentation will prepare you for understanding and getting to know UIC’s diverse student population and how to support their needs in and out of the classroom.
When Rooms Go Silent: Boosting Student Engagement in Your Teaching
Facilitators: Margaret Gonzales and Crystal Tse
Are you wondering how to get students to attend class? Or unsure of what to do about blank stares from those who do attend? A lack of student engagement can be disheartening, but teaching, especially in large classrooms or online, doesn’t have to mean teaching into the void. In this interactive workshop, you will explore practical, evidence-based approaches to foster meaningful student engagement that are feasible and align with your teaching style and context. Participants will share ideas and you will learn new strategies for making your courses more interactive and energizing for students and instructors alike.
After participating in this workshop, you will be able to:
- Describe common barriers to student engagement and attendance
- Identify evidence-based strategies and active learning techniques to increase student interaction and participation
Promotion & Tenure at UIC
Facilitator: Faizan Abid
This workshop will prepare you for Promotion and Tenure (P&T) including the materials and resources faculty need for promotion and/or tenure related needs. Whether being a tenure system or non-tenure system faculty member, this workshop will provide several helpful resources to help faculty successfully navigate through the P&T process at UIC.
Let’s Talk About AI
Facilitators: Lori Mumpower and Patrick Horton
Join us for this interactive workshop to explore the impacts of AI on assignments and consider ways to develop AI policies for your courses and assignments. Participants will leave the workshop with actionable strategies that promote trust and transparency in AI use.
Child Care
Child care will be available for children ages 3 to 12 during New Faculty Orientation on August 20, 2026. UIC staff will provide supervised, engaging activities throughout the day. The child care area will be located on the same floor as orientation programming.
If you plan to utilize child care, please indicate this in your RSVP. A waiver form will also be required and will be completed at check-in, which begins at 8:30 AM.
For more information about UIC’s Protection of Minors Policy, please visit: https://hr.uic.edu/employees/protection-of-minors/.
Planning Your Visit
Left
Getting to UIC
For driving directions, please visit UIC’s Visit and Directions webpage.
Parking Information
Parking is available at the Halsted/Taylor Parking Structure (760 W. Taylor St.), and complimentary parking passes will be provided at check-in.
Public Transportation
If you are taking public transportation, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) website offers helpful route-planning tools and up-to-date service information.
Getting Around UIC
To help you navigate campus, refer to the UIC Campus Map.
Right
Reminders:
- Plan your travel accordingly, as commute times may vary throughout the day.
- In support of our sustainability efforts, please bring a reusable water bottle for all New Faculty Orientation activities.
- Bring a fully charged electronic device or tablet to access the agenda and event materials via QR codes.
- If you’re experiencing symptoms of any contagious illnesses, please prioritize your health and the well-being of others by staying home.
Attire
We recommend wearing business casual attire for the event.
Photo Release
Photo Release: By participating and being present during the event, you give the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) the right to use photographs or video/audio recordings taken of you during the event for educational or promotional purposes and for sharing with external news media. If you do not wish to appear in photographs during this event, please contact us.
Beyond Orientation: Your First Year at UIC
Starting a faculty position means balancing new courses, new students, new technologies, and new expectations: all while building a successful research and service agenda. The New Faculty Teaching Network provides practical, year-long support to help new faculty develop effective, sustainable teaching practices at UIC.
Hosted by the Center for the Advancement of Teaching Excellence (CATE), the Network extends the support provided through New Faculty Orientation by offering opportunities to learn, connect, and reflect throughout the academic year.
The New Faculty Teaching Network follows a simple 3+1 model: complete three core experiences and choose one additional opportunity that best fits your interests, goals, or teaching context:
New Faculty Teaching Network
3 Core Experiences +1 Elective Experience
3 Core Experiences
Participants complete the following core experiences:
- Teaching Development Workshops – Attend four CATE workshops during 2026-2027 on topics that match your teaching interests.
- Mid-Semester Student Feedback – Gather structured feedback from students and make meaningful adjustments while your course is still in progress.
- Teaching Statement Development – Draft or refine your teaching statement through CATE workshops and consultations.
+1 Elective Experience
Participants select one or more additional opportunities from the following to deepen the experience and connect to the larger UIC community:
- New Faculty Lunches (sign up form coming soon)
- Short Courses
- CATE Consultations
- Inclusive Education Scholars Certificate Program (IESCP)
- Equity-Minded Course Design
- Large Course Community of Practice
Join the Network
Participation in the New Faculty Teaching Network is optional and open to all new faculty.
Faculty who complete the Network will be invited to share a brief reflection on their teaching development, which will earn them a digital certificate and be highlighted in CATE’s annual Teaching Sparks publication.
Join the Network to receive information about upcoming opportunities and resources designed to support your success in the classroom.