Belonging, community at center of New Faculty Orientation
Success at UND is about making connections, newest faculty members are told at annual welcome
On Aug. 22, UND welcomed its newest faculty members in a lively orientation designed to introduce the newcomers to not just campus systems, but also a community poised to help them thrive.
At the University’s annual New Faculty Orientation, the campus’s newest faculty members were given both a crash course in instructing and a chance to build connections and support systems to allow them to flourish at UND.
“Our No. 1 goal is to love your people, our students and our community at UND,” President Andrew Armacost said in his talk to new faculty members. “Supporting your students, supporting each other — that’s what community at UND looks like.”
An event to promote connection and belonging
Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Randi Tanglen said the day was designed to both familiarize faculty with resources and help them build connections with one another.
“New Faculty Orientation sets the stage for connection, belonging and shared purpose at UND,” she said. “This year’s incoming faculty cohort is especially impressive — their talent, creativity and dedication will enrich our classrooms, research and communities in ways that strengthen UND’s mission and impact.”
From policy overviews and Blackboard tutorials to discussions of teaching practice, the event emphasized a clear theme: UND’s newest faculty members are not alone.
For example, the importance of mentorship and support was a recurring theme. Forensic Science faculty member Darshil Patel, who has joined the faculty of the new Forensic Science master’s program, said the Alice T. Clark Mentoring Program — a program created to support new faculty members in their transition to UND — stood out as an essential resource.
He also experienced firsthand the role of mentorship in life at the University. Patel arrived in North Dakota by way of Canada just days before New Faculty Orientation and said that one of the most striking impressions from UND was how warm his welcome has been since arriving.
After all, Patel is entering into not only a new position, but also a new country. But the warm welcome by Forensic Science program Director Lavinia Iancu and other faculty members has helped him ease into his new home, he said.
“It’s been great meeting all the people in my department and other new faculty members today,” he said. “I think the best thing has been seeing all the support from the University. It helps us feel like we’re not alone.”
Crash course in classroom complexity
Following informational sessions from Tanglen and Becca Cruger, director of workforce development for the city of Grand Forks, new faculty also worked through case studies designed to prepare them for challenges inside and outside the classroom. Scenarios covered academic integrity, the use of AI in coursework and fostering respectful discussions among students.
Jeffery Carmichael, professor of Biology, led the exercises and was assisted by a panel of UND experts including Alex Pokornowski, dean of students; Scott Correll, registrar; Donna Smith, associate vice president for Equal Opportunity & Title IX; and Tamba-Kuii Bailey, associate vice president and advisor to the president for Community & Belonging.
“These are complex, they’re nuanced, and I don’t think there is a perfect ‘yes, do this,’ or ‘don’t do this or you’ll fail,’” said Bailey. “They fall in those points in between.”
These exercises struck a chord with Moones Alamooti, who earned her doctorate at UND before joining the faculty in Energy and Petroleum Engineering. She hopes that her perspective as a former UND student will allow her to make the University experience better for her own students.
“As a student, I felt where things could be improved,” she said. “Now as faculty, I feel like I can contribute more and help to make sure students have a great experience.”
Aside from the practical exercises, new faculty members also found value in simply meeting people from around the University.
New College of Nursing & Professional Disciplines faculty member Nicole Martin said she appreciated the chance to put faces to names she’d only known through email. Fellow College of Nursing & Professional Disciplines faculty member Melanie Kamp, who is transitioning from adjunct to full-time faculty, said she’s been encouraged by the support of her colleagues.
“Everyone I’ve met has been wonderful — very open and supportive,” Kamp said. “I’m ready for the challenge.”
New members in UND’s ever-growing community
And this feeling of support and community is at the heart of New Faculty Orientation. In his lunchtime speech, President Armacost emphasized the importance of connection and community within the University.
“If you see someone you don’t know, say hi, introduce yourself,” he told the group. “You never know when that relationship yields a new research idea. Magic happens when you meet people.”
He also pointed to a historic milestone: the arrival of UND’s largest-ever first-year class, with more than 2,500 students beginning their studies this fall. For faculty, he said, this milestone offers opportunities for new faculty members to connect with new students and also each other.
“Ideas flourish, friendships form, and this is what community at UND is all about,” Armacost said.
