New Faculty Learning Community

CAFE, The Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence, is dedicated to inspiring, enhancing, and advancing educational excellence and innovation in teaching, service, scholarship, and academic life at UVA Wise. Nowhere is this truer than in the resources and opportunities it provides to new faculty at the College each year.

new faculty enjoying a play — **New Faculty and Mentors enjoying a night at the Barter Theater in Fall 2024.**

CAFE is happy to support new faculty in their first year at the College with a series of workshops, events, and activities intended to provide information, connection, and support on their journey.

Participation in all events is a 12-hour time commitment per semester, so all other service obligations are waived.

This program, grounded in extensive academic research on successful professional mentoring, provides a general orientation each semester, opportunities for connection and communication as a cohort, and customized individual mentoring to new faculty.

First-year mentoring is required for all full-time faculty at UVA Wise.

FIRST YEAR MENTORING

Orientation: A mandatory orientation to the College is required for all new faculty. The Fall 2026 Orientation will be on TBD from 9am-3pm. Day one will be an introduction to the College, including a campus tour and assistance with Faculty Resources such as HR, parking, IDs, email, supplies, and printing. Day two will be a tech workshop with time to practice skills on iPads, which are provided to everyone at UVA Wise, and a workshop on using Canvas, our required learning management system. Day three will be focused on teaching expectations and best practices for teaching at our College.
Mocha Mentor Meetings: All new faculty will meet once a month at Books and Brew with an experienced Tenured Faculty Mentor to check in on their acclimation and progress at the College. In Fall, Mentor's will be chosen by the Chair from the New Faculty Home Department. In Spring the CAFE Director will assign a Mentor outside of the home department to enable faculty to get a broader perspective on the College.
Group Meetings: On the first Wednesday of each month new faculty will meet together with the CAFE Director to learn about expectations and events in the month ahead and discuss successful teaching.
Observations: All new faculty will be invited to observe their Mentor's teaching and have an opportunity to meet and discuss effective strategies. Full Time Non-Tenured New Faculty will also be unofficially observed by their Mentor and have an opportunity to reflect on their teaching with their Mentor. These observations can provide the required letters of recommendation non-tenured faculty will need for Tenure and Promotion.
Community Engagement: New Faculty will be invited (and free admission/tickets provided) to attend one community or College event outside their department each semester as a group to promote greater social connection and community engagement.
CAFE Master Teacher Workshop: All New Faculty must attend at least one CAFE Master Teacher workshop each semester.

Since the program started in 2021, 100% of all participants have rated this program a 10/10!

SECOND YEAR MENTORING

In some cases, faculty need or want additional support in their teaching, service, or scholarship for a second year of mentoring. This can include:

1) Meet with a Mentor for at least an hour each month to check in on teaching progress

2) Verify that you have set up a posted regular schedule of class and office hours by the end of the first week of class and are meeting those expectations as the semester progresses

3) Verify you have a teaching schedule or plan for each course with major assignments and dates provided to students at the start of the semester or in regular intervals

4) Develop a plan for teaching improvement focused on resolving at least two issues identified in Chair, peer, or student evaluations

3) Observe at least one of your Mentor's classes in September and meet afterward to discuss teaching strategies

4) Invite your Mentor to observe one of your classes in October and again in November and meet to discuss their written feedback on the class

Other requirements may be put in place at the request of the Chair, Dean or Provost.

Resources for New Faculty

(Updated Fall 2025. Please note that changes may be made to future versions to reflect changes in practices and policies. )

Orientation Guide for New Faculty

This guide has a short history lesson on Appalachia, UVA, and UVA Wise, as well as maps and Emily's recommendations for travel, local goods, and services, and weekend fun in the region.

Landlord Guide This list is provided for information purposes. The College does not verify or recommend any listing.

UVA Wise Success Tips

Sample Syllabus: UVA Wise is now using a Simple Syllabus that is standardized in Canvas. Feel free to add additional policies as long as you do not contradict College policies.

Attendance and other College Catalog policies: Academic and Other Policies and Procedures - The University of Virginia at Wise

UVA Wise Website Faculty Resources Homepage

Portal (Academic Calendar, Class Rolls, Your Faculty Schedule, Submission of roll verification, early alert, Cavs Care, Grades, and SOPA)

Canvas (Contact Info and revision of Simple Syllabus to include course-specific policies is required each semester.)

Description of College Committees (Faculty Handbook pg. 18+)