Monday, August 15
9:30-11:30 AM
Grounding ourselves in this moment: Attending to social identities and social contexts
Location: Library 250

This session will offer us an opportunity to think together about how to attend to and address the ways in which current social and political and ecological realities influence our students and us. We will also have a chance to reflect on the ways our own social identities and social locations shape our work, our trajectories toward becoming faculty members, and our relationships with students. We will work through a case study about responding to instances of racial injustice, and will divide into identity-based affinity groups, for part of this session.
1:00-3:00 PM
Course Design and Syllabus Development
Location:  Library 250

New faculty come to Macalester with many questions about how to teach in this specific institutional context. Experienced colleagues have been re-thinking their pedagogical practices in the context of the pandemic and in an effort to build more inclusive and equitable classrooms. Join us for a panel and discussion of some of the many questions that are on our minds as we develop our courses, such as: What information should go on the syllabus and how can the syllabus be used to “unhide” the hidden curriculum of college? What kind of attendance policy makes sense? What does grading look like at this moment? What does “flexibility” mean and how can I best think about and implement it? What are some strategies for incorporating community-based learning/assignments into my course?
Tuesday, August 16
9:30-11:30 AM
Using the Library Effectively for Your Teaching and Scholarship
Location: Library 250
Welcome to Macalester College! The library is an interdisciplinary lab that transforms the way people teach, learn, research, and work. Learn about new services you may not know about as well as tried-and-true resources to help you succeed and save time with your research and teaching. In this session, you will learn more about: print and digital collections; course materials: requesting and putting on reserve
interlibrary loan; instruction and consultation opportunities for your students; personalized support for your scholarship and instruction needs; copyright expertise; archives and special collections for incorporation into courses; open textbooks and affordable course materials.The session will include a library tour highlighting other areas in the Library that support students and courses: Archives, Idea Lab, and Digital Resource Center.
1:00-3:00 PM
Faculty and Student Wellbeing
Location:  Library 250
Teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as in the context of renewed global efforts to redress racial injustice, the climate crisis, political and legal upheaval, etc., takes a significant toll on the well-being of students, faculty, and staff. Concerns about and attention to student mental health have been increasing since before the pandemic. In addition to sharing information about how to recognize and refer for situations that may require the expertise of health, counseling, or other student support services, this session will engage us in a conversation about the ways that course design decisions, classroom culture, and one-on-one interactions can support student – and faculty – well-being. We will engage in practices designed to center well-being and will think together about strategies that can help you do your work in a sustainable and gratifying way (including, for example, by addressing the balance between being “accessible” to students and “on demand,” negotiating flexibility so that it doesn’t create a non-stop stream of grading, etc.).
Wednesday, August 17
9:30-11:30 AM
Designing Assignment Prompts that Support Student Learning
Location:  Library 250

“Use clear and concise prompts” is common wisdom, but how exactly do you put this piece of advice into practice? During this workshop on designing assignment prompts, you will have ample opportunity to discuss sample prompts with your colleagues while also examining your own praxis and (ideas for) prompts. Britt, Nancy, and Jake will use writing prompts as examples as they share strategies and resources for designing all types of transparent prompts that support student learning and that work towards building an equitable classroom environment.
1:00-3:00 PM
Sustainability and Environmental Justice at Macalester
Location: Library 250
Macalester has a strong record of environmental stewardship and curricular innovation around sustainability, and deep student engagement around environmental and social justice themes. Join faculty from Environmental Studies for a conversation about how sustainability matters at Macalester, and swap ideas about how to embed sustainability and environmental justice themes and practices into your classroom. We will also discuss how we can keep our sense of hope, agency, and community as scholar-educators given our global climate crisis.  An optional sustainability tour will be included in this session.
Thursday, August 18
9:30-11:30 AM
Disability, Universal Design, and a Culture of Inclusion
Location: Library 250
Join colleagues from Macalester’s Disability Services and Academic Technology Services as they share perspectives and strategies related to disability accommodation requests and to supporting students with disabilities to thrive at Macalester.
1:00-3:00 PM
Academic Technology Services: Using Moodle and Tech Tools to Support Teaching & Learning
Location:  Library 250
Meet your Academic Technology Services Team and learn about the tools Macalester has to support your teaching and research. We will focus on our Learning Management System, Moodle, and split into small groups to tailor instruction to your experience level.
Wednesday, August 24
8:00 AM
Continental breakfast
Location: Weyerhaeuser Hall Board Room
8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Orientation to Macalester (required)
Location: Weyerhaeuser Hall Board Room
You will be welcomed to this required Orientation day by President Suzanne Rivera, Provost Lisa Anderson-Levy, and other key administrators and staff. Throughout the day we will have a variety of chances to get to know one another and start to build connections and community. The day will also include a panel of students and a chance to visit and learn about key places, policies, and people on campus. During lunch, you will have your photograph taken by our Communications and Marketing office.

In addition to the few days that formally comprise “New Faculty Orientation,” the Serie Center offers programming for newly hired faculty (both visiting and tenure track) throughout the year.