At the University of Arizona, our North Star is student success—and faculty success is essential to achieving it. Faculty shape students’ learning, belonging, mentoring, and academic experiences every day. Sustained faculty development, mentoring, peer networks, access to institutional resources, and opportunities to build a sense of belonging can help faculty develop stronger connections to their colleagues and the institution and support their long-term success and retention.
The U of A Wildcat Faculty Onboarding connects faculty success and student success by helping faculty build community, navigate University resources, and develop their teaching, research, and scholarly practices throughout their first year.
The Wildcat Faculty Onboarding has three pillars:
- Teaching
- Research
- Writing
In this year-long experience, beginning with New Faculty Orientation in August, faculty are connected to resources and professional development opportunities across the University while participating in small Wildcat Faculty Communities of 4–5 colleagues.
Rather than requiring every faculty member to follow the same pathway, the program combines a shared foundation with flexible learning opportunities aligned with faculty members’ workloads and pathways toward promotion.
Teaching & Student Success
In partnership with the University Center for Assessment, Teaching, and Technology (UCATT), faculty explore evidence-based approaches to teaching and have access to a broader catalog of professional development opportunities ranging from introductory to advanced and offered in synchronous and asynchronous formats.
Additionally, UCATT offers Teaching Connections, which provides a common monthly focus that faculty can discuss within their Wildcat Faculty Communities and apply to their own courses. Monthly Teaching Connections Guides provide practical strategies, discussion questions, and additional professional development opportunities, complemented by synchronous Teaching Connections Office Hours.
Research & Scholarship
The Office for Research & Partnerships (ORP) connects new faculty with research development opportunities throughout the academic year, including grant preparation, academic publishing, funding mechanisms, and international opportunities.
Faculty can select programming most relevant to their discipline, career stage, and research goals.
Writing
Faculty Affairs hosts monthly Faculty Writing Sessions that provide dedicated time and a welcoming, quiet environment for faculty to advance their scholarly or professional writing.
These sessions complement the teaching and research programming while helping new faculty establish sustainable writing practices.
2026–27 Learning Journey
Month | Teaching | Research | Writing Sessions |
| September | Teaching at the University of Arizona | Decoding NSF's IUSE Program | Sept. 25 |
| October | Active Learning | Academic Publishing Workshop | Oct. 23 or 30 |
| November | Effective Learning Environments | International Education Week | Nov. 20 |
| December | Transparency & Course Design | NIH: Specific Aims & Review Strategies | — |
| January | Assessing Learning in Courses | Instrument Mechanisms: NIH, NSF & DOD | Jan. 29 |
| February | Transparency & Course Design | NSF CAREER Grant Preparation Program | Feb. 26 |
| March | Assessing Learning in Courses | Fulbright Week | Mar. 26 |
| April | Effective Feedback for Learning & Teaching | — | Apr. 23 |
Special opportunities
Teaching Exchange Symposium in March of 2027
Research Support Services Orientation on October 14–15.
Certificate
Faculty who actively participate in Wildcat Faculty Onboarding can earn a Faculty Affairs Certificate.
To earn the certificate, faculty would complete at least six qualifying professional development experiences during the academic year, with participation across areas of faculty development.