New Faculty Orientation Research & Redesign
CASE STUDY: New Faculty Orientation Research & Experience Redesign
Johnson & Wales University | Remote | 2022-2023
ABOUT THE PROJECT
The project goal was to refresh and modernize the New Faculty Orientation program. I focused on transitioning from a traditional lecture-based format to an active, participant-led onboarding experience that fostered community and increased information retention.
DELIVERABLES
⭐ Targeted Content Outline: Streamlined curriculum focused on high-impact essentials.
⭐ Facilitator Guide: A structured roadmap for efficient, 1-hour group sessions.
⭐ Personalized Support Framework: A system for one-on-one SMART goal-setting and check-ins
WHAT I FOUND
The lecture-based format was generating passive compliance rather than genuine engagement - faculty were sitting through orientation rather than learning from it
New faculty arrived with real expertise, but the program gave them no connection. They needed community as much as information
Excess content buried the high-impact essentials faculty needed in their first weeks
Individual needs varied significantly and a one-size-fits-all group format was missing the specific gaps and strengths each person brought
Faculty confidence and willingness to ask for help was directly tied to whether they felt trusted and seen as professionals, not trained as novices
WHO I WORKED WITH
Collaborated with a Senior Instructional Designer to audit existing materials and align the redesign with institutional goals, while maintaining autonomy over the facilitation approach and individual support framework.
THE PROCESS
I applied Adult Learning Theory to transform faculty from passive listeners into active participants. After auditing existing materials with an SME to remove excess information, I outlined and implemented a multi-touch strategy:
📅 Active Group Meetings: Designed interactive sessions where faculty could build community.
🤝🏽 Individual Mentorship: Led one-on-one meetings to establish trust and identify strengths.
📆 Semester-Long Support: Maintained scheduled check-ins to ensure faculty felt supported throughout their first term.
THE RESULTS
After implementing and monitoring the new orientation program, we saw:
👏 100% Retention: Achieved a perfect faculty retention rate for my caseload over a full academic year.
🎉 Enhanced Confidence: Surveys showed faculty felt fully comfortable using resources and asking for help.
🧠 Innovation Mindset: Faculty became more proactive in presenting new ideas to their departments.
🤝 High-Trust Culture: Established a baseline of support that made ongoing coaching and redirection more effective.
"Emily's onboarding sessions were well received by new faculty members, who appreciated her engaging and interactive approach. She has a unique ability to tailor her training materials to meet the specific needs of the faculty, empowering them with the latest instructional strategies and technologies. Her ability to build professional relationships with faculty was evident in the continuous improvement of their teaching practices under her guidance."
- Heather M., Senior Instructional Designer, Johnson & Wales University