New Faculty Experience

Spring 2026: New Faculty Experience
Your One-Stop Guide to Getting Faculty Started Strong

The Teaching & Learning Excellence Division’s (TLED) Office of Faculty Development has partnered with Human Resources (HR) and the Office of Distance Education to create an experience for new faculty like no other. The programming is designed to launch you into a successful career here at Austin Community College (ACC) and bring ease to your first of many semesters at the College.

Together, the programming consists of:

• Distance Education training
• Human Resources I-9 verification and Workday training/onboarding
• Human Resources full-time faculty orientation
• Office of Faculty Development Boot Camp options and Blackboard Ultra support sessions
• Office of Faculty Development monthly onboarding sessions
• Welcome bag pick-up day

Human Resources Orientation and Requirements

Adjunct faculty only: Human Resources I-9 verification and Workday training/onboarding

• For all adjunct faculty new hires and rehires:
  • I-9 verification: In person at Highland Campus, Building 3000 (main entrance is under the PBS Austin sign); Human Resources Office
    • Verification available 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays
    • Deadline: Thursday, January 15
    • Check in at the front desk
  • Human Resources’ Workday online training/onboarding. Six tasks must be completed no later than Thursday, January 15

Full-time faculty only: Human Resources new hire orientation (mandatory)

• For all full-time faculty new hires and rehires:
  • Monday, January 12, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., at Highland Campus, Building 2000, Room 2.1550 (Presentation Hall)
  • Bring I-9 documentation to orientation or no later than Thursday, January 15
  • For any questions regarding HR orientation, please contact HR via their dedicated TDX Service Catalog

Faculty Development Boot Camp and Onboarding

• Welcome Bag Pick-Up Day
  • Come pick up a swag bag with ACC gear, a workbook to follow along during Boot Camp, and collect your ACC ID
  • Wednesday, January 14, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., at Highland Campus, Building 2000, outside Room 2.1550 (Presentation Hall)

• TLED Faculty Development Boot Camp

All new faculty, full-time and adjunct, are invited to attend the faculty Boot Camp, which is designed for full-time faculty and adjunct faculty with one or more spring 2026 courses assigned (no additional compensation will be provided). Professional development credit reflects full attendance, engagement, and completion of all activities. There are two options to choose from, although attending in-person allows you to meet other new faculty members and make connections that will support you throughout your first semester.

Read through the TLED Boot Camp options below, and then please fill out this form to let us know which option you will be attending, share your bio and headshot (optional), and your T-shirt size.

• • Faculty Development Boot Camp: Jumpstart your teaching journey at ACC with this hands-on, high-impact Boot Camp designed for new faculty. You’ll explore essential college resources, build your syllabus and assessments, and learn strategies to create inclusive, engaging learning environments. Connect with colleagues, practice using ACC’s teaching technologies, and leave ready to start strong on day one.
    • Option 1 — In-Person:
      • • Wednesday, January 14, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Highland Campus, Building 2000, Room 2.1550 (Presentation Hall)
          • Light breakfast and lunch provided

• • • Option 2 — Self-Paced Online: If faculty cannot attend in-person, they must complete an asynchronous (self-paced) boot camp via Blackboard
      • The course will be available from January 17 to May 1

• Blackboard Ultra Virtual Support Session: This session is available to all new faculty with at least one course assigned for the spring 2026 term, regardless of teaching modality, for support navigating the Blackboard Ultra platform.
  • Virtual synchronous: Thursday, January 15, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., via Zoom

• Dual Credit Programs Faculty Training: The Dual Credit Faculty Orientation covers a variety of topics that will assist instructors teaching dual credit students in ACC classes. The information is organized into six lessons.
  • Self-paced online: Available Friday, January 9 to May 1, in Workday

Register Here

Distance Education Faculty Training

• Online Course Redesign Academy (OCRA) – Apply the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR): OCRA is based on Quality Matters (QM), a faculty-driven, peer-reviewed process that supports high-quality online course design. This training is the first of two parts to help ACC distance education courses meet QM standards, focusing on applying the QM Rubric before moving on to course design and review with DE instructional designers. It fulfills one of the requirements for ACC distance learning instruction.
  • Virtual synchronous (must attend both sessions): Thursday and Friday, January 15–16, 1- 4 p.m. each day
  • Register for OCRA synchronous virtual training here
  • Deadline to register: Monday, January 12, at 5 p.m.
  • Registration cap: 25
  • OCRA stipend: $1,000 (After attending the QM training, faculty will work with a Distance Education instructional designer to design one online or hybrid course. The first $500 stipend will be received when the QM training and the course map are completed. The second $500 stipend will be received when the course meets QM standards.)
  • Professional development: six hours

TLED Faculty Development Monthly Onboarding Sessions

• Onboarding sessions differ from orientation in that they dive deeper into understanding what makes for a successful faculty experience at ACC. Riverbat faculty will continue to learn about ACC’s culture, student success strategies and resources, course design, and the faculty evaluation process. All faculty are encouraged to attend all four sessions during their first semester.
• These two-and-a-half-hour sessions are offered in virtual synchronous environments and include one day and one evening option to choose from for each month of the faculty’s first semester:
  • May 1 or 6: Teaching and Learning Strategies
  • February 6 or 11: Connecting With Your College and Students
  • March 6 or 11: Evaluation and Portfolio Process
  • April 10 or 15: Student Success Resources
• Compensation:
  • Adjunct faculty: $61.80/hour
  • Full-time faculty: professional development credit only

Register Here

New Faculty Resources

• Onboarding Materials: View the workbook with useful information, tips, and more!
• First-Year Faculty: Checklists and resources for first-year faculty.
• Meet Our New Faculty: Read about this year’s incoming faculty on this welcome Padlet! You must be logged in with your ACC credentials to view.

Faculty Talent Onboarding Alumni

Faculty who complete all components of the Faculty Talent Onboarding program earn a certificate of completion. See the list of alumni here!

Teaching consultations and support

The Teaching & Learning Excellence Division (TLED) and the Office of Distance & Alternative Education (ODAE) provide comprehensive support in course design, technology tools for teaching, and other high-impact practices that contribute to our Guided Pathways model at ACC. We are available for various types of consultations to provide just-in-time assistance and support for your teaching. Review our robust options by visiting:

Teaching Consultations & Support