Orientation For New Administrators
(Executive Managers, Deans, Associate and Assistant Deans, Department Chairs, and School Directors)

Welcome to Michigan State University.  It is our hope that your life at MSU will be fulfilling and successful, now and in the future.  To enable you to begin the process of learning the lay of the land at MSU, we have created this orientation website designed specifically for New Administrators, including new Executive Managers, Deans, Associate and Assistant Deans, Department Chairs, and School Directors. We invite you to explore this website carefully.  It provides information on relevant orientation events and materials designed to assist you in your transition to life in our University community.

See below for relevant Orientation Videos, Orientation Events and Training and Development Opportunities, and selected Additional Resources.  Although you will receive an invitation to the New Administrator Orientation, we strongly suggest that you review all of the materials to ensure that you are aware of what is available to assist you. 

Individuals with appointments like yours arrive at MSU throughout the year, but the majority begin their appointments in August.  For that reason, we offer a four half-day mandatory Orientation for New Administrators in early August each year. If you arrive after this Orientation has occurred, you are welcome to attend all or parts of the Orientation you missed during the following August. In the meanwhile, you can and should take advantage of the numerous other online Orientation resources and information linked to this webpage.

In addition to your appointment as a new administrator, if you are also a Tenure System Faculty, Health Programs (HP) Faculty, or Fixed Term Faculty new to MSU, check the Orientation Website relevant to your faculty appointment where you will find additional Orientation Events and Resources tailored to the needs of each of these groups.  If you are a new Dean or Executive Manager, also see the Orientation Websites designed specifically for these groups.

We also strongly encourage you to speak with your supervisor about the availability of unit-based orientations, resources, and/or one or more mentors who can assist in orienting you to your new role. MSU is a highly decentralized institution and resources are often available in several places across campus, so it is often worthwhile to explore the full array of options through your unit as well as centralized offices. 

Again, we wish you a warm welcome to Michigan State University.  Please let us know if we can assist you. If you have any questions about these Orientation Events, please contact Allyn Shaw at leaders@msu.edu. 

Orientation Videos

• Starting State

  Please review the Starting State - your guide to employment at MSU by clicking the above link. The Starting State video is designed to help you settle in as a member of our community. This program will introduce you to the University, allow you to enroll in your benefits online, familiarize you with important policies and procedures, and provide various kinds of information that we hope will be useful to you in your first weeks and months here. Web site links provided in the video connect you to additional detailed information you will find helpful.

  Following your review of the Starting State video, benefits representatives are available between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. in Room 140 Nisbet Building and are committed to answering your individual questions. If you need help in your benefits online, representatives will be available to provide assistance.
  

• Advancing Knowledge, Transforming Lives   [15:35]
  [To save the video to your desktop, right-click link and select "Save Target As..."]
  
  

  Advancing Knowledge, Transforming Lives provides an introduction to Michigan State University as a research university in the land grant tradition. This video traces MSU's history, focuses on the theme of land grant to world grant, our core values of quality, inclusion and connectivity, and our tri-partite mission of teaching, research and outreach and engagement. This video is particularly relevant for academic administrators with faculty appointments.

  • Advancing Knowledge, Transforming Lives   [Transcript w/o Video]

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Orientation Events and Professional Development Opportunities

• New Administrator Orientation

  The Office of the Provost has developed a mandatory workshop for new academic leaders and administrators. The invitation-only orientation focuses on topics that are critical for new academic unit administrators, including:

  • University Research Policies & Procedures
  • University Outreach and Engagement
  • Hiring, Promotion, Tenure and Performance Review
  • The Legal and Regulatory Environment
  • The Undergraduate Experience at MSU
  • Financial Management
  • Development/Fundraising
  • Survival Skills for New Administrators
  • Conflict Resolution Resources
  • Teaching and Learning Resources & Support
  • The Graduate Experience at MSU
  • Effectively Leading University Support Staff
  • International Faculty, Staff and Students
  • General Resources

  Presenters are MSU administrators, including the Provost, deans and directors. Participants who attend this multi-day program report that the content is useful and informative.

  The program includes four half-day sessions that are scheduled over a two-week period in order to minimize the disruption of regular schedules.

  For more information, or to find out if you are eligible to attend, contact Allyn Shaw at leaders@msu.edu or 355-5761.
  
  

• Technology Workshop:
  An Introduction to MSU’s Libraries, Computing and Technology Resources

  The session will introduce available online resources that will be useful for teaching and research. Topics include:

  1. Using ANGEL: An introduction to MSU’s principal centrally supported course management software. Learn how to post content, enable your course, manage rosters, and more.
  2. Library resources: Explore e-resources, learn about Distance Learning Services, and find out about library programs, along with other tools for efficient and effective research and teaching.
  3. Technology resources: Learn to use the Registrar’s instructional support tools, including submitting grades and retrieving class lists, as well as find out how to get access to seminars and hands-on learning on technology topics.
  4. Classroom technology: What will you find in your classroom? Learn how to use a technology cart, use a student response system, and find out where to get help, training, and advice for classroom technology issues.

  Please bring your MSU NetID and password. To access some of the resources, such as your courses in the ANGEL course management system, you also will need authorization from your department chairperson.

  2009 event dates, locations, times and registration information can be found in your letter of invitation.
  

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Additional Resources

• Academic Governance
• Academic Human Resources (AHR) / Human Resources (HR)
  • Benefits
  • The Faculty Handbook
• Campus Maps
• Controller's Office
  • Payroll
  • Travel
• Department of Police and Public Safety (DPPS)
• Family Resource Center (FRC)
• Libraries, Computing and Technology (LCT)
• Office of the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education
• Office of Faculty and Organizational Development (F&OD)
  • Online Instructional Resources (OIR)
  • Timeline of Key Dates
• Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives
• Office of Planning and Budgets (OPB)
• Office of the President
• Office of the Provost
• Office of the Registrar
• Office of the Vice President for Research for Graduate Studies (VPRGS)
• Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities
• The Graduate School
• Top "10" Things New Academic Administrators Need To Know
• Top "10" Things New Faculty Need To Know
• University Outreach and Engagement (UOE)
  • Usability & Accessibility Center
• WorkLife
• Writing Center

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For more information, or to find out if you are eligible to attend, contact Allyn Shaw at leaders@msu.edu or 355-5761.