Faculty are critical elements in the higher education system, and their orientation to the academic setting is essential. Unfortunately, faculty orientations are often filled with general school information, leaving faculty overwhelmed and still desiring knowledge that can help them succeed in meeting teaching expectations (Arrington, 2018). Leaders in the provost office, deans, school directors, faculty operating teaching and learning centers, and committees responsible for new faculty onboarding can benefit from asking themselves, How can we provide our faculty the necessary information so they can successfully teach? As the lead creator and facilitator, I outline key steps and present a case study of a teaching orientation titled Ignite, which addressed my institution’s gap between disciplinary expertise and pedagogical practice.
Character (Still) Counts: Moral Injury and the Case for Character Education
Many academic leaders remember the Character Counts! initiative from the 1990s and early 2000s. It was visible in schools and youth programs nationwide, emphasizing as core values the Six Pillars
Teresa Maggard Stephens
June 15, 2026
