New Faculty Support | AY 2026-27

New Faculty Success Forum

The Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology is excited to launch the New Faculty Success Forum, a professional development series designed for newly hired faculty (both tenure-track and lecturers). The New Faculty Success Forum will meet monthly throughout the academic year, providing faculty with a space to exchange ideas, ask questions, and connect with colleagues to support their success.

In addition to networking and connection, each session will explore a timely topic relevant to faculty professional growth and success. Sessions will introduce participants to resources and opportunities available across the university and will build on the sessions offered at New Faculty Foundations in August.

Topics will include building a mentoring network; the retention, promotion, and tenure process; research, scholarship, and creative activities (RSCA); service; and equitable and effective teaching practices. To meet new faculty needs, additional sessions will integrate participants' interests as they arise throughout the year.

Our first Forum program on Friday, Sept. 25 features Dr. Jennifer Teramoto Pedrotti on "Building Your Mentoring Network."

Description: Who can you turn to as you navigate life as a new faculty member at Cal Poly? This session will help you think intentionally about building a mentoring network with multiple mentors who can offer a range of perspectives and forms of support. Together, we will map our current connections, identify where we could benefit from additional mentors, and develop a plan for expanding our networks to align with our needs and goals.

All sessions will be offered in a hybrid format, with the option to participate in person on the San Luis Obispo campus (UU 220) and Maritime Academy/Solano Campus (Location TBD) or via Zoom.

Register for sessions: CTLT | F26 New Faculty Success Forum

New Faculty Resources to Explore

We invite you to explore these resources at your own pace, in your own way. The resources, curated for you as new faculty, include a variety of materials: pre-recorded information sessions, documents, guides, self-paced workshops, and more. New Faculty Self-paced Resources

We also hope you will review this collection of support services you may find helpful as you navigate your first weeks and months in the Cal Poly campus community. New Faculty Campus Partners Resources Directory 2026-27

Getting Started With Canvas

Canvas is Cal Poly's learning management system (LMS), which is an indispensable platform for teaching your courses and connecting with your students. All courses are automatically created each quarter with the students automatically enrolled. Canvas is easy to learn and use and provides an ample set of tools for engaging students and managing course activities. The CTLT provides an extensive menu of tutorials, guides, and workshops, as well as staff support during work hours. Here's the link to the Canvas Support home page. Below are links to a few specific resources that may be of most interest for those new to Canvas:

• How To Log In To Canvas
• Browser Requirements
• QuickGuides to Navigating Canvas
• Canvas: Webinars and Self-Paced Online Courses
• Canvas Course Templates To Import
• Zoom in Canvas
• Canvas Support Resources

Workshops on Teaching and Learning

The CTLT offers workshops on a wide range of teaching-related topics, including a growing set of self-paced workshops. Workshop current offerings are viewable on our Workshops page. Check frequently for updates.

Confidential Consultations

CTLT's instructional designers and directors are available to all Cal Poly faculty (full or part-time) for confidential consultations on teaching effectiveness. All CTLT staff hold advanced degrees, have years of experience as faculty developers, and bring experience teaching at the university level. These can be opportunities to problem-solve specific challenges, to consider and implement new methods, or to explore instructional innovations. Appointments are available for online sessions or on campus.

Schedule a Consultation

Course Enrollment Procedures and Essential Policies

All faculty need to understand Cal Poly's student registration process and course rosters, how to handle enrollment wait lists, how to submit grades, etc. They also need to understand and comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other such policies. Resources and training guides are provided on the Office of the Registrar's website (scroll down to the Faculty Training section). 

Office of the Registrar

CSU Red Folder - Students in Distress

Eventually, every faculty member faces episodes when they will be called on to help a student who are in distress, a danger to themselves or a threat to others. Instructors can be consequential in recognizing and responding to students in need and help them find support. The CSU Red Folder is a reference guide customized for Cal Poly that contains safety tips and contact information for a wide variety of emergency resources so that faculty are better prepared to help. Online access to the Red Folder is always available through the Cal Poly Portal, under the Staff and Training Tab. 

Learn More and Use the Red Folder