New Faculty Support | AY 2026-27
The CTLT provides programs and services designed to support early-career faculty (1-3+ years), including tenure-track faculty and all lecturers. Our scholarship-grounded programs and services support exemplary teaching. Our programs also provide rich opportunities for faculty to connect with one another throughout the year as well as with other campus resources. This page describes resources, opportunities, and events designed with early-career faculty in mind.
New Faculty Foundations, Fall 2026
The Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology (CTLT) and Academic Innovations and Planning look forward to hosting you and your new colleagues at New Faculty Foundations (NFF). NFF is a multi-day event designed to welcome you to Cal Poly and to support your holistic success. You will meet the CTLT staff, hear from university leadership, engage with an interactive faculty panel, and learn about Cal Poly.
Learn more about NFF...
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:
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.
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).
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.
Other Cal Poly Resources for Newer Faculty
Employee And Organizational Development
- New Employee Orientation
- New employee resource page
- New employee frequently asked questions
- Learning opportunities
