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New Faculty Academy

Your Journey Begins Here

Welcome to Evergreen’s New Faculty Academy (NFA), a comprehensive year-long onboarding experience designed to support your transition into our unique teaching community. The NFA serves as both your required governance assignment and a collaborative space to develop the skills, knowledge, and relationships essential for success at Evergreen.

What to Expect

Your NFA journey includes:

  • Summer Institute: An immersive week-long curriculum development workshop (July 7-11) where you’ll design learning experiences alongside experienced colleagues
  • Weekly Gatherings: Regular sessions during Monday governance hours (3:15-4:45 PM) covering everything you’ll need to teach and navigate Evergreen
  • Peer Community: Opportunities to connect with your cohort and experienced mentors
  • Socials: Quarterly social opportunities to make new connections with the Evergreen community

Learning Goals

Throughout the year, you’ll develop expertise in:

  1. Teaching & Learning: Create interdisciplinary curriculum using Evergreen’s signature practices
  2. Student-Centered Advising: Implement holistic approaches to student support
  3. Professional Responsibilities: Navigate your obligations under the CBA
  4. Campus Community Integration: Build collaborative relationships across the college

The Learning and Teaching Commons team is committed to your success. We understand the unique challenges of your first year and have designed this program to provide just-in-time support when you need it most.

Join us as we explore Evergreen’s distinctive approach to teaching and learning—where narrative evaluation replaces grades, interdisciplinary thinking is celebrated, and student transformation is at the heart of everything we do.

2025-2026 New Faculty Agenda

The new faculty convene most Mondays during governance hours (3:15-5:00). Gatherings located in Commons (SEM II E3123). Contact us at learningandteaching@evergreen.edu to arrange for zoom option.

New Faculty Summer Academy

Please plan to join us on campus for a week-long curriculum development and orientation academy July 07-11, 2025.

AGENDA (JULY 07-11)

  • MONDAY: Navigating Evergreen as a New Faculty Member
  • TUESDAY: Learning Experience Design: Starting with the learner
  • WEDNESDAY: Learning outcomes & Assignment Design
  • THURSDAY: Supporting Students & an evening reception
  • FRIDAY: Building a Learner-centered Syllabus & campus tours.

The activities Tuesday – Friday will be an opportunity to plan your fall curriculum in the company of seasoned Evergreen faculty.  Teaching partners are encouraged to attend.

SUGGESTED READINGS

Real Evergreen: An Educator’s Handbook (pdf):  This extensive resource, compiled by Faculty Emeritus Joli Sandoz, offers first person accounts from faculty and staff illustrate the diverse experiences of Evergreen educators and learners. We encourage you to skim through this resource and read what interests you.  If you are looking for some suggestions, we’ve compiled a list of articles below that provide a window into faculty life at Evergreen from the origin story to the present.

  • The Five Foci of an Evergreen Education (1989) – p26
  • Six Expectations of an Evergreen Graduate (2001) – p41
  • Academic Organization and the Curriculum at Evergreen (1969) by Joseph Shoben – p38
  • Arc of an Academic Quarter (2021) by Suzanne Simons – p136
  • The Why of Narrative Evaluations (2004, with a 2021 Afterward)  by Stephen Beck – p36

NOTE: If you are new to the Learning Management System, Canvas, please complete the Canvas Orientation for Faculty prior to orientation.

To confirm your participation and make travel arrangements, contact us at learningandteaching@evergreen.edu.