Welcome New and Returning Faculty!
Welcome to the Columbia University School of Professional Studies (CUSPS) and congratulations on your faculty appointment. We're incredibly honored to have you, whether you are returning to teach this semester or just joining us.
Resources for Faculty
Welcome to the School of Professional Studies! To prepare you for teaching at SPS, we recommend checking out the following resources.
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Visit the Faculty Onboarding site to get acquainted with faculty processes and procedures. Contact [email protected] with any questions.
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Make sure to complete your new hire paperwork and activate your Columbia UNI - it’s your entryway to most resources at Columbia University. If you need help, contact [email protected].
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If you're teaching an online or hybrid course, check out our top tips for instructors. Then, set aside some time to learn more about the online meeting and discussion tools in your course(s).
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Make your way through the Pre-flight Checklist to ensure you’re ready to teach by the first day of class.
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Find out how to get targeted, expedited assistance with course logistics and technology!
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Teaching for the very first time? Here are a few things you can do to prepare for your first teaching experience.
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If possible, observe at least one class like the one you will be teaching. Talk with the instructor about problems or successes he or she has had with the course.
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Ask experienced faculty or graduate students in your department for information and tips.
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Visit your classroom in advance and familiarize yourself with the lighting, equipment, and layout; it’s amazing how fast your technology IQ can drop when trying to figure out new equipment in front of a room of students!
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Teaching online for the first time? Here is an overview to get started.
Professional Development Opportunities
Professional development (PD) offerings are designed to highlight faculty innovation, best practices in pedagogy, and educational leadership via the following resources: workshops and pedagogy forums, observations and consultations.
SPS designs and delivers evidence-based workshops and trainings to prepare faculty to teach and address the needs unique to the SPS student body. Themes for these events reflect the school's focus on high-quality academic programming and thought leadership within our academic communities. Topics have included: Effectively facilitating courses and discussion, intercultural pedagogy, best practices in instruction, strategies for engaging students, assessment design, handling difficult situations in the classroom, teaching using the case method, and creating positive classroom climates.
Observations are intended to provide faculty with feedback on teaching methods. They involve an initial conversation with a faculty development consultant to outline teaching goals, learn about possible teaching challenges and pinpoint effective instructional approaches. This initial conversation is followed by at least one live classroom observation. Upon completion of the observation, there is a debrief for faculty to review feedback and plan the next steps.
If you would like to schedule an observation please contact:
Zach Kornhauser, Ph.D.
Director of Faculty Assessment and Development
(212) 853-1562
[email protected]
We embrace teaching and learning as iterative processes for both new and experienced instructors. As a result, we encourage all SPS faculty to participate in follow-up consultations, workshops, and forums as components of their ongoing commitment to academic excellence.
Contact Faculty Affairs for a schedule of upcoming PD events: [email protected]