New Faculty Checklist

The Following Checklist will help incoming faculty methodically prepare for work at UGA. See also .pdf of Checklist.

  • UGA MyID: Set up your UGA MyID password and profile.   You will use your UGA MyID to access many university services. You should have received an email invitation to the UGA Onboarding System to set up their email. Please contact the Business Office in your home department if you did not get the email
  • ArchPass: Enroll a Device in ArchPass. You will need ArchPass, UGA’s two-step authentication service, powered by Duo, to access many UGA systems, including eLC, Athena and OneUSG Connect. You can enroll a smartphone, cell phone, landline phone, or tablet, and you can enroll multiple devices. Get started at archpass.uga.edu.
  • I-9 Form: Complete the I-9 form and give it to the Business Office in your home department if you have not already done so.
  • Set up Employee Benefits: This must be done within 30 days of the start of your employment. Benefit selection can be done online. Benefits classes are offered twice monthly by UGA Human Resources, or you can make an appointment to meet with a benefits coordinator.
  • Get a UGACard  : Check with your supervisor to ensure your hiring paperwork has been routed, or download the Request Form before coming to the UGACard Office in the Tate Student Center. See this page for more information.
  • Register with Parking Services  : New faculty can request a parking permit by following the procedure for faculty on the parking services webpage. You may use payroll deduction to pay for your parking and select your preferred lot by reviewing the parking map. Parking Services is located in the Joe Frank Harris Commons.
  • Find the UGA academic calendar 
  • Review campus policies: Academic Affairs Policy Manual can be found here.
  • Review policies and procedures and campus resources  specific to faculty
  • Sign up for football tickets: You will have one opportunity to purchase season tickets. The Athletics Office will email you in the spring after your start date to offer you a chance to purchase your tickets.
  • Access UGA maps and bus routes: Go to the Transportation and Parking services website or download the UGA app to get interactive bus and campus maps.
  • See the Faculty dining plan  : The 10 Block Plan offers 10 meals in campus dining halls at a discounted rate.
  • Exchange your Driver License: To exchange a valid out-of-state driver license for a Georgia driver license, please visit this site to make sure you have a complete list of documents with you when you apply.
  • Register your motor vehicle: Motor vehicle registration occurs through the Georgia Department of Revenue. The procedure for registration depends on your county of residence. Please go to this website to learn the registration process for your county.
  • Join the Ramsey Center  : The UGA gym offers memberships for a low monthly fee.
  • Identify and start to use your support resources: UGA has many resources to help you be successful in your new role. Browse these websites and take advantage of these resources!
  • Review the Faculty Affairs website, you will find the types of programming, policy, and procedure resources available to you.
  • Check out Campus Tour Options. The UGA Visitors Center offers comprehensive student-led tours of campus. The 90-minute tours begin at the Visitors Center in the Four Towers Building (405 College Station Road). Following a brief admissions information session, the tour includes both a driving portion and a walking portion. You can also find self-guided tour information on this site.
  • Meet with your supervisor in your first month, preferably before classes start:
    • Make sure you’re clear about your assigned duties and the unit’s expectations for promotion and/or tenure.
    • Ask about Elements software. Discuss expectations for your first annual review.
    • Seek guidance on student learning outcomes for the academic programs in your department, as well as the basic logistics of teaching and course coordination, if applicable. Further information and training on course design, assessment, pedagogy, course management etc. can be obtained from the Center for Teaching and Learning.
    • If you’re teaching courses you’ve never taught, ask if other faculty have taught them before and if previous course materials are available for your review/use.
    • If you are starting a new lab, learn about the research and purchasing infrastructure, and the expected purchasing procedures so you can get everything in place. Ask who can provide you with an orientation on these issues.
    • Ask for advice on how to create a network of collaborators and a network of mentors at UGA. Note that you are likely to need a variety of mentors for your varied duties as a faculty member.
  • Take some time to get to know the staff and other faculty in your department. Building positive relationships with colleagues is likely to support your success over the long term. An easy icebreaker is to ask them for suggestions about where to go, what to do, or whom you should meet.
  • Consider going through the National Center for Faculty Diversity and Development’s Core Curriculum, a series of webinars designed to enhance research productivity, time- and stress- management and work-life balance. It’s free and online, so you can learn at your own pace. Go to https://www.facultydiversity.org/ to create an account under the University of Georgia subscription, search for the Core Curriculum, and go through the modules one at a time. Better yet, find another faculty member who will watch them with you and have a discussion after each webinar.
  • At regular intervals, reflect on your big-picture professional and personal goals, and evaluate your progress toward these goals. As part of this process, identify the learning and resources you will need to meet your goals. Some UGA resources of potential interest:
  • Set realistic expectations. Most of us have only been trained for a fraction of our jobs as faculty members. As a result, it is likely that your learning curve will be high at first. What is important is that you work hard, learn from your mistakes, and improve over time. Most of all, don’t get discouraged. This is a challenging career stage for everyone. OFA also has resources to help you, so check out our resources and workshop schedule updated each summer and throughout the year.
  • Any additional questions? Contact: OFA-FLD@uga.edu