A new League Occasional Paper, Innovation in Action: A Belonging and Inclusion Approach to Onboarding New Faculty, is now available. Authored by Betheen Glady-Teschendorf, Angela Trabalka, and Beth Kelch at Delta College’s Faculty Center for Teaching Excellence, this paper outlines a comprehensive, inclusive onboarding model that centers belonging and ongoing support to align with current local and higher ed priorities.

Highlights of the approach include:

• Cohorts and Community Building. New full-time faculty join a cohort-based orientation that fosters connection across disciplines, with curriculum on equity, inclusion, policy, and tech tools like Desire2Learn.
• Adjunct Academy Just-in-Time Model. Designed for adjuncts on tight timelines, this model blends college policy, networking, and best-teaching lightning rounds.
• Customized Lecturer Support. Lecturers receive lunch-and-learn onboarding, regular check-ins, and low-stakes community prompts to sustain engagement and support.

This paper is a must-read for community colleges seeking to strengthen faculty experiences through inclusive, action-oriented onboarding strategies.