The 2024–2025 academic year is upon us! Orientation is scheduled and faculty are returning to campus. Your institution’s leaders have a narrow window to harness the energy and set a positive trajectory for the year ahead. It begins long before students set foot on campus. Faculty are integral to laying the foundation you need to engage students and achieve demonstrable outcomes. There are two essential steps to setting the stage for a successful school year.
1. Cultivate connection. Most faculty take time away during the summer. Facilitate multiple opportunities for faculty to reconnect with one another and with executive leadership. These should include a spectrum of formality, from things as simple as donuts in the faculty lounge to strategic faculty meetings. Integrate family of faculty with welcome-back barbeques that promote positive, holistic connection.
2. Communicate clearly. What is your vision and theme for the upcoming academic year? Before you can convey this to your students and stakeholders, instill your priorities and theme in your faculty and staff. Empower them to identify and take ownership of their role in the year ahead.
