New Faculty Orientation

The annual New Faculty Orientation (NFO) hosted by the Office of Faculty Development takes place prior to the start of each fall semester. NFO introduces new faculty and librarians to campus and to the resources, programs, and people that support faculty success at UMass Amherst. NFO also provides the opportunity for new faculty from across campus to connect with each other prior to the start of the fall semester. In addition to this campus-wide orientation, additional faculty orientation activities are offered by departments and schools/colleges. An orientation luncheon is held in late January or early February each year for faculty or librarians starting in the spring semester. The Chancellor hosts a reception for new faculty and librarians in late summer/early fall.

OFD will host the next NFO on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Please email @email with questions. 

New Employee Orientation (NEO), sponsored by the Office of Human Resources, focuses on payroll and benefits. Contact your department's personnel coordinator who will register you for this orientation. Once you’ve been registered, Human Resources will send a confirmation including the location of the session, documentation you may need to bring with you, and where to park.

The Massachusetts Society of Professors (MSP) is the union representing librarians and faculty on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus, including tenure-track faculty, lecturers, extension faculty, clinical faculty, and research faculty. MSP hosts an orientation for all new members. Once you are scheduled for HR's new employee orientation (see above) you will receive information regarding MSP's orientation. MSP also hosts an Annual New Faculty and Librarian Reception. Learn more on their website: https://umassmsp.org/events/