New Faculty Onboarding — Department of Computer Science

Welcome to Ridgemont University's CS Department!

Welcome

Dear Colleague,

Welcome to the Department of Computer Science at Ridgemont University. Our department has 28 full-time faculty members, over 600 undergraduate majors, and three graduate programs. We pride ourselves on combining rigorous research with a genuine commitment to teaching excellence. You are joining a collaborative, supportive department, and we are glad to have you.

— Prof. David Okafor, Department Chair

First-Week Checklist

Complete these items during your first five business days:

• [ ] Pick up your university ID badge from the HR office (Admin Building, Room 102)
• [ ] Obtain your office key from the department coordinator, Maria Santos (CS-100, ext. 4521)
• [ ] Activate your university email account at https://accounts.ridgemont.edu
• [ ] Enroll in direct deposit via the HR portal (https://hr.ridgemont.edu/payroll)
• [ ] Complete mandatory compliance training: Title IX, FERPA, and Workplace Safety (links sent to your university email)
• [ ] Meet with your faculty mentor (assigned by the chair; introduction email sent before your start date)
• [ ] Attend the new faculty orientation lunch, Friday 12:00 PM, Faculty Lounge (CS-300)

IT & Systems Setup

LMS Access & Training

The university uses Canvas LMS. Your instructor account is created automatically within 48 hours of your start date.

• Login: https://ridgemont.instructure.com (SSO with your NetID)
• Quick-start guide: https://it.ridgemont.edu/canvas-faculty-quickstart
• Live training sessions: Offered biweekly by the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE). Register at https://cte.ridgemont.edu/workshops
• Course shells: Pre-created for your assigned courses. Contact the registrar if a course shell is missing.

Syllabus Template

All CS course syllabi must include the following sections (per Faculty Senate policy):

1. Course title, number, section, and term
2. Instructor contact information and office hours
3. Learning objectives aligned to program outcomes
4. Grading breakdown and late work policy
5. Required boilerplate (copy from the template): - Disability Services statement - Academic Integrity Policy reference - Title IX and non-discrimination notice - Emergency procedures

Download the department syllabus template from the shared drive: CS Department > Templates > Syllabus_Template_2026.docx

Office Hours & Mentoring

Policy: All full-time faculty must hold a minimum of 4 office hours per week, posted on your office door and in the LMS.

To schedule your office hours: 1. Log in to the faculty scheduling system at https://schedule.ridgemont.edu 2. Select your available time blocks (minimum 1-hour blocks) 3. Your hours will automatically appear on the department website and the LMS

Mentoring Program: Every new faculty member is paired with a senior colleague for their first two years. Your mentor will help with course design, navigating committee service, and preparing for tenure review. Meet with your mentor at least once per month during your first semester.