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New Faculty Workshop
Hope College, Holland, MI
July 9-11, 2004

Final Report

The New Faculty Workshop was held at The Haworth Inn and Conference center located on the campus of Hope College in Holland, MI, July 9-11, 2004. There were 24 participants from seven of the thirteen Pew institutions. Workshop leaders were Janet Andersen, Director of the Pew Consortium and Hope College Mathematics Department, Paul DeYoung, Hope College Physics Department, Kevin Kraus, Luther College Biology Department, and Jim Swartz, Dean of Grinnell College.

The workshop began Friday evening with dinner in the Donnelly Dining room. Provost Dr. Jim Boelkins welcomed everyone and Mark Pearson, Hope College Mathematics Department and one of last year’s New Faculty Workshop participants, gave a perspective of a first year faculty.

For the first session Saturday morning participants had a choice between a group discussion on Transitioning to a Full-Time Job in Academics with Jim Swartz or Getting a Job at a Liberal Arts Institution with Kevin Kraus. After break Janet Andersen led off with Establishing a Research Program that is Sustainable Throughout One’s Career followed by Paul DeYoung, Research with Undergraduates. Following lunch, Janet Andersen held a session on Teaching a Course for the First Time: Where to Begin and then there was Teaching Case Studies, which involved participants in small group discussion. Participants met with mentors after a short afternoon break.

Saturday evening the annual cook out was held on the beach in view of the Big Red lighthouse at the Holland State Park. Lake Michigan was fairly warm and the sunset did not disappoint us.

Sunday morning sessions, led by leaders Janet Andersen, Kevin Kraus, and Jim Swartz, included advice on Balance: How to Stay Sane and Productive, information on Best Resources: Websites, Books, and Organizations, concluding with Ways That Pew Can Help You Survive.

The evaluations and informal comments made it clear that participants found the workshop valuable. They seemed to point particularly to the opportunity to meet and talk with other faculty just beginning careers at liberal arts institutions.