Faculty Checklist

Welcome to UNM-Valencia! This guide is designed to support your smooth transition into your teaching role. Below is a curated checklist of essential resources, tasks, and helpful tips based on the collective experiences of faculty members.

Tip: Bookmark this page and revisit it throughout the semester.

Quick Start: Your first week

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Employment Requirements & HR Foundations

These items relate to compliance, benefits, and institutional policies.

  • Mandatory Trainings
    • All new faculty are required to complete UNM's compliance and professional development trainings through Learning Central. These include a variety of required modules—such as, but not limited to, FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and Active Shooter Preparedness Training—depending on your role and responsibilities.
    • In addition, faculty who plan to teach online or hybrid courses must complete related online teaching certification or training—such as Evidence-Based Practices for Teaching Online (EBPTO)—as required for their instructional role.
      Please consult with your Division Chair for a full list of required trainings relevant to your position and teaching assignments, as well as the deadlines for completion.
  • Insurance & Benefits Enrollment
    • New faculty must enroll or make changes to benefits during the open enrollment period. Outside of this window, benefit changes are only allowed due to qualifying life events.
  • Faculty Handbook

Course Setup & Academic Planning

These focus on preparing to teach and structuring the semester.

  • Canvas Setup & Course Tools
  • Academic Calendar & Syllabus Planning
  • Syllabus Development & Sample Materials
    • Templates and best practices for syllabus design are available through the Faculty Online Teaching page. Additionally, each semester, UNM-ABQ provides required and recommended syllabus language.
      🔗 UNM-Valencia Course Design Resources
  • Instructional Materials & Book Orders (Inclusive Access (IA) and RedShelf)
    • Each semester, faculty are required to submit textbook and instructional material requests by a designated deadline to ensure timely access for students. UNM-Valencia uses RedShelf (MyShelf) and the Inclusive Access (IA) program to manage digital course materials.

Accessibility & Student Support Services

These center on compliance and student access.

  • Accessibility Information
    The Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) at UNM provides support and services to students with documented disabilities to ensure equal access to academic programs and campus life. ARC works with students to determine reasonable accommodations and issues official accommodation letters for instructors.

    Instructors are legally obligated to implement the accommodations listed in ARC or Accessibility Services letters. These accommodations are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. If a student presents an accommodation letter, instructors must collaborate with the student and follow the listed accommodations promptly and confidentially.
    • Main Campus: Accessibility Resource Center (ARC)
      Students registered with ARC will notify you and may request accommodations.
      🔗 UNM ARC
    • Valencia Campus: Accessibility Services
      Faculty should review documentation and coordinate accommodations with students and the Accessibility Office. For support, contact Sarah Clawson at sjclawson@unm.edu.
      🔗 UNM-Valencia Accessibility Services
  • Instructional & Technology Support
    • Faculty Online Teaching Resources
      Includes course design, accessibility, and online pedagogy.
    • Library & Learning Commons
      Access research support, digital resources, and tutoring.
    • Distance Learning Coordination
      Contact Kat Gullahorn (krg@unm.edu) for online course development and support.

Faculty Responsibilities & Evaluation

These define expectations beyond teaching.

  • Annual Performance Review (APR)
    All faculty members—whether tenure-track or lecturers—are required to complete an Annual Performance Review (APR) by the end of each fiscal year. The APR is an essential part of faculty accountability and professional development, and it serves as a formal record of your contributions in the three core areas of teaching, service, and scholarly or professional development activities.

    How the Process Works:

    The Dean of Instruction will distribute the official APR form and announce the submission deadline each summer.

    Faculty are responsible for completing the form by providing a summary and description of their activities in each of the three categories, highlighting accomplishments from the past academic year.

    Once completed, the form must be submitted to the Division Chair, who will review the content, provide written feedback and comments, and forward the reviewed APR to the Dean of Instruction for final review.

    The APR process is typically completed before the start of the new academic year.

    Tips for Success:

    Maintain a running document or folder throughout the year to record your teaching activities, committee work, professional development, publications, presentations, and other relevant contributions.

    Include quantitative and qualitative data where appropriate (e.g., number of students taught, student feedback, workshops attended, etc.).

    Ask your Division Chair for clarification if you are unsure how to categorize an activity.

    This process is not only a requirement but also a valuable opportunity to reflect on your work, plan future goals, and document your growth as an educator and colleague.
  • Committee Involvement
    Service on standing committees is an expected part of faculty responsibilities at UNM-Valencia. Faculty participation helps shape academic programs, campus policies, and institutional initiatives.

    Committee service is also a key component of your Annual Performance Review (APR) and is evaluated under the Service category. Faculty are encouraged to contribute meaningfully and document their committee work as part of their annual review submission.
    🔗 UNM-Valencia Standing Committees
  • Observations & Evaluations
    Faculty are required to complete:
    • 1 peer observations per year
    • 1 chair observation per year
Details are outlined in the UNM Valencia Faculty Handbook.

Teaching Operations & Campus Logistics

These address tools and day-to-day logistics.

  • Zoom Licensed Accounts
    Faculty can access a licensed Zoom account (unlimited time, added features) using their UNM email.
    Contact: media@unm.edu
  • Classroom Cancellations & Emergencies
    If you must cancel a class session, notify your Division Chair and a staff member or personnel in the Academic Affairs Office. A cancellation form may be required.
  • Additional Perks & Tools
    UNM offers free access to a variety of licensed software tools that support productivity, creativity, and instruction. These include:
    • Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, etc.)
    • Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, and more)
    • AI and data tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, MatLab, SPSS)
    These tools are available to faculty through the UNM IT Software Distribution portal.
    🔗 Download UNM Software & Tools
This page will be updated each semester as needed. If you have suggestions or corrections, please contact the Faculty Assembly President at vfacpresident@unm.edu.