Messina Faculty Participant Information
I. Requirements of faculty members who will participate in Messina
- Develop and teach one or more seminar courses each year for first-year students during the fall 2027 semester.
- Take the lead on planning at least 4 Enrichment Sessions and attend majority of the semester’s enrichment sessions (including Messina events and off-campus excursions) for each class. Faculty are well-positioned to focus their sessions on course enrichment, theme enrichment, and academic transition/advising.
- Possess a willingness to work as part of a cooperative working group of faculty, administrators, and student leaders.
- Participate in Messina assessment initiatives.
- Fulfill the responsibilities of a core advisor for the fall 2027 and spring 2028 semesters, which include participating in a common intellectual experience during Fall Welcome Weekend, meeting with students individually at least twice each semester, and attending the annual Advising workshops.
II. New faculty participant expectations during the 2026-2027 academic year
- Prepare for Messina participation by attending a variety of scheduled training sessions, workshops and small group meetings (about one per month beginning in March 2027).
III. Expectations for all faculty participants during the 2027-2028 academic year
- Participate in a professional learning community of faculty, administrators and student
peer leaders participating in Messina
- Meet with working group members to discuss program goals and outcomes. Meet with working group to plan enrichment sessions for the upcoming semester and submit enrichment plan for approval to the Messina Team.
- Attend a workshop/planning day the week before the fall semester begins for professional development, to review expectations, and coordinate first week and/or Fall Welcome Weekend interactions
- Attend fall orientation/Welcome Week events coordinated in conjunction with Messina and Office of New Student and Family Programs (such as the Common Intellectual Experience).
- Participate in ongoing planning and communication with working group members on a weekly basis.
- Submit CARE Referral Forms for any students exhibiting concerning behaviors, attendance issues, mental health concerns, etc.
- Collaborate on the Planning and Implementation of Enrichment Sessions
- Identify the four academic sessions you plan to offer during enrichment sessions for inclusion in the draft schedule (submitted in June by the Messina Mentor)
- Attend and assist in the facilitation of 4 enrichment sessions per semester (totaling 8-15 hours of interaction with your students) for each seminar class and attend at least half of the enrichment sessions.
- Provide feedback to Messina by participating in program evaluations, surveys and other assessment efforts.