Coffee and Conversation New Faculty Orientation – August 17, 2016

Ra ύ l Curto introduces our esteemed faculty … Welcome and Thank You!!

Table #1 Questions How easy is it to leave town in the middle of the semester, to attend a national meeting? What kind of obstacles have you encountered (travel request to DEO, finding good airline connections, staying overnight in a connecting city)? How important are faculty meetings to a new faculty member? After all, new faculty members know very little about their respective departments, and may feel like they cannot contribute to the faculty meeting. How good is the Iowa City Public Library?

Table #1 Report to Classroom

Table #2 Questions Where do you go for a good haircut or other styling option? What about a good dry cleaner? Are there many pharmacies open 24 hours/7 days a week? What kind of recreational activities does the IC area offer? People talk about the Coralville Reservoir, Lake MacBride, and Kent State Park … are they any good? Is it part of the Iowa City culture to become a Hawkeye? What if I don’t care about sports, will my colleagues in the department think that I don’t want to be involved?

Table #2 Report to Classroom

Table #3 Questions What steps do you recommend to find a good mentor? Inside the department? Outside the department? Is it always a good idea to have a mentor? The food shopping options are pretty unique to this area. Both Hy-Vee and Fareway are Iowa-based stores that have not expanded much outside of Iowa. New Pioneer is unique to the Corridor, and now we have a Lucky’s. There are also farm-fresh options, such as Wilson’s Apple Orchard, community sustained agriculture, and farmer’s markets. What is your general opinion of these food shopping options? What about the festivals in the Pedestrian Mall? Do you like them?

Table #3 Report to Classroom

Table #4 Questions What do you think about the Monday Motivator? How about other services offered to UIowa through the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity? Have you heard of many people using these services? What kind of cultural life should I expect in Iowa City? There is a so-called “Master Calendar” in the Division of Performing Arts (called LocalList), and also Hancher, but what is your opinion of the performances? Have you had good experiences attending them? What about FedEx and UPS? Do they work well in Iowa City? And the US Post Office?

Table #4 Report to Classroom

Table #5 Questions How do faculty communicate to others in CLAS and at UIowa in general about recent research accomplishments? I heard of the CLAS Strategic Communications Office – what do they do? What about a support system for grant proposals and awards? How does that work at The University of Iowa?

Table #5 Report to Classroom

Table #6 Questions Is it appropriate to ask my DEO for assistance when dealing with daycare issues? Are family matters considered to be unrelated to life at UIowa? For daily transportation at UIowa, what do you recommend doing: applying for a parking permit or using the mass transit system (Iowa City/Coralville/Campus buses)? What do you think of the HRTC? Any other exercise facilities you can recommend?

Table #6 Report to Classroom

Table #7 Questions How flexible can I expect my DEO to be if I ask to be excused from a faculty meeting because of an upcoming deadline to finish a grant proposal? Are there any good restaurants in Iowa City? Do I have to drive far to find one? Are spouses and partners welcome at departmental gatherings? What about the Dual Career Network?

Table #7 Report to Classroom

Table #8 Questions What is your impression of the Iowa City Community School District? Does it live up to its state and national reputation? My spouse/partner wants to get involved, and become a volunteer (for example, at UIHC, Habitat for Humanity, Food Pantry, Crisis Center). Is this possible in the Iowa City area? What do new faculty do on a Friday night? Weekend?

Table #8 Report to Classroom