SUPPORTING NEW / PROBATIONARY STAFF IN POLITICS Kelly Kollman

Formalising Induction and Support of New Staff Members Subject in the past has relied on a collegial culture and individual mentoring system to induct new and probationary staff. High turnover, 8 new staff in two years, and an increasing number of staff coming from outside the UK system have led us to formalise our induction and mentoring procedures. Particularly important for inducting staff into teaching and assessment norms.

New Induction Procedures Made induction of our six new staff members a key goal for the year. Introduction meeting in September covered a wide variety of topics about the university, teaching norms and research. Assessment and marking workshop in October Creating a Subject level new staff handbook Procedures are meant to augment the individual mentoring system in place for probationary staff and fill gaps left by the lack of induction procedures for mid-career / senior staff new to the Subject.