New Faculty and Librarian Development Program

The New Faculty and Librarian Development Program focuses on developmental learning priorities to support growth and success at key career milestones while responding to the needs of faculty and librarians in an evolving post-secondary landscape.

The program combines orientation sessions, in-person and self-directed learning opportunities and ongoing mentorship. By offering multiple engagement formats, the program allows faculty and librarians to participate in ways that are flexible, relevant and fit their development needs.

Pillars and outcomes

The program and its courses are guided by four pillars of key learning:

• University governance and orientation
• Research and teaching excellence
• Career progression
• Mentorship and belonging

Through these pillars, the program will foster UVic culture and values; highlight policies and procedures; build scholarly identity; share teaching resources; provide guidance on narrative writing and dossier development; support reappoinment, promotion and tenure (RPT); and offer networking opportunities. 

Orientation sessions

VPAC hosts two mandatory orientation sessions to welcome new colleagues to campus and provide important onboarding information. A third session is organized in collaboration with the Offices of the Vice-President Indigenous and Human Resources. These sessions are the first components of the program.

Virtual orientation

This session provides onboarding information and address questions about arriving to campus, benefits, pension plans, supports for new faculty and librarians, online tools and more. Program participants will receive an Outlook calendar invitation with a meeting link and formal agenda.

The 2026 virtual orientation session was held in July. If you were unable to attend, please contact facultyrelations@uvic.ca to receive a recording of the session.

In-person orientation

This full-day session will familiarize new faculty and librarians with UVic's culture, students and resources while providing opportunities for community building. Sessions will be led by experts from across the university. In-person orientation is scheduled on September 2, 2026 - program participants will receive an Outlook calendar invitation with a formal agenda.

Blanketing Ceremony

All new faculty and librarians are invited to attend a Blanketing Ceremony on September 3, 2026. New Indigenous colleagues will be blanketed and non-Indigenous colleagues have the opportunity to observe and collectively request permission to work on these lands in accordance with traditional local protocols.

Courses

Mentorship

Mentorship and community building help new faculty and librarians build networks, learn from experienced colleagues and develop a sense of belonging within the UVic community. Initiatives are led locally by faculties, disciplines and affinity groups; however, VPAC organizes mentorship events throughout the year to provide additional opportunities for connection. 

New faculty or librarians should connect with their unit lead (e.g., chair or director) to be assigned a peer-mentor. When mentorship connections are fostered, mentees benefit from increased access to advice, encouragement and feedback through formal or informal practices. 

A list of known affinity groups and a mentorship handbook are available on the VPAC website.

Mentorship events

Below is a list of events schedueld for new faculty, librarians and peer-mentors. Calendar invitations with additional information are circulated in advance of each session.

 Additional events for 2026/27 are being developed and scheduled. More information will be shared once available. Contact facultyrelations@uvic.ca with any questions. 

FAQs

Other questions about the program? Contact facultyrelations@uvic.ca.