Faculty, staff return for Fall Orientation Aug. 14-15

The semester doesn’t officially begin until Aug. 21, but Campbell University’s faculty and staff will have an opportunity to hear about changes this fall, take part in professional development sessions and get to know other departments at the annual Faculty & Staff Orientation, set for Aug. 14-15. 

For many, it will be their first opportunity to hear new president Dr. William Downs, who will share university updates at 9:30 a.m. during the morning sessions on Aug. 14 in the Oscar N. Harris Student Union second-floor banquet hall. Vice President for Information Technology Sherri Yerk-Zwickl will talk about the MyCampbell Portal, Vice President for Student Life and Christian Mission Dr. Faithe Beam will speak on the “Hallmarks of the Campbell Experience,” joining other speakers between 9 and 11:30 that morning. 

The sessions will be followed by lunch in the banquet hall. 

Thursday afternoon will consist of various sessions in rooms 121-126 of the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business and in Lynch Auditorium. 

Clair Hinson and David Mulford will speak on “AI Tools for Personal Productivity” at 12:40 and 2:40 p.m. Their session will focus on using Microsoft CoPilot to “streamline everyday office tasks, from researching ideas, drafting emails and summarizing meeting notes to creating checklists and organizing information.”

A group of professors and staff members, including Director of Hallmarks and Character Education Rachel Nelson, will speak on “The Hallmarks: Character, Initiative and Calling at Campbell” at 1:40 and 2:40 p.m. From innovative curriculum adaptations to the implementation of mini-grant funding, their session showcases how the Campbell Hallmarks are coming to life across departments and disciplines.

Other planned sessions will focus on benefits and human resources, health savings accounts, retirement planning, employee wellness, getting to know your library and opioid overdose response and naloxone training. A complete schedule of sessions and speakers will be included in the program handed out at this year’s orientation.

On Friday morning, Aug. 15, faculty and staff are invited to attend the University Showcase and Breakfast, hosted by Wiggins Memorial Library on the second floor of their building. The showcase is an opportunity for employees new and old to get to know departments and services at Campbell University, from Campus Recreation to Spiritual Life. Orientation will end with school and department meetings beginning at 10:30 a.m. that morning.