A Guide to Inducting Sessional Academic Staff
Introduction
This Guide provides advice for managers and Human Resources staff to assist in the development of a local induction program for sessional (casual) academic staff employed for 13 or more hours in a semester.
The examples provided in this guide can be easily adapted to meet the particular needs of the local area.
This resource should be partnered with the Quick Guide for Sessional Academic staff to help sessional academic staff settle into their role.
The Protocols for the Management of Academic Casual Staff provide a framework for the implementation of quality assurance and best practice processes in relation to recruitment and selection, the employment contract, induction and performance management.
Manager’s responsibility – Induction
The manager of the new staff member is normally responsible for managing induction activities that address the specific and general induction needs for new sessional academic staff through a structured process. This includes a specific orientation to the University, Division/Portfolio/Institute and local orientations, for example, who to contact for room access or printing. It is critical that the induction checklists are retained with the employee’s personnel record.
The manager must ensure that new staff members are aware of their legislative obligations. These include:
Occupational Health Safety Welfare & Injury Management legislation and regulations
New staff are required to login with their username and personal password to complete the online learning program at http://unisa.e3learning.com.au/
Local area OHS & IM requirements should be discussed with the new sessional academic staff member and OHS & IM induction recorded on the OHSW Procedure Induction Checklist (OHSW23).
Equity
Sessional staff members must familiarise themselves with the Equity and Diversity principles and their legal and ethical responsibilities.
The Human Resources Unit has developed two concise publications that can be read online or printed as hardcopy resources. These two publications support the induction of all new staff.
· Equity and Diversity – treating people with respect: a good practice guide
· Quick Guide to the Legal and Ethical Responsibilities for staff
Teaching @ UniSA
New sessional academic staff are required to participate in the Teaching @ UniSA program which is a component of the Professional Certificate in Academic Practice
Sessional academic staff participate in the teaching and learning sessions of the Professional Certificate in Academic Practice, both general and discipline based, and the reflective workshop in year one of the program. This is supported by a time commitment of 1.5 days.
Website resources
A range of online resources have been developed to support sessional academic staff. These can be accessed via the Human Resources Unit – sessional (casual) staff site.
The Induction for New Staff website should be a key part of the induction program for new sessional academic staff in their first week of employment. This corporate website includes information on governance, senior staff profiles, the division and portfolios, service providers and important employee legislative responsibilities.
The Induction Handbook provides a broad overview of UniSA and complements the induction website.
Many UniSA Schools have prepared a range of school-specific induction resources to support sessional academic staff. Contact the School Manager at the following Schools for a copy of induction resources:
· School of Health Sciences
· School of Nursing and Midwifery
· School of Commerce
· School of Communication, International Studies and Language
Checklists
The following checklists are provided to assist managers develop a planned Induction program for new sessional academic staff. It is intended that they will be adapted to meet the particular needs of the local area. The induction checklists should be completed and forwarded to the local Human Resources staff within three months of the commencement date of the new sessional academic staff member. Human Resources staff will keep a record on the staff members file.
Induction Checklists
For Sessional Academic Staff employed for 13 or more hours in a semester
Staff Member Name: ______Date: ______
Manager: ______School/Unit: ______
PART ONE: Prior to Commencement Checklist
Task / ManagerEnsure that the University Employment Contract is signed and returned to the CAS administrator so system access for the new staff member can be activated. / q
Prepare an individual Induction Program and ensure that it is ready for the new sessional academic staff member on their first day / q
Forward a copy of the Induction Program to the new staff member before their commencement date / q
Diarise the new sessional academic staff member’s commencement date and schedule first discussion. Ensure the staff member is aware of where, when and who to meet on the first day / q
Inform other staff in the work environment that a new sessional academic staff member will be starting and what the commencement date will be / q
Where appropriate, arrange for an Induction Partner for the new sessional academic staff member. Discuss the role with the Induction Partner / q
Ensure keys, swipe cards, email, pigeon hole, name plates for door (if applicable) etc. have been arranged / q
Identify and establish an appropriate, fully equipped ergonomically sound personal or shared work area with computer, telephone, office supplies and allocate teaching space(s) / q
Arrange system access (e.g. access to Network & Server, MyUniSA, AssignIT) and if existing computer is to be reassigned to new user contact local IT staff / q
If the staff member is to be part of a committee or decision making forum, advise this group of the commencement, and obtain a meeting schedule to be placed on the new staff members desk / q
File completed Induction Checklist in Staff Member’s personnel record
PART TWO: First Day/Fortnight Checklist
The Manager and new sessional academic staff member should ensure that the following have been completed:
Task / New staff member / ManagerCorporate and Organisational
Explain the functions, duties and expectations of the position and any compliance and policy issues that govern their position / q / q
Discuss the organisational chart and describe how the new sessional academic staff member’s position relates to the organisational structure / q / q
Explain key University policies and procedures as appropriate to the position, including the University’s Performance Management Scheme / q / q
Discuss the new staff member’s Induction Program, explaining each part in detail / q / q
Introduce the new staff member to their Induction Partner (if appropriate), other Divisional/Portfolio/Institute staff and arrange an orientation of the Campus/building / q / q
Professional
Provide information about the expectations around good practice in teaching at UniSA and information about the Learning and Teaching Unit’s Academic Development team and the Teaching in Higher Education site. / q / q
Discuss performance expectations in teaching, tutoring, assessment, research and supervision (as appropriate to the role) / q / q
Discuss activities and information about research infrastructure and consultancy work / q / q
Discuss and provide information about the new staff members role and its interface with other service and academic areas of the University / q / q
Discuss the Teaching @ UniSA program and other additional workplace training or professional development / q / q
Accessing service providers and facilities
Provide information and access details about the Induction for New Staff website and Induction Handbook, particularly as it relates to sessional staff / q / q
Explain staff services including FM Assist, IT Help Desk, Library, Finance,
Human Resources, Learning and Teaching Unit, Research Services etc / q / q
Discuss printing services and stationery supplies / q / q
Discuss access to Corporate and local IT systems, access cards & security procedures / q / q
File completed Induction Checklist in Staff Member’s personnel record
Task / New staff member / ManagerAdministrative procedures and legislative obligations
Discuss telephone – how to answer calls, use hold, transfer calls, voicemail procedures. Online resources available from ISTS – Resources for staff / q / q
Discuss photocopying, faxing and scanning – location of equipment and use / q / q
Discuss mail – incoming & outgoing mail procedures, courier service. Online resources available from Facilities Management Unit - Mail service / q / q
Discuss the legal and ethical obligations of the new sessional staff members’ role. Refer to the Quick Guide to the Legal and Ethical Responsibilities for staff / q / q
Discuss completion of casual employee timesheets & associated payroll procedures / q / q
Information systems
Discuss the importance of confidentiality and access to sensitive information / q / q
Explain other information resources available to the new sessional academic staff member such as the IT Helpdesk, University publications and manuals / q / q
Familiarise the new staff member with the UniSA website, including an overview of the UniSA home page and policies, procedures and guidelines / q / q
Occupational Health, Safety & Injury Management (OHS & IM)
Discuss & complete the OHSW procedure Induction Checklist (OHSW23) / q / q
Explain how OHSW & IM issues are raised & discussed in the work area e.g. team meetings, OHSW Committee etc. / q / q
Provide any approved personal protective equipment necessary for the safe performance of tasks and instruct the new academic staff member of proper use and maintenance / q / q
Discuss completion of the UniSA Online OHSW&IM learning programs / q / q
File completed Induction Checklist in Staff Member’s personnel record
A Guide to Inducting Sessional Academic Staff updated January 2012 1