UFV LAUNCH 2026

UFV LAUNCH – The New Faculty Professional Development Program is a 2-semester program completed by new Assistant Professors at UFV. The program’s purpose is to provide newly hired full-time faculty members at UFV with the foundation of educational support, resources, and a learning network as they move into their new role. Upon successful completion of UFV Launch, participants will be able to: 1. Develop evidence-based and pedagogically relevant learning experiences to support teaching practices that embody active and learning-centred methods. 2. Incorporate the principles of adult learning into teaching practice. 3. Employ appropriate learning technologies to enhance classroom/online learning experiences. 4. Evaluate participant’s own course components to ensure alignment, relevance, and engagement. 5. Incorporate diversity in learning and teaching through principles of Indigenous learning, universal design, racial/ethnic diversity pedagogy. 6. Develop reflective learning and teaching practices through collaboration, discussion, and Insight Journal entries. Topics covered in the Launch program include Indigenous perspectives on teaching and learning, academic integrity, curriculum development, assessments and grading, active learning, creating effective online learning experiences, teaching mindset, inclusive teaching, UDL and accessibility, scholarship of teaching and learning, and connecting community to the classroom. Participants in this program successfully completed these assignments designed to connect theory to practice: • Co-facilitation of one of the Launch units with a Teaching and Learning Specialist. • Insight Journal: Weekly reflective assignments connecting course material to individual teaching experiences. • Research Assignment: A review of a new teaching and learning strategy that will be implemented in the 2nd semester of the program. • Experimental Teaching Presentation and Reflection: Following implementation of this new teaching and learning strategy, participants deliver a presentation to program peers and reflect on the process of trying something new. For more information, please contact askTLC@ufv.ca.