The Reporter: February 1996, Vol.7, No.1
New Orientation Program Begins

A new orientation program for recently appointed faculty and staff of Columbia University began last fall.

According to Colleen Crooker, CU vice president for human resources, the purpose of the program is to welcome faculty and staff to Columbia, strengthen the sense of University community, and provide essential information to each individual during his or her first days of employment at Columbia.

To meet those goals, the program presents an overview of the University's structure and resources, a film that introduces a number of Columbians (including an interview with Dr. Richard Mayeux, director of the Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center), and a review of University benefits for all benefits-eligible faculty and staff. A new handbook describing University policies and resources is also distributed at program sessions. The handbook is being distributed to current employees through department offices.

Orientation session meetings are scheduled for each Monday throughout the year, except for University holidays, and are held in the Twombly-Burden Room in the Low Memorial Library on the Morning-side Heights campus. Additional sessions are scheduled the last Tues-day afternoon of each month for participants who cannot attend Monday morning meetings.

Benefits orientations for the Health Sciences are held every Friday and alternate between officers and staff. Those sessions cover insurance benefits options and enrollment procedures only.

Further information is available from Rosalyn Hantman, Columbia University director of training and personnel development, at 870-2100, or from Sybil Williams, Health Sciences assistant vice president for human resources, at 305-3819 (ext. 73819).

New employees gather at the Morningside campus for formal orientation.