Messina Faculty Participant Information

• Messina Information Sheet for Faculty
• Access the Messina Faculty Application (for new applicants) & Access a PDF copy of the application
• Access the Messina Faculty Member Intent to Return Form (for current and past Messina faculty members)

I. Requirements of faculty members who will participate in Messina

• Develop and teach one or more seminar courses each year for first-year students.  The Messina seminar should be planned in coordination with a faculty partner (who will teach the same group of students during the opposite semester). Faculty are encouraged to collaborate in selecting a text or topic that can be explored across Fall and Spring semesters through an interdisciplinary lens. 
• Take the lead on planning at least 3-4 Enrichment Sessions and attend enrichment sessions (including theme-wide events and off-campus excursions) for each class. Faculty are well-positioned to focus their sessions on course enrichment, theme enrichment, and academic transition/advising.
• Possess a willingness to work as part of a cooperative working group of faculty, administrators, and student leaders. 
• Participate in Messina assessment initiatives. 
• Fulfill the responsibilities of a core advisor, which include working with students at summer orientation and registration, participating in the Common Text Program during Fall Welcome Weekend, meeting with students individually at least twice each semester, and attending the required Core Advising workshops.

II. New faculty participant expectations during the 2025-2026 academic year

• Prepare for Messina participation by attending a variety of scheduled training sessions,  
  workshops and small group meetings (about one per month beginning in January 2026).  Training sessions will take place in large groups, as well as smaller, self-directed informal working group settings. 
• Develop a course title and description for inclusion on the Messina website and registration survey. 

III. Expectations for all faculty participants during the 2026-2027 academic year

Note: The majority of faculty that participate in Messina will work with another faculty member, one campus administrator and 1-2 Evergreens to plan enrichment sessions and activities inside and outside of the classroom for two seminar sections of 15-17 students each year.

• Participate in a professional learning community of faculty, administrators and student peer leaders participating in Messina  
  • Summer Commitments:
    • Participate in aspects of summer orientation relevant to the Messina advising model
    • Attend a workshop/planning day the week before the fall semester begins to review syllabi and coordinate first week and/or orientation interactions
    • Attend fall orientation/Welcome Week events coordinated in conjunction with Messina and Office of New Student and Family Programs (such as the Common Text Discussion). 
  • In preparation for Fall and Spring Semesters:
    • Meet with working group members to discuss progress of the class and enrichment sessions (At Attend Enrichment Curriculum launch meetings in April and November to learn about required components for enrichment sessions. 
    • Meet with working group members to discuss program goals and outcomes. Meet with working group to plan enrichment sessions for the upcoming semester and submit enrichment plan for approval to the Messina Team.  
    • Participate in ongoing planning and communication on a weekly basis.  
    • Submit Early Intervention Check-In reports for any students exhibiting concerning behaviors, attendance issues, mental health concerns, etc.
• Collaborate on the Planning and Implementation of Enrichment Sessions
  • Discuss connections of courses and co-curricular activities to support interdisciplinary connections. 
  • Integrate enrichment sessions into course syllabi in accordance to the Enrichment Curriculum developed by the Messina team.
  • Attend and assist in the facilitation of 5-6 enrichment sessions per semester (totaling 8-15 hours of interaction with your students) for each seminar class. 
• Provide feedback to Messina by participating in program evaluations, surveys and other assessment efforts.