August 11, 2026
8 am – 5:00 pm
Hodges Library
The New Faculty Teaching Institute (NFTI) is designed to support faculty who are new to UT—whether you’re just starting your teaching career or bringing years of experience. This day-long event offers opportunities to explore effective teaching practices, connect with campus partners who support teaching and learning, and build community with fellow new Vols as you begin your academic journey at UT.
8:00 am – 8:30 am
Check-In & Breakfast
Jack E. Reese Galleria, 1st Floor, Hodges Library
8:30 am – 8:50 am
Welcome to NFTI
Lindsay Young Auditorium, 1st Floor, Hodges Library
Opening remarks by Dr. Ferlin McGaskey, Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs & Executive Director of Teaching & Learning Innovation.
8:50 am – 9:40 am
Accessibility Vignettes
Lindsay Young Auditorium, 1st Floor, Hodges Library
Learn about new accessibility initiatives across the UT system and their impact on teaching and learning. Through a series of accessibility vignettes, you will examine common challenges and explore practical strategies for creating accessible learning environments.
9:40 am – 9:50 am
Break
9:50 am – 10:40 am
World Café
Lindsay Young Auditorium, 1st Floor, Hodges Library
Join us for a World Café designed to connect new-to-UT faculty with TLI staff and explore the services and resources available to support your teaching and learning. You will learn more about our areas of excellence: AI, SoTL, Curriculum Development & Design, Welcoming and Belonging, and Graduate Student Development.
10:50 am – 11:40 am
Partner Breakout Sessions
- OIT presents: Canvas & Other Campus Learning Tools
- Digital Learning presents: Online Teaching Essentials
- UT Libraries presents: Library Services for Faculty
11:40 am – 11:50 am
Break
11:50 am – 1:00 pm
Networking Lunch
Staff Lounge, 6th Floor, Hodges Library Rm. 646
12:45 pm – 1:45 pm
The Campus Partners Resource Fair
Jack E. Reese Galleria, 1st Floor, Hodges Library
Meet with representatives from offices across campus to learn more about other opportunities.
1:50 pm – 2:00 pm
Break
2:00 pm – 2:50 pm
Pecha Kucha
Lindsay Young Auditorium, 1st Floor, Hodges Library
Join us for a Pecha Kucha designed to provide new-to-UTK faculty with opportunities to connect, share ideas, and explore strategies to enhance teaching and learning. Through this format, you will engage with colleagues to learn about practices and approaches that support effective and innovative teaching.
2:50 pm – 3:00 pm
Break
3:00 pm – 3:50 pm
Teaching Bootcamp
Various Rooms in Hodges Library
This session is an opportunity for our guests to explore UT’s own PoET framework of teaching excellence and identify the practices and actions they will incorporate into their teaching that will support their efforts to provide students with high-quality instruction.
3:50 pm – 4:00 pm
Break
4:00 pm – 4:50 pm
Partner Breakout Sessions
- OIT presents: Canvas & Other Campus Learning Tools
- Digital Learning presents: Online Teaching Essentials
- UT Libraries presents: Library Services for Faculty
Location
4:50 pm – 5:00 pm
Closing Remarks
Lindsay Young Auditorium, 1st Floor, Hodges Library