New Staff Orientation Checklist
 

The following checklist provides a guide for your first few months. You can initiate many of these steps and others will contact you in some cases. Please print this checklist and make sure you receive the orientation as described. Any suggestions for additions or changes to this checklist are appreciated.

Before the First Day of Work

 

New Staff

Office Staff: chair, secretary, co-workers

District Director, Assistant Director or Dept. Chair

State Office Reps

Mentor

Communicate with new staff re: housing or moving, stay in contact regularly

          

Have work space, equipment and keys ready

          

Send packet with:
"Where do you go" brochure, Extension
Staff Directory, e-mail and majordomo info,
nametag, deskplate, and Electronic Communication Device brochure.

      

Director's Office

  

First Week on the Job
 

New Staff

Office Staff

District Director, Assistant Director or Dept. Chair

State Office Reps

Mentor

Host a coffee, open house or lunch to welcome the new staff

          

E-mail introduction of new staff to all-ext and others as appropriate

          

Discuss educational role and basic responsibilities

          

Share County Chairs' Handbook with county chairs

          

Explain:
Office hours
Parking
Building information
Break and lunch arrangements
Telephone and mail procedures
File management
Equipment and supplies
Interoffice communication
Budget
Computer set-up

          

Meet individually with co-workers to learn about their responsibilities, relationships and office organization

          

Begin Orientation on the
Web, at http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/
orientation/Introduction/intro.htm

          

Call Human Resources at 231-8965 re: benefits: health and life insurance, retirement, annuities, Employee Assistance Program

          

Call new staff to review:
Expense forms
Travel regulations and forms
Leave policies
NDSU Policy Manual: http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/policy

      

Ag Budget Office

  

Assign e-mail ID and provide printed info about computer basic usage and policy, including e-mail

      

Ag Comm

  

Call new staff to visit about orientation process

      

Staff Dev

  

Contact local media about new staff, if appropriate

          

Introduce new staff to others in the office/building on a tour

          

Order business cards and enclosures

          

First Month on the Job
 

New Staff

Office Staff

District Director, Assistant Director or Dept. Chair

State Office Reps

Mentor
Introduce Mentee (new employee) to Mentor          

Talk about reporting & forms:
Quarterly Program Reports
Narratives to commissioners and others (Narrative Reporting page)
Travel policies
Leave forms

          

Discuss:
"Where do you go" brochure
Federal/state/county partnership
relationships with decision makers: county commissioners, local legislators, etc. (Strategies for Effective Communication with Public Officials booklet)
NDSU organization, county/area/state staff responsibilities and relationships
Safety and risk management

          

Review the program planning process and Plan of Work:  http://www.ext.nodak.edu/progplan/

          

Discuss multi-county program units and areas of emphasis

          

Talk about subject matter and skill training opportunities

          

Talk about resources for demographics and "politics;" identify key contacts

          

Discuss:
Advisory councils
Needs assessments
Program delivery methods
Program evaluation

          

Share competency expectations and performance appraisal process

          

Discuss relationships with NDSU teaching, research and Extension

          

Pair new staff with mentor(s)

          

Schedule to have new staff spend days in other offices

          

If you have 4-H responsibilities, meet with 4-H center chair re:
Philosophy
Program areas
Activities and events
Reporting
Child Protection Policy

      

State
4-H Office Rep

  

Share resources:
Staff Resource Library
Tuition waiver
Developmental leave

      

Staff Dev

  

Invite new staff to your office for a day or two (list of ideas to discuss)

          

Share what a strong program includes and what the future may hold

          

Review orientation needs with new staff

      

Staff Dev

  

Within the First 2 Months
 

New Staff

Office Staff

District Director, Assistant Director or Dept. Chair

State Office Reps

Mentor
Make Contact with mentee and review process to date. Complete bio sketch and mentee needs assessment. Ask mentor for their bio sketch          

Review orientation needs with new staff

      

Staff Dev

Assigned Mentor

Share ideas on promotion and marketing

      

Ag Comm

  

Contact new staff to discuss volunteer management, if appropriate

      

Volunteer Dev Specialist

  

Review budget management

          

Within the First 6 Months
 

New Staff

Office Staff

District Director, Assistant Director or Dept. Chair

State Office Reps

Mentor

Review orientation needs with new staff

      

Staff Dev

  

Attend on-campus orientation led by Staff Development; includes campus visits

      

Staff Dev

  

Attend a pre-, post- or during-conference session with other new staff

          

Take part in educational design distance education program led by Staff Development

          

At End of 6 Months
 

District Director, Assistant Director or Dept. Chair

Mentor
Conduct between mentor, mentee and district director to determine next steps