Goodwin University Nursing Faculty Onboarding

Start here

You've joined a school of Navigators.

Everything in this manual exists to get you ready to teach — and to make your first semester feel less like a puzzle. This page covers who we are, what we believe, and what we're here to do.

A note from the Dean

Welcome to our academic community

Dear New Faculty/Staff Member,

On behalf of the entire School of Nursing, it is my pleasure to welcome you to our academic community. We are thrilled that you have chosen to join our team and bring your expertise, passion, and commitment to our institution.

Your decision to join our School of Nursing and Health Professions comes at an exciting time as we continue to advance nursing education. Whether you are joining us as a faculty member, clinical instructor, or administrative professional, your contributions will be vital to our mission of preparing the next generation of nursing professionals.

This orientation manual contains essential information to help you acclimate to your new role. Please review it carefully, as it includes details about:

  • Academic policies and procedures
  • Teaching resources and faculty development opportunities
  • Technology systems and classroom equipment
  • Administrative processes and human resources information
  • Campus facilities and key contacts

We recognize that transitioning to a new position involves a learning curve. Please don't hesitate to reach out to your program director or assigned mentor with any questions. Our collaborative culture encourages open communication and mutual support.

The work we do in nursing education is both challenging and deeply rewarding. Your expertise and fresh perspectives will enhance our program and benefit our students. We encourage you to share your ideas and innovations as we collectively strive for excellence.

In the coming weeks, you'll have opportunities to meet colleagues, become familiar with our curriculum, and learn more about our strategic initiatives. We hope you'll find our nursing community to be welcoming, supportive, and intellectually stimulating.

We are delighted to have you as part of our team and look forward to the contributions you will make to our School of Nursing and Health Professions.

Sincerely,

Vivienne Friday, EdD, MSN, RN, MSOL

Dean of Nursing and Health Professions, Chief Nurse Administrator
North Star Collective (NSC) Faculty Fellow · UDL Fellow

Reach the Dean Goodwin University
One Riverside Drive, East Hartford, CT 06118
860‑913‑2246
VFriday@goodwin.edu

About Goodwin

Career-focused, community-based, and built for outcomes

Goodwin University is proud of its remarkable legacy of creating career-focused educational opportunities for its students for more than 20 years. It has grown from a business technology training center to an accredited baccalaureate college, to a re-imagined, community-based university comprising three schools of academic discipline: the School of Nursing and Health Professions, the School of Business, Technology, and Advanced Manufacturing, and the School of Applied Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

Goodwin University is a nonprofit institution of higher education and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Goodwin University was founded in 1999 with the goal of serving a diverse student population with career-focused degree programs that lead to strong employment outcomes.

The School of Nursing and Health Professions seeks to provide students with state-of-the-art preparation for careers in healthcare and science-based disciplines. The Goodwin University Nursing Education Program is fully accredited by the Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing (CT BOEN) and fully approved by the Connecticut Board of Registered Nursing.

The information in this handbook is intended to orient new and current nursing faculty and staff to the expectations that come with teaching, scholarship, and service. It should ease your adjustment to the role, whether you are full-time or adjunct, and give you a network of contacts to support your work. It complements the Goodwin University Faculty and Staff Handbook.

This handbook may be reviewed and revised at any time to reflect changes in institutional policy, state and federal law, or operational procedures. Always check for the current version before relying on a policy detail.

Core values

P.A.S.S.I.O.N.

Our core values are the deeply held beliefs that represent the highest priorities and fundamental driving forces for nursing faculty. They define what we believe in and how we choose to resonate with students, faculty, and the greater Goodwin community. Read down the column — the seven values spell the word.

Purpose

Goodwin University provides access to all who seek higher education. Our interaction and engagement with students are personal, sincere, respectful, and considerate of the life circumstances that drive the need for change in a student's life.

Academic Excellence

We are a dynamic academic institution with high expectations for all. We believe in preparing our students for lifelong learning through a rigorous, career-based curriculum that promotes critical thinking and personal growth and leads to strong employment outcomes. We treat effective teaching as everyone's responsibility and central to our endeavors.

Student Success

Students are the focus of our work at Goodwin University. We have the responsibility to create innovative learning environments and provide support services that are nurturing, yet hold students accountable for their own success.

Service to Community

Our obligation and responsibility is to give back to individuals and the broader community. We encourage collaboration and seek out meaningful experiences for students, faculty, and staff.

Integrity

We are honest, trustworthy, and respectful of others, and we foster these traits in our students, faculty, and staff.

Opportunity

By embracing the sharing of diverse ideas, viewpoints, learning styles, and abilities, everyone enriches the institution as a whole. Our system of shared governance offers an opportunity for the entire Goodwin community to have a voice in continuous improvement.

Navigators

We are Navigators. It is the responsibility of everyone at Goodwin University to guide ourselves, our colleagues, and our students through this shared transformational journey of personal and professional development.

PASSION promotes active engagement and fosters an understanding of the mission of the institution and the nursing program — for faculty, for the community, and for nursing.

Mission

What we're here to do

The University

Goodwin University Mission Statement

The mission of Goodwin University is to educate a diverse student population in a dynamic environment that aligns education, commerce, and community. Our innovative programs of study prepare students for professional careers while promoting lifelong learning and civic responsibility. As a nurturing university community, we challenge students, faculty, staff, and administration to fully realize their highest academic, professional, and personal potential.

The School

Nursing Department Mission Statement

The School of Nursing and Health Professions seeks to provide students with state-of-the-art preparation for careers in healthcare and science-based disciplines. The mission of the School of Nursing and Health Professions will infuse an appreciation for lifelong learning in all students, resulting in excellence in healthcare and improved quality of life for those we serve.

Next Accreditation and our nursing programs