Center for Teaching, Learning, and Development
Three female instructors sitting at a table talking at Part-Time Instructor Orientation

Professional Instructors (PIO) and Part-Time Instructors

 

The Center for Teaching, Learning, and Development is here to support all instructors at WMU, and that means you as a professional instructor. Use this page to explore the most commonly requested resources, and don't hesitate to reach out to the Office of Faculty Development or your faculty fellow with any questions. 

 

Contacts and Hiring Information for Part-Time Instructors

 

Contacts and Hiring Information

Professional instructors are hired through academic departments and units. Your first point of contact for questions is typically the department chair or the administrative assistant for the unit.  When you are hired as a PIO professional instructor you will go through an onboarding process with the WMU Human Resources department and they offer a new employee orientation to which you and all new WMU employees are invited. The orientation they offer can answer any questions you have about your contract, paycheck, and the logistics of obtaining an ID and parking permit. You can also visit their website for employee group (PIO) specific information.
 
Your hiring department may have an onboarding process for new professional instructors, but if it doesn’t, you can set up a meeting with the chair or supervisor to learn more information about the department and the course(s) that you will be teaching. 

Orientation

 

Orientation for Professional Instructors

In the fall, the Office of Faculty Development (OFD) and Professional Instructors Organization (PIO) co-host a general orientation for professional instructors. This orientation covers basic information about your role at WMU, the PIO contract, teaching and learning supports available through OFD and the Center for Teaching, Learning and Development (CTLD), and other university resources. It also provides an opportunity to meet with PIO leaders, OFD and CTLD staff, and other professional instructors, with time for questions.  Colleges, departments, or programs may also provide additional individualized training or orientation specific to local roles and expectations.

Visit the professional (PIO) & part-time instructor Orientation Information Sheet for more information and to register. This program is offered in both in-person and virtual formats.

Teaching & Learning Resources, Events and Programs

 

Teaching & Learning Resources, Events and Programs

The Office of Faculty Development & CTLD offers a multitude of ways for all WMU instructors to get the help they need from our teams—including time-saving resources, informative events, learning communities, customized one-on-one support, and much more.

Instructional Development Grants for PIO

 

Instructional Development Grants for PIO

Western agrees to provide a minimum of six thousand dollars ($6,000) each year of the WMU-PIO AFT/AFL-CIO Agreement to be used to support teaching and learning proposals from bargaining unit members. Proposals are also encouraged from groups of professional instructors, departments, and interdepartmental consortia of professional instructors. Topics of proposals may include, but are not limited to: program development, continuing self-education, and international education. Proposals will be reviewed through a process developed by the Office of Faculty Development and approved by the Office of the Provost.

Instructional Development Grants

Professional Instructors Organization

 

Professional Instructors Organization

For Professional Instructors who are eligible to be a part of the PIO, your rights are governed by Professional Instructors Organization’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. The PIO, the local union that negotiates this agreement, works collaboratively with the Office of Faculty Development to offer assistance to any professional instructor who may need it, or has general questions regarding their position or their contract. If you’d like to know more about the PIO, how to get involved, or have any general questions, visit: https://piowmu.com/.

Additional information related to the PIO:

WMU Professional Instructors Organization Agreements
Professional Instructor Annual Performance Reviews