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 Office of Faculty Development and the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Development support all instructors at WMU, including you as a professional instructor. Use this page to explore the most commonly requested resources, and don't hesitate to reach out to your PIO faculty fellow, Kat DeKam, or OFD 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 New Professional and Part-Time Instructors

Office of Faculty Development (OFD) and Professional Instructors Organization (PIO) co-host a general orientation for new professional and part-time instructors. This orientation covers basic information about your role at WMU, the PIO contract, and teaching and learning supports available at WMU. Colleges, departments, or programs may also provide additional individualized training or orientation specific to local roles and expectations.

Each fall, Western Michigan University welcomes new professional (PIO) and part-time instructors to attend the optional New Professional (PIO) and Part-Time Instructor orientation.  In-person and virtual options are available.  The orientation provides an overview of instructor roles, WMU teaching resources, and the PIO contract, and includes time for questions.  Co-hosted by the Office of Faculty Development and the Professional Instructors Organization.  For in-person attendees, this program typically follows Human Resources New Employee Orientation immediately. If you miss the Fall orientation, you can watch the in-demand orientation video.

Access the on-demand orientation video for new professional and part-time instructors. In conjunction with the Professional Instructor's Union (PIO), the Office of Faculty Development presents the PIO and Part-Time Instructor Virtual Orientation. Recorded from the 2026 New PIO and Part-Time Instructor Orientation, this video covers WMU resources for instructors, instructional support and eLearning resources, the CTLD and PIO Quick Start Guides, syllabus development, and PIO contract considerations. 

Video access requires a WMU login.  To view the resources mentioned in this video, visit the PIO and Part-Time Instructor Orientation Landing Page.

On-Demand New Professional and Part-Time Instructor Orientation Video

Teaching & Learning Resources, Events and Programs

CTLD Instructional Supports

Partner with the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTLD) Instructional Support to design and build learner-centered courses grounded in evidence-based practice. From instructional design and Elearning development to course accessibility, we connect you to the right expertise and resources at every step. CTLD provides coordinated, people-first support across every modality. All faculty and instructors can schedule individual consultations to discuss course design, instructional questions, and 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