The MIT Office of the Provost sponsors an orientation for new faculty during the week before the start of each new academic year. This one day event features an overview of MIT, and a broad introduction to some of the teaching, research, and administrative enterprises of the Institute. Traditionally, the President, Provost, and Chancellor are all involved in the day's program, and the event is hosted by the Chair of the Faculty. Much of the program typically involves a series of small panels in which MIT faculty members discuss and provide guidance related to different aspects of the faculty experience, allowing plenty of time for questions or for discussion between the panelists and the new faculty members in attendance.
In 2008, the orientation was held at the Stata Center, and the agenda (pdf format) can be found at the link provided.
The date for the next New Faculty Orientation will be September 2, 2009, and new faculty for 2009-2010 will be contacted over the preceding summer with more information.
A permanent MIT website dedicated to Faculty Resources can be found at: http://web.mit.edu/faculty/
Doug Pfeiffer in the Office of the Provost can be contacted for further information.