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5th Edition Faculty Affairs Spotlight

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Happening in Faculty Affairs

The Office of the Vice President for Faculty Affairs is committed to collaboratively pursuing new and innovative methods of optimizing processes and resources for faculty across the University.

A survey of faculty members was conducted in Spring 2022 to assess areas for improvement in the Promotion and Tenure process. Over 650 respondents from across the University gave their assessments of the process. Based on this feedback, we have proposed simplifications to the Promotion and Tenure process to the Deans, Department Heads, Faculty Senate and Council of Principal Investigators. These changes maintain the integrity of the process while reducing redundancy and improving clarity. These changes will be implemented in the guidelines for next cycle.

We are also currently partnering with multiple faculty task force groups reviewing:

  • Hiring and retention best-practices for APT faculty
  • An Opportunity Major placement program for strategically guiding undergraduate students that are not admitted to their 1st choice major (The Division of Academic & Strategic Collaborations)
  • Budget modeling across the University
  • Faculty in-excess compensation practices

Thank you to the community for being willing to collaborate on behalf of your fellow faculty members.

Faculty Evaluation (F180) Updates -

As faculty members across campus initiate and develop their Interfolio F180 profiles, we utilize their vital feedback to enhance the training materials available through the Faculty Affairs Intranet.

Through collaboration with University Libraries, this new guide explains how Interfolio F180 users can trigger Scholars@TAMU's publicly available data to auto-populate their publications into their F180 profiles.

Faculty Focus

Pathways Award Winners -

Faculty Affairs recently launched the Amplifying External Awards Program, which recognizes faculty who are demonstrating excellence through an annual celebration and financial incentive. Within the Program, Pathways Awards are classified as prestigious awards that more than 25% of the recipients of highly prestigious awards have previously received. Two of our AgriLife colleagues have recently taken the next step on that pathway:

Dr. Jeff Tomberlin (Department of Entomology) has been elected an Entomological Society of America Fellow and Dr. Dara Wald (Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communications) has earned the NSF Early Career Award.

Congratulations!

Innovative Teaching Excellence -

Dr. Osvaldo Gutierrez, of the Department of Chemistry, set the tone for on-campus Halloween costumes last month. But, when he isn't teaching Organic Chemistry as a T-Rex, he leads an impressive lab team - of Postdoctoral Fellows, PhD students, Visiting Scholars, Undergraduates and High School students - in the execution of new Organic Synthesis, Transition Metal Catalysis and Quantum Mechanical Calculations research.

Dr. Tatiana Erukhimova, of the Department of Physics & Astronomy, has not only established herself as a decorated Physics professor, lecturer and researcher - her love for Physics has made her a legitimate social media star! As she engages millions of budding Physics enthusiasts beyond her classroom, the impact of her innovative leadership is reflected in her Department and across our campus.

Mark Your Calendars

Amplify Your Impact

Position Yourself for External Awards -

In response to overwhelming demand, this event is being offered to mirror the in-person workshop that took place on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2022. Faculty, particularly junior-to-mid-career faculty, interested in developing a plan to elevate their impact and recognition - and thereby the recognition of their Departments and the University as a whole - should not miss this virtual Faculty Affairs-sponsored workshop.

Community of Scholars Engagement Event -

The University Distinguished Professors, Regents Professors, Hagler Fellows and Academy Members gathered, with the support of the Offices of the Vice President for Faculty Affairs and Provost, to engage in a networking event. Each faculty member was accompanied by mentee(s) to foster an environment for interpersonal learning and future collaboration. Future mentoring and networking events are being planned.

Campus News

Ongoing Leadership Searches -

The processes for identifying leaders to collaboratively move the University - and each respective academic unit - forward are essential to the achievement of our overall goals of maintaining an excellent working and learning environment. The Executive Searches website provides updates and details:

  • Dean of Mays Business School - Candidate visits have been scheduled
  • Dean of the School of Nursing - Formal recruitment of candidates has begun
  • Vice Chancellor and Dean of Engineering - Committee is being charged to initiate the candidate search

President Banks' Town Hall Tour Update -

On the heels of her State of the University address, President Banks has scheduled smaller town hall meetings with each College, School, and Division with the intention of engaging in meaningful dialogue with the campus communities. This month's visits include:

  • School of Architecture (Monday, November 7th)
  • College of Engineering (Tuesday, November 8th)
  • School of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts (Tuesday, November 15th)
  • Mays Business School (Thursday, November 17th)
  • School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (Wednesday, November 30th)

View the full schedule here.

 

Originally Released Friday, November 11th, 2022