The Division of Academic Affairs has made some changes designed to positively impact faculty. The goal is to ensure that the university is responsive, collaborative, and effective with the resources and talent available.
- The Office of Faculty Affairs, led by Emily Skop as Interim Vice Provost, has launched.
- The first communication from [email protected] describes the vision and what you can expect from the office. Review the message send on 9/29/2025.
- A survey to gather ideas, concerns, and priority actions for Faculty Affairs is open until October 15. Please consider sharing your thoughts.
- The website will launch this semester to house forms, policy information, process guides, and support content.
- A search for the Staff Director for the OFA is underway to provide operational support. The position is open to share within your network.
- The Faculty Resource Center (FRC) will now report to the Office of Faculty Affairs, aligning their work around faculty development, retention, and instructional excellence to the faculty growth, development, and recognition priorities of OFA.
- Thank you to Dave Anderson, as the Director, and all the FRC staff who will continue to provide critical support to the teaching mission of the university!
- If you have not visited the FRC website yet this semester, look over the Canvas and technology guides, calendar of teaching and training events, and programs designed around faculty professional development.
- Provost Fellow for Policy, David Weiss, will now report to the Office of Faculty Affairs. He shared the following update:
- During the 2024-2025 academic year, multiple academic and research policies were approved through shared governance. Many thanks to the various policy leads and committee members as well as EPUS and Faculty Assembly for your participation in policy governance. You may want to review the summary sent 5/8/2025 from [email protected] [search “Update on campus policy from Academic Affairs”] and read the full policies posted to VCAF.
- Faculty Assembly Governance (200-015)
- Assignment of Academic Office Space Policy (200-024)
- Differentiated Annual Workload Evaluation (200-028)
- Distribution of F& A Recovery from Externally Sponsored Programs (900-003)
- PI Eligibility on Sponsored Programs (900-006)
- Academic Affairs Guidelines on Chairs Responsibilities
- Faculty governance will vote on additional highly impactful policies, and you may want to review the Faculty Assembly calendar.
- Professional Rights and Responsibilities (200-new)
- Faculty Grievance (200-new)
- Program Discontinuance (200-014)
- Many other policies are also in development, and updates regarding those will be shared regularly.
- A policy dashboard and infographic explaining the policy process and timeline are being developed by the OFA. Expect those resources this year.
- During the 2024-2025 academic year, multiple academic and research policies were approved through shared governance. Many thanks to the various policy leads and committee members as well as EPUS and Faculty Assembly for your participation in policy governance. You may want to review the summary sent 5/8/2025 from [email protected] [search “Update on campus policy from Academic Affairs”] and read the full policies posted to VCAF.
The additions and adjustments to the structure and policies for faculty affairs are intended to support the faculty, programs, and staff that create the academic affairs and instructional experience for students.