Office of Faculty Development &
Faculty Success

October 2021 Monthly Newsletter

Wait, it’s October already?

The equinox just passed, and we can feel the seasons shifting here in Southeast Michigan. Perhaps many of you, like everyone in our office, are asking yourselves, “just what in the world happened to September?”

Well, take a moment and breathe because it’s not going to let up anytime soon, and according to Inside Higher Ed, you are not alone: faculty and staff overcommitment is a problem everywhere.

If looking at your calendar is turning into a traumatizing experience, try out some of the tips from the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD) program we hosted last month: Every Semester Needs a Plan. We run this session every semester; the link goes to a recording of the latest one from Sept. 24, facilitated by Debra Schutte of Wayne State's College of Nursing. Reach out to our office if you’d like copies of the materials provided at the time.

Although this NCFDD program focuses mainly on scholarly writing, the lesson of taking a moment each week to block time on your calendar for specific tasks can help you take control of many aspects of your professional and personal life. This concept of time blocking is hardly new, but we all need a reminder now and then that our time is a limited resource, and managing it effectively is a powerful way to carve out a little order from the chaos.

How do you manage your time? Let us know in a quick poll.

Faculty Impact: Promoting collaborative medicine in the community

When students apply to Wayne State University School of Medicine, they state they want to make a difference in its urban mission, and they work to learn their basic, pre-clinical sciences in medical school classrooms during their first two years.

But then what? One member of WSU’s faculty has been working to provide these students with early clinical experiences in the Detroit community by designing and implementing award-winning programs to make a difference in community health and keep students focused on their goal to become compassionate physicians. Jennifer Mendez, Ph.D., is an associate professor in Internal Medicine and Director of the Community Engagement Program at Wayne State University School of Medicine. Continue reading here.

Awards & grants for faculty and academic staff

We would like to share this year’s updated guidelines and deadlines for the Provost’s Office awards and grants. Please take a moment to review specific information and guidelines about the various awards and grants offered for faculty and academic staff.

Fall deadline extended for the tenured faculty/academic ataff w/ ESS Professional Development Grant

The professional development grant that provides funding for tenured faculty and academic staff with ESS has been extended to Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. The program provides funds for these faculty and academic staff to engage in professional development activities, including but not limited to:

• Workshops, seminars, or consultation sessions in which the faculty or academic staff member will be primarily developing new skills in research/scholarly/creative methods, teaching, and learning, community engagement, or other skills to enable their professional growth;
• Online professional development seminars and bootcamps, including the NCFDD Faculty Success Program;
• Training to increase one’s knowledge, facility, and skill regarding diversity, inclusion, accessibility, equity, and more.

Upcoming programming

Parenthood on the Tenure/ESS Track | Oct. 5, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Parenthood on the tenure track is challenging, we know, and we want to support you. Join us for this two-part session which includes an overview of legal and contractual issues in preparing for parenthood. In the first hour, we’ll discuss the FMLA and “modified duties” as laid out in the WSU-AAUP contract. The second hour includes a panel and interactive discussion with faculty and staff who will share the everyday challenges and rewards of parenting on the tenure track. Come for one or both parts of this in-person session at Purdy/Kresge Library. 

New Faculty Series: Academic & Grading Policies | Oct. 22, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Join the Registrar’s Office as they discuss academic and grading policies at Wayne State University. Participants can expect to learn about scheduling, early academic assessment, and student participation policies. Please come with any questions you may have. This virtual session will be recorded; we recommend that you register even if you cannot attend at the scheduled time to receive a link to the recording.

Check our website and follow us on Twitter to learn about additional upcoming professional development programming.