Welcome to May

President Espy converses with faculty and academic staff at the 2024 Academic Recognition Ceremony Well, we made it to May! Congratulations, and thank you all for your hard work this semester.

It was great to see so many joyful faces at last week's Academic Recognition Ceremony. Check out the photo gallery and program of awardees, and be sure to congratulate our colleagues.

The newsletter will take a break until September, but we won't – we'll be busy planning a new academic year of professional development programming, so reach out if you have any questions or ideas; we'd love to hear from you!

Coming up this month

Promotion Procedures for Teaching Track Faculty

a scholar gazes up at a long ladder disappearing into the sky Join the Office of Faculty Affairs and Development at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 10, for a brief review of the promotion process for teaching track faculty. We'll begin by reviewing key points in the factors and guidelines, the materials needed for packets, and how to prepare your professional record for promotion packets, followed by a quick demonstration of the Smartpath workflow and time for questions.

RSVP for Promotion Procedures for Teaching Track Faculty (Zoom)

Upcoming deadlines

Academic Staff with ESS Professional Development Program (Deadline: May 15)

Award: up to $3,500 per academic staff member (must be used by the end of the fiscal year in which it was granted)
Example uses:

In-person or online workshops, seminars, conferences, or consultation sessions that develop new skills and enable professional growth in your specific area. Including, but not limited to, MIACADA, NACADA, NASFAA, ASCA, NOSS, NASPA, etc.
Training programs to increase knowledge, facility, and skill regarding diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and equity. Including, but not limited to, AAC&U Institutes, AHEAD, Coursera courses, etc.
Costs for leadership development programs, including but not limited to those delivered by professional societies, Higher Education Resource Services (HERS), American Council on Education (ACE), Executive Leadership Academies (ELAM, ELATE), and costs associated with release time for Wayne State University's Academic Leadership Academy, which the Office of the Provost sponsors.
Requests for supplies must have a strong rationale, and funding preference is given to the previously mentioned activities.

Fulbright Scholar Program

Are you interested in teaching, research, or a project abroad through a fully-funded program? Find career-changing opportunities with the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program; the current competition is now OPEN with a deadline of 5 p.m. on September 16. Join the listserv to receive information and resources from the Office of Fellowships to your Wayne State email. Contact the Office of Fellowships for one-on-one appointments and application support at fellowships@wayne.edu.

Constructive discourse and dialogue

The Provost's Office is spearheading a new initiative, the "Year of Focus," which aims to engage timely topics by incorporating diverse perspectives through co-curricular activities such as public performances, films, lectures, readings, workshops, and symposia. The steering committee for the inaugural Year of Focus, commencing in Fall 2024, envisions collaborating with the WSU campus community to curate programming that fosters a year-long dialogue on constructive discourse and dialogue.

This conversation will delve into the purpose, history, challenges, and significance of such discourse in a diverse democracy. Sub-topics may include civil discourse, media literacy, free speech, restorative practice, debate, inter-group dialogue, and more. The success of this endeavor hinges on your input; please take a few moments to answer a survey to inform the steering committee about any existing efforts relating to these topics.

Constructive discourse and dialogue survey

Things to check out over the summer

Check out the virtual event from Wayne Women LEAD: Power of Affirmations (noon, May 22)
Read some tips on planning a productive summer from The Chronicle of Higher Education
Attend a workshop from the OTL
Go on a digital detox
Check out the rotating exhibitions at the Detroit Institute of Arts
Go on a walking tour with The City Institute
Sample some Detroit Style Pizza

Coming up at the NCFDD

May

TODAY → 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 1 | Live on Zoom - Owning and Honing Your Voice: A Public Writing Webinar for Academics

Many academics dream of sharing their research and expertise beyond the ivory tower on media outlets such as the New York Times and NPR. In this webinar, Anthony Ocampo, PhD will talk about the mindset and mechanics behind transitioning from writing for fellow scholarly experts to writing for the public – from the art of pitching articles to landing a "big 5" publishing deal.

2 p.m. Thursday, May 9 | Every Summer Needs a Plan

Join the NCFDD for this hands-on planning webinar, offered at the beginning of each term, so that you can take time out of your schedule to identify your personal and professional goals for the summer and create a strategic plan to accomplish them. Get ready to create a work plan for your summer that you can immediately share with your mentors.

Sara Kacin, Assistant Provost
Faculty Development & Faculty Success
If you have questions, please reach out to FacultySuccess@wayne.edu.