News

The Office of Academic Personnel (OAP) is undergoing significant changes following an organizational assessment that began in spring 2024. This review identified key opportunities to better align OAP’s services with the evolving needs of faculty and unit administrators, enhancing overall support and efficiency.

A major aspect of these changes is a deeper integration with UW Human Resources (UWHR), which will now oversee faculty employee relations, disciplinary processes, HR data and reporting, and transactional support. These transitions are aimed at improving response times and service levels for administrators while allowing OAP to focus on more strategic, consultative areas of support. For unit administrators, this means quicker access to HR support and more streamlined processes for managing faculty personnel matters. Importantly, OAP will continue to manage the promotion and tenure process, ensuring continuity in this critical area.

In addition, OAP will be reorganized into three core pillars: Faculty Recruitment and Retention, Faculty Equity and Inclusion, and Faculty Development. These pillars are designed to focus on key priorities—attracting and retaining top faculty, fostering a diverse and inclusive academic environment, and supporting faculty development, mentorship, and success across all stages of their careers.

These changes are intended to create a more collaborative environment and strengthen relationships with stakeholders. Our commitment to increasing partnership with UWHR reflects a shared goal to provide more streamlined and comprehensive support to both faculty and administrators.
As the process of transitioning services to UWHR and reorganizing OAP progresses, more information will be shared regularly. Your feedback and engagement will continue to be invaluable throughout this transition. For any questions or further information, please contact acadpers@uw.edu.

University of Washington faculty have the opportunity to apply for partial tuition support to participate in the upcoming session of the Faculty Success Program (FSP), offered by the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD). The UW Office for Faculty Advancement is prioritizing support for assistant professors with plans for tenure and associate professors seeking promotion.

The Faculty Success Program is a 12-week boot camp designed to help tenure-track and tenured faculty achieve their professional goals. Participants will engage in weekly community calls, productivity tracking, and collaborative feedback, all within a supportive academic environment. FSP is open to all UW faculty with an active NCFDD account.  Register to become an NCFDD member.

The spring 2025 session of the FSP will run from January 27 to April 6, 2025. Early bird tuition for UW faculty is $4,895, with registration opening on October 20, 2024. The Office for Faculty Advancement will cover one-third of the early bird discounted tuition, with the remaining amount to be covered by the faculty member’s department, college, school, or campus.

Key Deadlines:

• Submission Deadline for Tuition Support: November 4, 2024
• Early Bird FSP Registration Deadline: November 15, 2024

Faculty are encouraged to apply early, as space in the program is limited. Proof of registration is required within two weeks of the FSP registration deadline.

To apply for tuition support, faculty should complete the Support Proposal Form by 5 p.m. on November 4, and include the following documents:

• A brief proposal detailing how participation in the FSP will contribute to professional development and advancement
• A 3-page CV
• Documentation of departmental or school support for the application

For more information on the FSP or the tuition support application process, visit the NCFDD website or contact the Office for Faculty Advancement at facadv@uw.edu.

The UW Office for Faculty Advancement is committed to promoting faculty excellence through recruitment, retention, and support of a diverse academic community.

NewProfs@UW Launches Academic Careers

The University of Washington’s NewProfs@UW event kicked off the academic year by welcoming over 100 recently appointed faculty from all three UW campuses. This annual two-day event, held this year on September 12 and 13, aims to connect new professors with essential campus resources and foster cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Organized by five central UW offices—Academic Personnel, Libraries, Research, CoMotion and Global Affairs—NewProfs@UW offered an introduction to the university’s extensive support systems designed to assist faculty in research, scholarship and career advancement. The first day featured a series of virtual sessions, each led by key leadership, while the second day brought attendees together in person at the Husky Union Building (HUB) for networking and panel discussions.

Day 1: Virtual Insights

The online sessions on September 12th provided attendees with a deep dive into UW’s central offices. Starting with a briefing from the Office of Global Affairs at 9 a.m., the day unfolded with presentations from CoMotion, the Office of Research, UW Libraries, the Office of Academic Personnel and Human Resources (UWHR). These sessions allowed new faculty to engage directly with department leaders and participate in Q&A segments, giving them a clearer understanding of available resources and how to leverage them in their roles.

For instance, during the session with the Office of Research, Vice Provost Mari Ostendorf, alongside associate vice provosts, walked faculty through crucial topics such as human and animal subject research, internal awards and proposal submissions, offering opportunities for in-depth discussions with specialists in each area. In the afternoon, a joint presentation by the Office of Academic Personnel and UWHR provided an overview of faculty development resources, followed by a detailed session on benefits, giving attendees essential insights into the support available for their career success and overall well-being.

Day 2: Connecting and Learning in Person

The following day shifted the focus to in-person interactions at the HUB, beginning with a networking breakfast where faculty could mingle and establish connections with colleagues across disciplines. The plenary panel, chaired by Bioengineering Professor Ceci Giachelli, explored trainee mentoring, with insights from faculty across departments, including Mike Regnier (Bioengineering), William Mahoney (Graduate School) and Joey Key (Physics).

The heart of the event came in the form of specialized panels designed to meet faculty members’ distinct needs. Attendees could select sessions such as “Building a Scholarship Portfolio” in fields ranging from Arts and Humanities to Engineering, Medicine and Pedagogy. Each session was led by experienced faculty who offered advice on establishing a successful scholarly presence at UW.

Key discussions also revolved around open scholarship, intellectual property protection, community-engaged research and opportunities for global collaboration. These topics are central to UW’s mission of fostering academic growth and innovation.

Looking Ahead

For new faculty, NewProfs@UW serves as both an introduction to the university and an essential stepping stone toward building lasting academic careers. Attendees left with not only a stronger sense of community but also a wealth of resources to support their teaching, research and professional development at one of the nation’s leading research universities.

For more information on the event and resources discussed, visit NewProfs@UW.

 

 

Story filed by Courtney Laguio, Assistant Communications Director, Office of Academic Personnel

Photo credit: David Bellard, Assistant Director, Communications and Creative Strategy, Office of Research