Cultivating excellence, diversity and inclusion throughout the academic journey
Faculty Development at the University of Washington is a highly collaborative effort involving various offices and units, including the Office of Academic Personnel, ADVANCE center, the Office of Faculty Advancement and schools and colleges throughout the University.
Faculty development, encompassing both individual growth and institutional change, aims at enhancing the skills, knowledge, and effectiveness of faculty members. Through tailored workshops, mentorship programs, and resources, we empower faculty to excel in teaching, scholarship, and service. By fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth, we support faculty in reaching their full potential and advancing academic excellence. Our commitment to professional development ensures that UW faculty remain at the forefront of innovation and make lasting contributions to the university community and beyond.
New faculty onboarding
The Office of Academic Personnel collaborates with the Office of Research, Libraries, Academic and Student Affairs, Global Affairs, Continuum College, and Innovation to host new faculty onboarding at the University of Washington. While departments offer orientation, the university provides several opportunities for new faculty to connect, including the New Faculty Reception and Faculty Field Tour, as they learn about UW, the region, and the state.
Faculty Development Program
At the UW, we believe strongly that we cannot have excellence without a faculty who advance diversity through their research, teaching, mentoring and training of students. In order to provide a welcoming and supportive environment for these faculty, the Faculty Development Program, creates space where they can form social and research networks – across disciplines – and can discuss their experiences, concerns and goals collectively. Developed by UW Presidential Term Professor and sociology professor Alexes Harris, this program is part of our overall commitment to advancing a sense of belonging throughout the UW. Department chairs nominate incoming faculty to participate in the program.
New academic leader onboarding
To prepare new academic leaders for their roles, OAP offers a New Academic Leaders Onboarding program. Topics covered include an introduction to UW planning and resources, strategic data utilization for decision-making, dispute resolution and conflict management, faculty-employee relations, student conduct, global affairs, essential leadership responsibilities, and faculty success factors such as the faculty code, promotion, and tenure. The next session will be offered in September of 2024.
Office of Faculty Advancement
All OFA programming aims to provide campus, college, school, and unit leadership with the tools and resources necessary to enhance excellence through diversity and to build and retain a more inclusive faculty.
The Office for Faculty Advancement supports a range of major programs and initiatives, including the following:
- Handbook of Best Practices for Faculty Searches and Online Toolkit: A concise handbook divided into six steps of the search process, supported by an expansive toolkit of sample materials and additional resources.
- Faculty Recruitment Initiative: Funds provided by the Office of the Provost to enrich competitive recruitment offers for new hires that will enhance a unit’s diversity profile in research, teaching, service, and outreach.
- DEI STEM Faculty Recruitment Initiative: Funds provided by the Office of Research to assist in the recruitment of faculty in the STEM disciplines (broadly defined) with a proven history of supporting and mentoring BIPOC students, postdocs, and early-career colleagues; conducting research that benefits underrepresented or underserved communities; and significantly participating in programs and activities aimed at increasing diversity and inclusion in their field.
- Faculty Retention Initiative: Funds provided by the Office of the Provost to enrich critical retention efforts for colleagues whose research, teaching, service, and outreach assist the university in meeting its goals for diversity and inclusion.
ADVANCE Center for Institutional Change
UW ADVANCE primarily serves research, tenured, and tenure-track faculty in STEM in three core UW colleges through formal career development activities, informal mentoring, and leadership consultation. UW ADVANCE aims to improve campus culture and climate so that women faculty in STEM can thrive.
ADVANCE activities include:
- Faculty Workshops: ADVANCE offers professional development workshops for pre-tenure and mid-career faculty in ADVANCE departments.
- Leadership Workshops: Leadership development is a key focus of UW ADVANCE. UW ADVANCE offers quarterly leadership workshops for department chairs, deans, and other leaders across all UW campuses.
- Mentoring-for-Leadership Lunches: This leadership development program supports women faculty in ADVANCE departments and features conversations with different women leaders who talk about their career experiences and leadership topics of interest to women faculty.
Resources for faculty
Welcome to the University of Washington faculty landing page, your central hub for essential resources, including new faculty guides, promotion and tenure details, and necessary forms and templates.