Academic Affairs Department Chair Notes - Message #3

Here are some highlights to keep in mind.

During annual reviews, ensure that all of your faculty who are not at full rank have an idea about their next steps. If anybody wants to apply for promotion in the upcoming cycle (2021-2022), please see that they have checked out the workshops for dossier preparation and their own area of excellence. They should attend this coming year if they are planning on the 2022-2023 cycle. Make sure those seeking full rank have had at least two (ideally more) peer reviews of teaching while in rank.

You may be doing third-year reviews for pre-tenure faculty: each December, Faculty Affairs sends a list to the school’s associate dean for faculty (or similar) with a list of those who are due. For the next few years, there may be some uncertainty about this since people with COVID-19 extensions can have their reviews either in the original, or the delayed, year.

It is very important that these reviews be written in a supportive but candid way. Don’t let candidates equate an annual review’s assessment of “excellent” or “satisfactory” (in one particular year) with an assurance of future promotion success. Consider checking back in with faculty late this semester to see what they think of their review, once the initial shock (yes!) has worn off. You want to make sure they have grasped the key points that the reviewers intended.

Except in the School of Medicine, the eDossier application (via one.iu.edu) is NOT available until mid-summer. In the meanwhile, the following items will help:

• Word templates which allow candidates to compose each section into one (eventual PDF) file with a table of contents. (Examples are available on this webpage, under the “Combined-section templates” section). 
• A zip file which has all of the eDossier folders replicated. 
• Using DMAI to create their P&T CV: DMAI doesn’t have to be complete, but using its function “Rapid Reports-Vita IUPUI P&T CV” will output a complete template. 

Finally, as you are sending requests for external reviews, consider this optional language to reflect the COVID-19 disruptions. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, the campus is still allowing letters that don’t have ‘wet’ signatures (but please do ensure that the sender is using an institutional email account).

Some departments and schools have regular reviews in addition to the third-year review: every year all along, or in the third, fourth and fifth years. This is a lot of work for committees, but candidates report being more ready for the final review.

Do you think your department can or should adopt that practice? Note a fourth-year review is always available on request by either the reviewers or the candidate. This should NOT in any way stigmatize those who have them.

Please email feedback to etagelppA lehcaR.

COVID-19: Currently, there is no mandate at IUPUI for a COVID-19 vaccine for a return to work. We do ask though that everyone report their vaccine status via this reporting form.

We anticipate being back at full capacity for classrooms but also wearing masks in the fall. If you or your faculty have concerns about being physically on campus in the fall because of an underlying condition or an inability to take the vaccine, use this this portal to submit accommodation requests. 

Preparing for Fall 2021 and Supporting our International Students 

As we prepare for a return to in-person classes starting this August, the Office of International Affairs (OIA) is working to support the return of continuing students currently studying abroad, while preparing to welcome new students to campus. While we expect most international students to be able to study in-person, visa services remain suspended or restricted in many countries. Thus, pandemic-related travel delays outside the control of our students remain a real possibility. 

For those students who are unable to study in person for the fall semester, we encourage your programs to work individually with each student to determine their ability to study online from their home country. We recognize that some academic program requirements can only be completed in person, but appreciate anything academic programs can do to help ensure that we accommodate students who are unable to travel to Indianapolis. 

OIA is also providing an information session for graduate program representatives (details below) to provide further details on how we can all plan for the fall enrollment period. 

• Preparing for Fall 2021 and Supporting International Graduate Students – Wednesday, April 21, 1–2:30 p.m.         
  
• Register for the information session on this website.

• Next month, we will discuss OEO responsibilities and investigation practices.

Reminder

• Deadline for Spring Reappointments cycle is Friday, April 9, 2021.
  

• Faculty Affairs Guidance materials shared via IU Office 365: A repository of helpful information including how-to’s, when-to’s, and where-to’s.
  
• New Faculty Notes: Just-in-time monthly guidance to new faculty who cycle through New Faculty Orientation each year.
  
• Hiring Best Practices
  
• The Forum Network: An integrated coordinating structure that supports faculty collaboration and creativity.
  
• Faculty Crossing: A technology-rich collaboration space for faculty and teaching staff of all appointments. Part workroom, part café, the space provides a welcoming environment that promotes creativity and innovation. This space will reopen in the fall.