Academic Affairs Newsletter - Message #18

Dear Colleagues, 

Summers seem to become shorter each year, though I certainly hope that you were successful in carving out a bit of time for reading, thinking, and writing between bursts of travel or time spent with loved ones. Three highlights of my summer were welcoming 132 new faculty to IUPUI, helping launch the IU Fort Wayne campus (including another 33 wonderful faculty from across nursing, medical imaging, dentistry and social work), and rescuing a one-year-old Great Pyrenees who is helping me to cope with the “empty nest” phase of parenting. I hope that you are feeling refreshed and energized as we launch into a new academic year and prepare to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of our campus.

We have been very busy this summer, and I look forward to sharing updates with you throughout the year through this monthly e-newsletter. Knowing that the blizzard of faculty-aimed communications can be daunting, please be assured that we archive this information on our website and will do our best to keep updates brief, with embedded links to additional information. We’re also trying to persevere in using Twitter to reinforce our messages despite our loathing of the 280 character limit (please follow us @OAAatIUPUI and @KJohnsonIUPUI).

I’m tremendously excited about the evolving Forum Network, which was launched through a faculty-led task force aimed at creating better support for faculty across all domains of our professional lives–chiefly: career advancement, diversity and inclusion, teaching and learning, research and creativity, leadership development, and community engagement. It serves as a one-stop-shop, helping us to better communicate and coordinate programming and events for educators of all types. Some areas are still under construction, as is the physical space in the University Library that will eventually host faculty communities of practice, writing groups, FACET gatherings, and interdisciplinary, self-directed collaborations (please check out the naming competition below). Our three Forum Fellows (Andy Buchenot, Aimee Zoeller, and Darrell Nickolson) have been busy hatching plans for programming and community-building in this space, which is expected to be ready later this year.

An important area of emphasis across academic affairs will entail adopting an equity-minded perspective on how we might structure our curricula, craft policies, and foster authentically-inclusive climates to combat stubborn achievement gaps at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Dr. Robin Hughes, senior advisor to the chancellor for race and accountability in campus programming, and professor in the School of Education, will be helping to guide this work. And, all IUPUI faculty are invited to attend the LEAP Indiana Fall Symposium focused on Fostering Inclusive Excellence in Higher Education on October 5th at Ivy Tech’s Indianapolis campus. To complement this focus, we will be creating opportunities for IUPUI faculty to better understand and experiment with digital learning tools throughout the year, such as adaptive learning technologies that provide customized practice that has been empirically demonstrated to enhance student learning and reduce achievement gaps. I’m tremendously grateful to Dr. Patrick Morton in the Department of Mathematical Sciences for his willingness to experiment with incorporating the ALEKS adaptive learning tool into a section of College Algebra this fall. 

The theme of the 50th Anniversary is “50 Years in Indy – Countless Success Stories.” I hope that when you read this theme on t-shirts, posters or coasters, you’ll take pride in knowing that each one of you plays some role in those success stories. Through the discoveries you make, the partnerships you forge, the ideas you create and the students whose lives you help to transform, faculty are the architects and authors of these success stories. Thank you for all that you do, and I wish you a most successful and productive academic year.

Sincerely,

Kathy E. Johnson, Ph.D.
Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer
Professor of Psychology
evc@iupui.edu
academicaffairs.iupui.edu

The Forum Network is seeking ingenuity and creativity! Coming soon to the University Library is a space for all faculty members of all ranks and appointments to meet for collaboration. There will be programming, but the primary goal is to use the space to conspire with colleagues, experiment with teaching technologies, and strike oil with innovative, cross-disciplinary approaches to student learning. Your Forum Fellows will be a regular presence in the space and will work to connect you with inspiring IUPUI, IUPUC, and IU Fort Wayne colleagues.

Did we mention coffee will be available? Check out the Forum Network’s website for amenities, resources, and more! The space will be accessible during regular library hours using a Crimson Card. Plan to come collaborate with colleagues, hold a meeting, or just sit back and relax away from your office.

The Faculty Forum is the placeholder name of the space where this exciting collaboration will happen. But, YOUR input is essential! Construction begins soon and the Forum Network is on the hunt for the perfect name. Plus, your creativity will pay off big with a $100 prize towards your professional development!

You can submit your brilliant suggestion to this website and the IUPUI Forum Council will select the winner. Entries should be received by Friday, September 28.

Back in May we celebrated our retiring faculty members at the annual Retiree Luncheon. At this event, distinguished members of our IUPUI community come and offer congratulatory messages and their perspectives on working in higher education. This year Dr. Marianne Wokeck was the keynote speaker. Her remarks were full of wisdom and encouragement for our newly-retired faculty members.

If you’re looking for a little bit of inspiration, or something to remind you of your contribution to this urban, educational institution, we suggest reading Dr. Wokeck’s keynote remarks.

Last spring, Rachel Applegate was appointed the assistant vice chancellor for faculty affairs. While she may be a familiar face to those she’s worked with during her 14 years of experience at IUPUI, there are some things many of you may not know. This video will give you the scoop!

As students graduate from IUPUI, we know that as faculty members, you love to keep in touch and see their successful journeys begin to blossom.

To help you in that endeavor, below is the summary of the IUPUI 2017 First Destination Survey. How many students are employed full-time? What’s the average starting salary for graduates holding a Bachelor’s degree? Where do our students go after graduation?

The First Destination Survey is a map to see what our graduates are up to and helps us all plan for another year of success–all the while encouraging current students. So, grab a snack and read the survey!

If you’ve been struggling to pronounce a student’s name correctly, or they are struggling to do the same for you, check out the newest Canvas innovation. This feature is accessible to both students and instructors. Start today by creating a NameCoach assignment in Canvas!

For an in-depth overview and instructions on how to use this tool, visit the Knowledge Base.

The IUPUI Faculty Council (IFC) is a governance body of elected faculty members from each school with the responsibility of exercising faculty authority for the IUPUI campus. The purpose is to provide governance to the IUPUI faculty as afforded by the IU Board of Trustees and the Constitution of the Indiana University Faculty.

Members are elected each spring for service the following academic year; however, all faculty are welcome to attend the monthly meetings. For more information, contact eeL neraK .

Contact IFC Leadership!

John Watson 
President of the Faculty
School of Science
Science (SL) 380A
Phone: 317-278-1366
Email: ude[dot]iupui[at]ostawcj

Jeff Watt
Vice President of the Faculty
School of Science
Science (LD) 270N
Phone: 317-274-4070
Email: ude[dot]iupui[at]ttawj

Have your voice heard!
Next IFC meeting: Tuesday, October 2, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. // Campus Center 450B

Join the IUPUI Graduate Mentoring Center in the Faculty Mentoring Dialogues. The training is intended to help faculty strengthen their mentoring of students through discussion and sharing of best practices.

A $500 stipend is awarded to faculty who participate in all sessions and mentor a student. Space is limited to 12 faculty of all ranks, so apply today! Deadline is September 7.

For more information, read the Faculty Mentoring Dialogues flyer.

There is still time to submit nominations to the Indiana University Faculty Academy on Excellence in Teaching (FACET). Although FACET candidates may not self-nominate, nominations can be made by any full-time faculty member or administrator who is familiar with the work of the candidate as an educator. A short letter, phone call, or email to the FACET Campus Liaison (ude[dot]ui[at]cotimorl or ude[dot]ui[at]rafdlogn) is all that’s needed. Nominations are due by Friday, September 7, 2018.

Who is eligible?

• All full-time faculty members who have completed at least three years of full-time teaching in the IU system by the year they are nominated.

- AND -

• All full-time tenure-track and tenured faculty, full-time non-tenure-track instructors or lecturers, faculty with full-time clinical teaching assignments (e.g. medicine, nursing), and librarians with significant teaching responsibilities.
    

Candidates must submit their FACET application dossiers by Tuesday, October 30, 2018.

Visit the FACET website for more information, as well as the nomination and selection process.

Since its founding in 1989, FACET has served as a model for faculty development, helping shape teaching and learning at Indiana University and beyond.

Wondering if you and FACET are a good fit?

Find out at their Information Session on:

Wednesday, September 12, 12:00 noon—1:00 p.m.
Center for Teaching & Learning
University Library (UL) 1125M

Remember when you were a brand-new faculty member trying to navigate your way around the campus, academics, and new technologies? Help us help our new colleagues by submitting a tip or two. What do you wish you would’ve known about in your first year? Your tip could be time-saving (e.g., through the creative uses of technology) or strategies for balancing research and teaching responsibilities, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, or dealing with incivility in the classroom. It might even be the best place to find a cup of coffee on campus.

Your tips will be shared with new faculty in a monthly “just-in-time” e-communication to help ensure success with information at the right time throughout their first ten months.

Submit your helpful tips to this survey!

Sponsored by the School of Medicine and the Office of Academic Affairs

Chairs, deans, and those who serve on promotion and tenure committees are invited to attend this informative workshop!

Promotion and Tenure Decisions presents four vignettes which will highlight a different moment in a tenure committee's evaluation of one of their colleagues. These scenes will allow promotion and tenure committee members to consider the common interpersonal dynamics and structural challenges that can undermine a fair tenure process. A facilitated dialogue between scenes will encourage you to think about your own personal responsibility to support fair promotion and tenure deliberations. You may also use this time to ask questions about and share ideas for best practices.

After this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Recognize common challenges that can emerge during the promotion and tenure evaluation process.
• Identify ways these challenges could be anticipated or met when they arise; both generally and within the context of specific environments.
• Differentiate from colleagues working in other settings about how they think about these issues, how they address them, and even what's particularly challenging in their contexts.

  
For more information and to register, visit this website.  

This semester IUPUI faculty will begin to use the new Student Engagement Roster to provide timely feedback to undergraduate students throughout the semester. The engagement roster replaces the previous Student Performance Roster (or “FLAGS”) and provides new features and improvements that make providing feedback easier and more robust. Faculty can access the Student Engagement Roster directly from Canvas.

Learn more about the engagement roster, how to access it, and how to submit feedback to students by visiting the roster's website.

To promote faculty productivity and well-being, The Forum will offer writing groups in fall 2018. These groups will provide encouragement, accountability, and a sense of community while requiring a minimal investment of time.

Each writing group will be comprised of four to six faculty members. Instead of providing feedback these groups will foster a structure that supports regular writing with:

• A group facilitator who will provide encouragement and optional challenges through weekly emails
• A shared, online spreadsheet to record time spent writing
• Optional “write-on-site” meetings twice a month to connect with other writers

  
Learn more and sign up on the Writing Groups website.  

• Friday, September 14: New Faculty Plan Now for Success
• Friday, October 5: Last Lecture by Eugene R. Tempel, Ph.D.
• Tuesday, October 9: Excellence in Research

  
Bookmark our Academic Affairs Events Listing to view and register for all upcoming workshops, trainings, and important events that pertain to YOU!

• Travel safe and spread the word! Visit the safety website for more information about IUPUI’s new safety initiative.
• Follow us on Twitter for all things faculty at IUPUI! @OAAatIUPUI
• Need to contact the Office of Academic Affairs with faculty affairs questions? Use our new email address (ude[dot]iupui[at]rhdaca). We’re always happy to help you!