Development

Digest

September 2025

LEADERSHIP CORNER

Welcome Back: A Season of Renewal and Possibility

Teresa Mastin, Ph.D.

Vice Provost and Associate Vice President for Faculty & Academic Staff Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

As we step deeper into our new academic year, I want to extend a warm welcome back to each of you. Whether your summer was filled with research, writing, teaching, travel, or well-earned rest, I hope it offered space for reflection and renewal...

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Leadership Development

Enhancing the success of current leaders and cultivating future leaders at MSU.

Fall 2025 Offerings

Creating and Sustaining a Respectful Work Environment

This series of workshops is intended for leaders (executive managers, deans, directors, chairs, and supervisors, level 12-17) from across the university to work together to improve the current climate and culture in their units and across the greater campus community. | Learn more about the series .

Leadership Institute Series

Required for department chairpersons, school directors, and associate deans of non-departmentally organized colleges within the first two years of their appointments; other administrators are encouraged to attend sessions relevant to their positions. | Learn more about the series .

While sessions are repeated annually, content is updated each year to reflect changes in current policies and practices. We encourage you to attend sessions more than once as new information is regularly shared.

Academic Career Development

Offering guidance for faculty and academic staff at all stages—from entry to promotion to retirement. We recognize the diverse experiences and needs of our colleagues and aim to support meaningful, productive careers aligned with MSU’s mission.

Thrive Series

This series introduces university frameworks for understanding the review process, features colleagues sharing their experiences, and offers opportunities for Q&A. These sessions help participants reflect on their work and effectively communicate its impact for annual review and promotion.

Upcoming Thrive Sessions

Thriving as an Academic Specialist

Oct. 15, 2025, 9-11:30 a.m.

Thriving in the Tenure System I: Articulating your Scholarly Identity through a Strong Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure Packet

Oct. 29, 2025, 9-11:30 a.m.

Thriving as a Fixed-Term Faculty Member

Feb. 18, 2026, 9-11:30 a.m.

Registration coming soon

Learn more

Thriving in the Tenure System II: Transitioning from Associate to Full Professor

Feb. 25, 2026, 9-11:30 a.m.

Registration coming soon

Learn more

Academic Lunch and Learn Sessions

These academic lunches are a no-pressure opportunity to meet others at all career stages, learn about resources, and connect more fully with the university community. Bring your lunch and join us!

Fall 2025 Schedule

Oct. 7 – Evidence of Quality Teaching
Oct. 28 – Understanding Research Compliance and Ethics
Nov. 4 – Being Internationally and Globally Inclusive
Nov. 18 – Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Learn more about Lunch and Learn sessions

RESOURCES

Professional Development

We offer and/or collaborate on a variety of structured workshops and small group opportunities throughout the year.

View opportunities

Resources by Appointment Type

Faculty and academic staff at MSU can be appointed in one of several different systems.

Explore resources

POLICY & PROCESS UPDATES

Important University Policies for Faculty and Academic Staff

The University Policies for Faculty and Academic Staff document contains information regarding university policies related to teaching, research, and employment at MSU. Use this document as a resource to refer to throughout the semester.

Explore document

REMINDERS

All-University Awards

Happy Fall, Spartans! As the seasons change, we begin another cycle of All-University Awards. These awards honor the outstanding contributions of faculty, academic specialists, graduate assistants, and executive managers.

This year, nominations are due Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, at 5 p.m. This date reflects an extended deadline, made in response to updates introduced in the July Guiding Policies on Faculty Tenure and Promotion Memorandum.

We look forward to working with committees in the months ahead and celebrating honorees this spring!

Award information and nomination packets

SPOTLIGHT

2025-26 Fellowship Cohorts Announced

We are pleased to announce the names of the 30 individuals taking part in five prestigious programs for the 2025-26 academic year:

Lilly Teaching Fellows
Walter and Pauline Adams Academy Fellows
Academic Leadership Fellows (ALF)
Big Ten Academic Alliance Academic Leadership Program (ALP) Fellows
Big Ten Academic Alliance Department Executive Officer (DEO) Fellows

Learn more about the fellows and programs

Office for Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs

fasaffairs.msu.edu

Phone: (517) 353-5300