Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Diversity | May 2022
It's Commencement Time!
Dear Colleagues,
 
Congratulations on finishing classes and moving toward the end of the academic year! This is an extra special accomplishment this spring. I hope you will take some time to refill your tanks and do things you enjoy this summer.
 
We will be launching several new programs in the fall, including new faculty mentoring programs and a new Search Advocate Program to support and strengthen our faculty searches. Details about these programs and information about how to sign up for them may be found below.

I recently shared highlights from our work this year, including faculty programming and grants, with the Faculty Senate. My presentation is available here.
 
Best wishes for a wonderful summer! I look forward to seeing you in the fall.

Warm regards,

-Kia Caldwell, vice provost for faculty affairs and diversity
Mentoring Programs for Assistant Professors and Mid-Career Faculty

The Office of the Provost is sponsoring two new mentoring programs for early career tenure-track faculty and mid-career faculty (tenure-track and TRaP). These programs will begin in September 2022. The application deadline has been extended to May 9, 2022.​
Danforth Campus Search Advocate Program

The Office of the Provost will launch a Search Advocate Program for Danforth Campus Schools in the Fall 2022. This program will develop capacity among tenure-track and tenured faculty and administrative staff to serve on faculty search committees and is based on a model developed at Oregon State University. This program is designed to promote equity, validity, and diversity in the faculty search process. Danforth Campus Search Advocates will be asked to serve on one faculty search committee every other year, though they are welcome to serve more often. Learn more and apply here.
Feedback Wanted

The Faculty Service Equity Task Force wants to hear about your service and workload experiences. You can provide your thoughts and suggestions for making faculty workloads more balanced and equitable by providing your anonymous feedback here.
Events
August Writing Retreat for Assistant and Associate Professors
mid-August
Join us for a 2-3 day writing retreat in mid-August. Dates are TBD - please sign up here to receive additional details and reserve a spot.

Participate in Commencement!

The university-wide Commencement Ceremony will take place on Friday, May 20, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. on Francis Olympic Field. The Commencement Office would like to invite faculty to join the 161st Washington University Commencement. To participate, please fill out the faculty/administrator regalia form by May 5. Please note that the stated deadline has passed, however the Commencement Office would still appreciate registration forms turned in by May 5. (Please note, even if you own regalia, you still need to fill out the form.) Faculty will meet at 8:30 a.m. in Sumers Recreation Center. Email the Commencement Office with any questions. Thank you for helping us celebrate this special occasion!

WashU will host an all-school Commencement Festival on Friday, May 20, from 11 a.m - 1 p.m., immediately following the university-wide Commencement Ceremony. The celebration will stretch from Mudd Field to Tisch Park and include local food and beverages, games, photo opportunities, and live entertainment. During this festival, the Office of the Provost and the Liberman Graduate Center will host a special area for our Graduate and Professional Students at Beaumont Pavilion (the outdoor stage in the Quad, just west of North Brookings). We hope that our faculty will stop by to congratulate our graduate and professional students.
Funding to Participate in NCFDD Faculty Success Program

The Office of the Provost will sponsor assistant and associate professors to participate in the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD) Faculty Success Program during academic years 2022-23 and 2023-24. If you would like to participate in the Fall 2022 Faculty Success Program, please send your name, department/school, rank, and a brief justification (up to 200 words) to vpfad@wustl.edu by June 1, 2022.
Opportunities and Key Information
  • Mid-Career Faculty Workshop for Danforth faculty with Dr. Vicki Baker of Albion College and Lead Mentor Develop, a company whose focus is supporting mid-career faculty. The workshop will take place on September 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Tenure track and TRaP faculty are invited to attend this event. Please RSVP to vpfad@wustl.edu  by June 1, 2022.
  • Association of Women Faculty Monthly Happy Hour: Join the AWF at the Clayton Winehouse (7911 Clayton Road) on Friday, May 6 (4-5 p.m.). To learn more about the Association of Women Faculty, visit their website.