May Meeting Highlights

• USAC was joined by Tracey George, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professional Education, and Danielle Certa, Assistant Director of Faculty Appointments, to discuss the Office of Faculty Affairs and Professional Education, its departments, and the various ways its staff supports faculty. They shared how the mission of the office is to support and champion Vanderbilt faculty at every stage of their career and to promote and advise professional academic programs. The office’s dynamic collaboration was illustrated by two case studies: dean reviews and searches and faculty hiring and onboarding.
  
  
• As part of USAC's effort to offer training opportunities in the equity, diversity, and inclusion space, Christopher Donald, University Chaplain and Director of Religious Life, and Gretchen Person, Associate University Chaplain and Associate Director of Religious Life, provided members with information and best practices on how we can support our colleagues who identify as religious minorities. The Center for Spiritual & Religious Life has numerous resources for staff to navigate difficult conversations as well as celebrate and support the pluralistic campus community. While the center has generally focused on supporting students, the team is now growing capacity, building relationships with staff members, and launching affinity groups to build a stronger community.
  
  
• Kathleen Fuchs Hritz, Senior Director of Community Relations, previewed the Community Engagement Survey for staff that will launch May 16. All staff will be invited to participate in the survey using a personalized link next week. Participation should take about 5 minutes and will capture staff members' engagement with community and government organizations. The survey will provide input to a larger initiative focused on the holistic view of Vanderbilt's reach and impact in the Nashville and Middle Tennessee area.