Greetings faculty colleagues,
Our work, in the Office of Faculty Affairs, often centers on faculty-related policies that impact your daily responsibilities. From approving processes like external activity reporting, differential allocations, and additional pay, to developing, interpreting, and implementing policies with campus partners, our efforts are guided by our core value of “equity.” We believe that good policy is inclusive, clear, fair, and free of unnecessary barriers.
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We understand the significant role university policy plays in faculty life, and we are excited to announce an expansion in our capacity to serve in this area. Please join us in welcoming Meagan Patterson as our new Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Policy and Recognition! Meagan has recently served in our office as a Provost Fellow and will expand on much of her previous work in this new role as she takes on a leadership role in developing policy, reviewing policy processes and enhancing educational programming related to faculty policy. Additionally, she will develop and promote faculty recognition initiatives and coordinate campus-level faculty award committees within the Office of Faculty Affairs. Read more about Meagan's prior university experience and our goals for this new position at this link.
As we continue to work together to revise, refine, and enhance faculty-related policies and procedures, we invite you to explore the policy resources available on our website. Our Getting to Good Policy page is especially helpful when developing or updating policy within your unit. Stay tuned for more updates and educational opportunities as we expand our policy portfolio with the addition of our new Associate Vice Provost role.
As always, we will keep you informed through these monthly newsletters but also feel free to reach out directly to us at facultyaffairs@ku.edu if you have any questions in the meantime.
Thank you for your continued partnership – wishing you a successful beginning to your spring semester!
Amy Mendenhall
Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
Professor, School of Social Welfare
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Photo Recap: Faculty Finals Fest |
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Policy and Procedural Guidelines and Support from the Student Access Center
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As the spring semester gets underway, we want to remind you of helpful resources from the Student Access Center, related to students with disabilities. Please visit the Instructor Center site for general instructor information on implementing academic accommodations, providing exam accommodations, recruiting a notetaker and other topics. You can also find a sample syllabus statement, guidance on working with students with temporary injuries, as well as general rights and responsibilities of both students and faculty. There is also an Instructor Portal on the SAC homepage, where instructors can log in to view and manage student accommodations.
Faculty often have questions about accommodations surrounding attendance and deadlines. Detailed information can be found in the Disability-Related Absence section of the SAC website. It is important that the SAC and instructors communicate about accommodations so a shared understanding can be made regarding the extent an accommodation is reasonable in your specific course. This process includes finalizing an agreement form via the SAC online system to ensure the student, instructor and SAC are all on the same page. Anytime faculty have questions about this or any accommodation, please reach out to the SAC. We are happy to consult with faculty individually, or even come to a department meeting to answer questions about the process.
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Upcoming Deadline: University Teaching Awards |
Don't forget to nominate an exceptional instructor for a University Teaching Award! The nomination and selection process will be open until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 3, 2025. Departments and schools are encouraged to think broadly and inclusively when considering nominees.
Please review the following opportunities and nominate:
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Faculty Affairs Highlights |
As part of KU's strategic plan, Jayhawks Rising, the Office of Faculty Affairs presented their Strategic Alignment presentation last month. These presentations highlight areas of focus in which our mission and the Jayhawks Rising model align and contribute to advancing the University's priorities of research & discovery, healthy & vibrant communities, and student success, as well as priorities to focus on in the future.
Below are a few highlights from our presentation.
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As a reminder, the HLC Site Visit will take place on March 3-4, 2025. During the visit, the review team will ask KU administrators to pull previous and current syllabi in each modality (online; face-to-face) to assess the degree to which KU adheres to these standards and assumed practices. It is critical that all syllabi are uploaded to the Simple Syllabus Repository by the 10th day of class (Monday, February 3, 2025) and that they comply with components outlined in KU’s Syllabus Policy.
One way in which you can create a streamlined process is by creating your syllabi within Simple Syllabus. The internal audit of Fall 2024 syllabi found that syllabi created in Simple Syllabus were 97% to 100% policy compliant. CTE offers syllabus resources that are also available as you plan for the spring semester.
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Upcoming Event: Early Career "How to at KU" |
The Office of Faculty Affairs invites all Early Career Faculty to join us for our spring "how to" session - Supercharge your Canvas Course. This training is remote, so you can join from anywhere!
Familiar with Canvas, but looking for tips and tricks to elevate your course this spring? Join us in learning how to supercharge your Canvas course, so you and your students can get the most out of your course!
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"How to at KU": Supercharge your Canvas Course
Tuesday, Jan. 14 from 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Live training over Zoom
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Upcoming Event: Faculty in Conversation: Writing Circles |
Wishing for focused time to jump-start your writing for the semester? Or, perhaps eager to add committed time on your schedule to finish a project? Join colleagues in a supportive space for concentration and focus as we write this spring! Bring any writing project you would like, a laptop, and a charger - we'll provide the snacks.
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Spring 2025 Faculty Writing Circles
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- Tuesday, Feb. 11, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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Tuesday, March 11, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, April 8, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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Watson Library, 4th Floor, Room 410 (Graduate Student Study Lounge)
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Upcoming Events: Early Career Faculty Foundations |
The Office of Faculty Affairs invites all early career faculty to our Early Career Faculty Foundations series events. These events offer opportunities to learn about relevant and timely topics as they intersect with the faculty role, as well as time to connect with early career peers over light refreshments.
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Early Career Foundations 1.0
Advising Graduate Students: Essential Tools and Resources
Wednesday, Jan. 29 from 2:30 - 3:45 p.m.
Watson Library, 3 West Event Space
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Early Career Foundations 1.0
Building Campus Connections: Design and Support for Academic Success
Thursday, Feb. 13 from 3:00 - 4:15 p.m.
201 Summerfield Hall
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Early Career Foundations 2.0
The Faculty Career Cycle: Mapping Your Career
Thursday, Feb. 27 from 2:30 - 3:45 p.m.
Kansas Union, International Room
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Faculty and Staff Rapport - January 23
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Office of Civil Rights & Title IX invite you to connect with your community over hors d'oeuvres and a hot chocolate bar January 23 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Pub in the Jayhawk Welcome Center. Please RSVP at this link.
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Student Learning Symposium - January 31
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The Center for Teaching Excellence invites you to the Student Learning Symposium on January 31 in the Kansas Room of the Kansas Union. The symposium provides a yearly occasion for faculty, staff and administrators to reflect on the university's work in assessing student learning. Click here to register.
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The Provost Office invites you to relax and connect with your co-workers during their upcoming Thank Goodness It’s Thursday get-together on February 20 at the Hawks Nest on the lower level of the Kansas Union. Free drinks (including wine, beer, seltzer and an assortment of non-alcoholic beverages) and light snacks will be provided. RSVP at this link.
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NCFDD Membership and Programming |
Get your semester off to a great start!
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This week’s Monday Motivator shares some great tips for getting your semester started on the right foot! Guidance on the first step in getting started: developing a clear and realistic strategic plan, can be found in one of NCFDD’s Core Curriculum Courses, Every Semester Needs a Plan. And we can help with the next two steps: committing yourself to at least 30 minutes of writing every day and connecting with a community of support, through our Spring Faculty Writing Circle! During our Writing Circle, you will carve out dedicated writing time for yourself, while being among peers who can help encourage you and keep you accountable.
As a reminder, KU is an institutional member of NCFDD, which ensures all KU academic faculty and staff can register for an NCFDD membership at no additional cost. To join the NCFDD community, be sure to sign up here.
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Calls You Don't Want to Miss |
February 21 - University Distinguished Professorship Call for Nominations
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The Provost invites nominations of candidates for up to two university distinguished professorships. These professorships are unrestricted and may be filled by a distinguished scholar in any field, although special consideration will be given to nominations of faculty from groups, fields, or disciplines that have limited representation among the individuals currently holding named or university distinguished professorships. Departments and schools are encouraged to think broadly and inclusively when considering nominees. A list of the current distinguished professors can be found at this link.
Read the call in its entirety at this link and find additional information on the nomination process on our Distinguished Professorships website.
The nomination process will remain open until Friday, February 21, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
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COACHE Survey Postponement
Faculty Senate, United Academics of KU, and KU Leadership have agreed to delay the next iteration of the COACHE Faculty Job Satisfaction Survey, which otherwise would have been delivered during the negotiations of our initial collective bargaining agreement. All parties are committed to shared governance and are working together to address concerns raised in the prior survey as we strengthen KU for our faculty, staff, and students.
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The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and procedures and is the Title IX Coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, civilrights@ku.edu, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY. Reports can be submitted by contacting the Title IX Coordinator as provided herein or online and complaints can be submitted with the Title IX Coordinator or online.
The University of Kansas is a public institution governed by the Kansas Board of Regents.
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