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Mid-Career Faculty Institute

Designed to support the growth and success of tenured associate professors, the Mid-Career Faculty Institute is a yearlong program that begins with a one-day career reflection and planning event, followed by a series of cohort lunches to continue discussion and learning with peers.

The program will enable faculty to assess their professional goals, address new challenges and opportunities, explore leadership pathways and ask questions about common concerns such as mentoring and increased demands after tenure. The program also will address navigating the process of promotion to full professor.

2023-2024 Schedule

Tuesday, Sept. 12, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Guild Lounge, Scott Hall (601 University Place, Evanston campus)

Mid-Career Faculty Institute Program

  • Finding Your Mid-Career Mojo: Academic Identity, Mission and Vision
  • Academic Leadership Pathways: Managing Multiple Roles as a Faculty Member and Administrator
  • Moving From Associate Professor to Full Professor
November/December 2023 Cohort lunch with former Academic Leadership Program Fellows
January 2024 Cohort Lunch with former Academic Leadership Program Fellows
April 2024 Lunch with the Provost and Workshop on Aligning Time and Priorities

Eligibility: Tenured associate professors from all schools

Registration: Participation in this program is limited. Register online by July 30, 2023. Participants in the September 12 daylong program are expected to attend the three lunches.

Daylong Mid-Career Faculty Institute program

Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023

Guild Lounge, Scott Hall (601 University Place, Evanston campus)

Welcome
Provost/Associate Provost for Faculty

Finding Your Mid-Career Mojo: Academic Identity, Mission and Vision

Early on, faculty members have one primary objective – achieving the research, teaching and service record needed to earn tenure.

Once over that hurdle, a number of possibilities and questions open up:

  • How will you focus your research moving forward?
  • Will this next stage be a continuation of earlier work, or with the increased freedom that comes with job security, are there new areas you want to explore?
  • Will you always be a researcher first and foremost, or do you aspire to leadership roles?
  • Are you satisfied with publishing in academic venues or do you want to speak to a broader audience?
  • How will you focus your service work?  
    • Is building a stronger department your first priority?
    • Do you want to have a hand in shaping your discipline by editing a top journal?
    • Will you take on a leadership role in your professional association?
    • Are you passionate about supporting DEI efforts in your school or college?  

In this self-reflection workshop, mid-career faculty members will engage in a series of writing exercises and discussions to clarify their academic identity, mission and vision. Participants also will identify initial steps to align their time and focus to support their most important goals.

Facilitator: Rena Seltzer, Leader Academic

Break

Academic Leadership Pathways: Managing Multiple Roles as a Faculty Member and Administrator

A panel of academic leaders will discuss how they navigate roles as faculty and administrative leader

  • Discuss motivation for leadership roles, as well as concerns and benefits
  • Learn about panelists’ experiences in administrative roles and the skills required for success
  • Discuss how to maintain a research agenda and continue to manage a research team

Panelists: TBA

Buffet lunch

Moving From Associate Professor to Full Professor

For some faculty, the promotion process from associate professor to full professor can be less clear than the tenure process. A panel of chairs, former chairs and/or recently promoted faculty will discuss how to navigate this process successfully.

Faculty will learn:

  • Where to find out what is required for promotion to full professor and when to start that process
  • How to set priorities that improve your chances for promotion
  • How to set criteria for service requests that align with the promotion process
  • Where to obtain guidance and feedback on progress
  • Tips for preparing a successful dossier

Panelists: TBA