Dear Colleagues:

Writing this message is one of many “firsts” for me this month as I learn the role, responsibilities, and relationships of the Associate Provost for Faculty (APF). While I know there are many challenges ahead, I am more than reassured by the collective competence of the tremendous colleagues I have found in the APF team, the dedication and deep institutional knowledge of others in the Provost’s Office, and above all, my confidence in my faculty colleagues in all corners of Northwestern.

This feels like a time of many beginnings. I am particularly excited to start a productive partnership with Dr. Robin Means Coleman to continue our drive towards a more inclusive and diverse university.

The APF team remains committed to serving the faculty community. We know the current challenges are extraordinary, and we are prepared to partner with you to find the best solutions. Please know that my door is always open. I welcome any opportunity to connect with you.

Sumit Dhar
Associate Provost for Faculty
Hugh Knowles Professor of Hearing Science
assoc-prov-faculty@northhwestern.edu

Faculty Awards

The Office of the Provost and the Alumnae of Northwestern recognize and celebrate faculty service and teaching. Regan Thomson and Sandra Waxman, both of WCAS, received the Provost Award for Exemplary Faculty Service. Myrna Garcia, WCAS, and Roberto Lopez-Rosado, Tobey DeMott Yeates, Ana Maria Acosta, Heather Henderson, FSM, received the Daniel Linzer Award for Faculty Excellence in Diversity and Equity. Kasey Evans and Kelly Wisecup, WCAS, and Marcela Fuentes, SoC, are recognized for their curriculum innovation.

Research Grants in Humanities

The Provost Office supports excellence in faculty scholarly and creative work through the Provost Grants for Research in Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts. Thirteen faculty were selected for the first round of the 2020-2021 grant cycle. The application for the second round for summer research projects is March 29, 2021.

Call for Proposals

The Affordable Instructional Resources (AIR) Initiative invites Northwestern faculty to apply for grants to develop Open Educational Resources (OER) for undergraduate courses. The application deadline is March 26, 2021. In addition, the Alumnae of Northwestern University, through its Academic Enrichment Grant, offers funds for faculty-sponsored programs that bring guest artists and distinguished scholars and speakers to campus to enrich the intellectual and cultural learning experience of undergraduate students and/or the entire University. The application deadline is April 1, 2021; for more information, visit the Alumnae of Northwestern University's website.

Temporary COVID-19 Caregiving Grant and Work Study Assistants

The University created the Temporary COVID-19 Caregiving Grant to help alleviate the unprecedented burdens COVID-19 has imposed on caregivers. This emergency response program provides taxable grants of up to $1,500 to help qualifying full-time faculty and staff offset the costs of caregiving for their dependent children or dependent adults and seniors during the current academic year. In addition, there is financial support for additional work-study positions to help faculty manage the challenges associated with teaching in a new modality and to enable ongoing research. If you would like to hire a student who is eligible for work-study as a Zoom assistant, for other instructional support, or as a research assistant, reach out to your school dean's office.

Inclusive Teaching Faculty Workshops

We are pleased to preview the new Northwestern University Principles of Inclusive Teaching, written for Northwestern instructors by partners in the Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching, the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, the Office of Equity, and the Office of the Provost. The document provides both theoretical principles and practical suggestions to guide faculty, and is relevant across different disciplines and classroom formats, including remote and in-person. All faculty are invited to begin exploring the resource in a workshop focused on Principle 1: Consider your and your students' social identities and positionalities. The workshop will be offered twice, March 8 and 16.

Presenting Online - Best Practices in Creating and Delivering Presentations Virtually

Faculty members participated in the Presenting Online workshop on January 28, 2021.

Events