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Northwestern Office of the Provost

Faculty Newsletter | September 2023

Dear faculty,

 

Welcome back to another exciting academic year at Northwestern — and to the faculty newsletter, which will return to a monthly cadence. We hope you will read it regularly to stay abreast of important Office of the Provost and University developments. 

 

Since there is much to cover during this busy period, I will jump right in: 

 

For those of you who teach this fall, please be sure to review Provost Kathleen Hagerty's communication from earlier this month that includes important information for instructors. In that correspondence, you will find resources on AI in the Northwestern classroom, information to provide your students about the free mental health service TimelyCare and more. I also recommend, if you haven't already, reviewing President Michael Schill and Provost Hagerty's end-of-summer letter that addressed the University's priorities and guiding principles.

 

And now for today's newsletter: Please read on to learn about summer awards that you may have missed, new and enhanced programs that are designed to support your personal and professional well-being and advancement, and campus news highlights. Pease let us know how this newsletter and other Office of the Provost initiatives are working for you by emailing faculty@northwestern.edu. We welcome your input on what we can do better.

 

I wish you the very best this year.

 

Thank you,

 

Sumit Dhar
Associate Provost for Faculty

News and notes

Awards and fellowships

 

Over the summer, the Office of the Provost announced the following awards and fellowships:

  • Academic Leadership Program Fellows: This year’s fellows are Jill Hardin Wilson from the McCormick School of Engineering; Ian Hurd, Jessica Winegar and Vijay Anand Mittal from the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences; and Nadine George-Graves from the School of Communication. The first in-person seminar of this year-long extensive leadership development program will take place at Northwestern from Oct. 12-14.
  • Dorothy Ann and Clarence L. Ver Steeg Distinguished Research Fellows: Moya Bailey and Mark Hersam have received the 18th annual award. 
  • Martin E. and Gertrude G. Walder Award for Research Excellence: Dr. Elizabeth M. McNally, director of Northwestern’s Center for Genetic Medicine and the Elizabeth J. Ward Professor of Genetic Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, has received the 22nd annual award.

 

Welcome new faculty!

 

 

On Sept. 5, at New Faculty Orientation, President Michael Schill welcomed about 80 new faculty members to Northwestern, reminding them that "faculty truly are the lifeblood of our institution." The two-day event, hosted by the Office of the Provost in partnership with Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching, provided an overview of the University to help set the foundation for a successful research and teaching career at Northwestern.

 

Reimagining Assessment Practicum

The Reimagining Assessment Practicum (RAP) is a three-week online program designed for instructors of all levels, backgrounds, and teaching contexts to learn more about and reflect on assessment and grading practices, with an emphasis on equitable approaches and alternative methods. This practicum will draw on expertise and experience from faculty and staff around the University.

  • Fall Iteration: Oct. 9-27 (Download the schedule)
  • Winter Iteration: Jan. 16-Feb. 2, 2024
  • Spring Iteration: April 8-26, 2024

Register for the practicum.

 

Updated federal guidance on travel and remote study

Northwestern recommends that faculty and staff (regardless of citizenship) now register official travel to comprehensively sanctioned countries in Northwestern’s International Travel Registry. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions based on U.S. foreign policy and national security goals, and Northwestern’s International Travel Registry and the Export Controls & International Compliance (ECIC) website maintain an up-to-date list of sanctioned countries. Read the guidance and FAQs for more information. Additionally, in response to federal regulations imposed by the OFAC that limit online coursework from certain countries, Northwestern’s Office of International Student and Scholar Services (OISS) now places registration holds on affected students until they arrive in the U.S. or obtain a valid OFAC license. Once the student with a hold either demonstrates presence in the U.S. by completing the mandatory international student check-in or obtains an OFAC license by working with the ECIC, the hold is removed. Read the FAQs for more information.

Fall offerings at The Block Museum

image with people on, promoting the Block Museum's fall exhibits

The Block Museum has been granted full reaccreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, putting it in good standing until 2032 and ensuring valuable offerings —  including the following fall exhibits —  will be available to our community for years to come.

 

In case you missed it

Faculty support and resources

Faculty health and wellness

  • To enjoy a fun break while supporting student-athletes, catch a game during one of the upcoming Northwestern Athletics Educator Appreciation events, at which a Northwestern staff and faculty member as well as a local educator will be recognized. Admission is free, and offerings range from snacks to games to gifts. Dates are: women's soccer vs. Illinois, Sept. 28, 6 p.m.; women's field hockey vs. Michigan, Oct. 1, 11 a.m.; and men's soccer vs. Indiana, Oct. 24, 7 p.m. For more information, contact wildcatmarketing@northwestern.edu.
  • Northwestern's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider, SupportLinc, provides faculty, staff and household members 24/7/365 free and confidential access to a variety of mental health and well-being services and resources, including short-term counseling to help address everyday life challenges in a confidential, professional and supportive manner. 
  • Free on-campus flu shots will be available on Oct. 3, 11, 16 and 26 for benefits-eligible faculty and staff through our partnership with Empower Health Services. An appointment is required.

 

Career development and support programs

The Office of the Provost is rolling out its career development and support programs for the 2023-2024 academic year. Watch for the following offerings:

  • The New & Early Career Faculty Institute, a new monthly series of discussion-based small-group workshops, provides an opportunity to network with colleagues and learn about campus resources. The first session, "Looking 101 with the Block Museum of Art," will take place on Oct. 3. Register online by Sept. 27.
  • Designed to support the growth and success of tenured associate professors, the Mid-Career Faculty Institute is a yearlong program that launched Sept. 12 with a one-day career development reflection and planning event. Stay tuned for information on the three upcoming cohort lunches, which will continue the discussion and learning. 
  • The Faculty Leaders Series equips department chairs, division chiefs and faculty directors with the knowledge and skills they need to lead. Faculty leaders will learn how to develop leadership skills, build community and manage people, navigate administrative structures and processes, promote vision, build a team and facilitate change, and solve problems commonly encountered in their roles. Lunch is provided. The first session, "Leading and Managing Others," is Oct. 18. Register online.

 

Mark your calendar

 

Featured events

Key dates

More resources


Help us build future newsletters! If your school or department is working on a project that is relevant to the entire faculty, send an email to faculty@northwestern.edu.

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