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Northwestern Office of the Provost

Faculty Newsletter | December 2024

Dear faculty,

 

Salary equity is a critical component of any great university and a high priority at Northwestern. That is why in spring 2023, I charged the Associate Provost for Faculty and the Office of Institutional Research to conduct a quantitative salary equity study to examine gender equity in tenure-track faculty compensation. This effort was a follow-up to a similar study conducted between 2015 and 2017.

 

I am pleased to share that the Faculty Salary Gender Equity Study is now complete and available to Northwestern faculty and staff with a NetID. The general findings are encouraging: Gender-based gaps appear to have disappeared or shrunk in the few areas where they were found to exist in the previous study.

 

I am grateful to the excellent work put forth by the Office of Institutional Research and the Associate Provost for Faculty team as well as the dedicated members of the Faculty Advisory Group (listed below), who provided input on all aspects of the study, including data sources, statistical methods and the format of the report: 

  • Lori A. Beaman, Breen Family Professor, Economics, WCAS
  • Cynthia Ellen Coburn, Professor, Learning Sciences, Human Development and Social Policy, SESP
  • Larry Vernon Hedges, Board of Trustees Professor, Statistics and Social Policy, WCAS, SESP
  • Robert McDonald, Gaylord Freeman Distinguished Chair in Banking; Professor, Finance, KSM; member of the Northwestern Faculty Senate
  • Christine Marie Percheski, Associate Professor and Associate Chair, Sociology, WCAS; member of the Organization of Women Faculty

As we approach the Winter Recess, I would also like to thank every one of our wonderful faculty members for all of your hard work. I wish you a restful break and I look forward to working with you in the new year.

 

Sincerely,

 

Kathleen Hagerty
Provost
First Chicago Professor of Finance

News and notes

Academic accommodations for religious observance 

The Office of the Provost has posted an annual reminder about Northwestern’s Policy on Academic Accommodations for Religious Observance. As you plan for your Winter and Spring term classes, please review this reminder along with the policy itself, paying special attention to the timing of holidays and religious observances. If you have questions about the policy or specific accommodations requests, please reach out to Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education Miriam Sherin. 

 

Provost's Office 2024-25 grants for faculty

The application process is open for two grant programs:

The deadline to apply for either grant is Jan. 27. Faculty who did not receive either of these awards in 2023-24 may be prioritized. Please email provostawardsandgrants@northwestern.edu if you have questions.

 

Funding opportunities from the Buffett Institute

The Buffett Institute offers a range of funding opportunities for faculty, three of which have upcoming deadlines in early Winter Quarter. 

  • Through the Buffett Visiting Scholars program, faculty can bring a colleague from abroad to campus with the support of the Buffett Institute. The next application deadline is Jan. 15.
  • The Buffett Faculty Fellowship program supports international and global research by Northwestern faculty. It allows for non-residential research so that faculty who need to be away from the University to conduct international research can do so. The application deadline is Jan. 17.
  • Buffett Global Working Group grants of up to $200,000 support interdisciplinary collaborative research on global topics. Funding can be spread over two to five years. The application deadline is Feb. 14.
  • The Buffett Institute is now offering a small amount of funds (up to $1,000 per academic year) to support faculty reading groups. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; learn more here. 

 

Updates from Human Resources

  • Faculty enrolled in the Northwestern PPO medical plan in 2024 who continue their enrollment in 2025 will receive a new BCBSIL card at their home address. The new cards will start arriving in mid-December. If you do not receive a new card by Jan. 1, call the number on the back of your current card to request an updated ID card, or request a new card at bcbsil.com. 
  • With the end of the tax year approaching, it’s time to check your W-2 consent form. To receive an electronic W2 for the 2024 tax year, update your W2 consent form by Dec. 31. Log into myHR, from the menu bar, click on “W-2 Electronic Consent” and update your consent. Questions? Email askHR@northwestern.edu.

 

News from The Block

  • The opening celebration of Woven Being: Art for Zhegagoynak/Chicagoland at The Block Museum of Art is coming up Feb. 1. Zhegagoynak, the place now known as Chicagoland, has long been a critical hub for Indigenous art and the exhibition will explore confluences that continue to shape Indigenous creative practices in the region and beyond. RSVP online.

 

In case you missed it

Faculty Support and Services

Career Development and Leadership

The Office of the Provost's Career Development and Leadership Calendar of Events is updated regularly with events targeted to specific faculty career levels. Upcoming events include:

  • Jan. 15: “Department Mentoring Programs," part of the Faculty Leaders Series, will feature a panel discussing best practices for creating outstanding faculty mentoring programs at Northwestern. Open to department chairs, division chiefs and faculty directors. Register online by Jan. 10.
  • Jan. 29: "Better Writing by Design: Purpose, Productivity and Creative Project Management" is designed to help faculty members confront the range of obstacles that can inhibit their written output. Led by Deborah Siegel-Acevedo, a former academic turned professional writer and writing coach, this workshop is open to all faculty. Register online by Jan. 22.

 

Opportunities from Searle

Learn more at Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching.

 

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, please send an email at least one month prior to the desired month of publication to faculty@northwestern.edu.

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