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| Faculty Newsletter | January 2025 |
Dear colleagues,
As we settle into 2025, the Office of the Provost is already hard at work on a range of projects that are relevant to the work of our faculty. Currently, we are nearing critical milestones in a University-wide effort: Northwestern’s 10-year review for reaffirmation of accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Led by the Office of the Provost’s Strategy and Policy team, this immense undertaking has been in full swing for months. The team has been collaborating with partners across Northwestern’s campuses – engaging with more than 45 units and including faculty from across schools – to gather evidence to build the University’s case for re-accreditation, as well as working closely with colleagues in the Searle Center for Advancing Learning and Teaching and members of the Assessment and Accreditation Council. Northwestern’s accreditation status is an important marker of educational quality and establishes the University’s eligibility to participate in federal student aid programs.
The full report will be reviewed by a team of peer reviewers from HLC-accredited institutions who will visit the Evanston campus on April 28 and 29. During the visit, there will be opportunities for faculty to meet with the peer review team. For more details about the process, including the criteria for accreditation and the timeline, see the Office of the Provost’s Reaffirmation of Accreditation website. The schedule of opportunities to engage with the peer review team will be publicized as we near the visit.
With your partnership, we are well positioned to demonstrate Northwestern’s commitment to excellent teaching, innovative research and the personal and intellectual growth of our students in a diverse academic community.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Hagerty |
News and notes |
Applications open for faculty-in-residence and residential college faculty chair positions Interested in developing deeper connections with undergraduates? Like the idea of living on campus? Residential Services has launched the application process for two live-in faculty-in-residence (FIR) positions and four live-out residential college faculty chair positions. Applications are due Feb. 21. Learn more on the Residential Services website. Questions can be directed to Director of Residential and Academic Engagement Amanda Mueller.
New website with research-relevant Evanston Campus construction updates With construction activity intensifying on Evanston’s North Campus, the Office for Research has launched a dedicated website (with an option to join the Evanston_Construction listserv) to help faculty stay informed about developments that could impact research.
Update from the Office of Global Safety and Security Effective Jan. 1, traveling students no longer enroll in GeoBlue. Instead, students are automatically covered as long as their trip is registered in the International Travel Registry (ITR). For more information, review GeoBlue for Students. For units, schools and departments that require proof of enrollment in GeoBlue and the ITR to disperse travel funds, those communications need to change. Only proof of enrollment in the ITR is required.
Update from Human Resources Northwestern’s Policy on Conflict of Interest and Conflict of Commitment requires that, once a year, staff members provide information on the nature and extent of their outside professional activities and financial interests. On Feb. 3, an email will be sent with a direct link to Northwestern's eDisclosure system. Disclosures must be completed by March 3 and will be reviewed by supervisors. Email nucoi@northwestern.edu with any questions.
First-Gen Friday Instagram takeover
First-generation faculty, staff and students will be highlighted on Fridays via the Student Enrichment Services Instagram story. If you are interested in participating, please fill out the form. Participants will receive $25 in Cat Cash.
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Faculty Support and Services |
Leadership at Northwestern: takeaways from a recent professional development lunch The Office of the Provost offers a range of Career Development and Leadership programs targeted to specific faculty career levels. At a recent lunch with mid-career faculty, a group of University leaders shared their wisdom about forging a leadership path at Northwestern. Upcoming Career Development and Leadership events
Opportunities from NUIT
Register for the 2025 University Practicum Registration is open for the winter and spring iterations (Feb. 4-28 or April 1-25) of the 2025 University Practicum, the largest, most comprehensive program offered at Northwestern to help instructors deepen their teaching practice. This year’s topic is Supporting Student Success and features online sessions covering expectations-setting, supporting equitable access and designing assessments. There are also learning labs, a faculty panel and individual consultations. With its unique design, the program can accommodate most schedules. The practicum will kick off on Jan. 30 with a virtual keynote featuring Jillian Kinzie, co-editor of "Radical Reimagining for Student Success in Higher Education."
Take care of yourself Human Resources has partnered with the Employee Assistance Program SupportLinc to offer a free online Caregiver Grief and Loss Support Group on Tuesdays from Feb. 4 through Feb. 25, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Register to join the sessions. |
Funding Opportunities |
A range of opportunities are available to support faculty at a variety of funding levels.
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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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Learn more about the Office of the Provost |
