New Faculty Learning Community
Details
Under the best of circumstances, starting at a new university can be difficult. It is especially challenging, of course, during a time of COVID uncertainty and societal unrest. But that's what you have to do, and the Faculty Development Center is here to help support you as as you do so. In this learning community, we'll discuss how to lay the groundwork for a successful career, in terms of teaching, research, and service, and how you find the right balance. (We'll also discuss work-life balance as well!). Together, we will support one another as we dive into an unknowable but exciting future.
This community meets once a month for about 90 minutes during the academic year. Our year's work culminates in an action plan, due at the beginning of the summer term. A $300 honorarium will be offered to faculty who complete the seminar and submit the action plan.
Program Format
In these meetings, we will discuss how to get your EMU career off to a successful start. We will explore how to work through (and embrace!) challenges in teaching, how to get your research agenda off to a good start in conjunction with your other responsibilities (with special emphasis on applying for internal research awards), and how to serve the institution without letting service take over your life. We’ll consider different visions for success at the university, and what you need to do to achieve your vision of the successful career. I hope we can foster a mutually supportive environment in which to openly discuss the challenges, and opportunities, we face in our work.
The seminar will meet once a month. Individual meetings with the facilitator will also help participants to think through the challenges, and joys, of being a new faculty seminar.
The seminar will be facilitated by Jeffrey Bernstein, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Bruce K. Nelson Faculty Development Center. While he has very few regrets about his time at Eastern, there are some things he wishes he had heard early on that might have made the difference. He’s now eager to share these thoughts with you.
Meeting Time
Meetings are held on Fridays from 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM on four dates in fall and four dates in winter semester accordingly (TBD). Meetings will be held in-person; participation by Zoom will be fully supported, although we encourage in-person attendance to help us build community. Please email Jeffrey Bernstein if you are interested in the seminar but these times do not work for you. We may be able to find a Plan B!
Our first meeting will held on Friday, September 23rd at 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM in 109 Halle. The remaining meeting dates of the New Faculty Learning Community will be determined.
How to Register
If you are interested in joining this Learning Community and in laying the groundwork for a successful career here at EMU, please fill out the registration form below.
If you have any questions, please email the Faculty Development Center, and we will attempt to answer them.