Faculty Diversity
Faculty Diversity
As a member of the Association of American Universities, Boston University is committed to the highest levels of intellectual and creative achievement and to developing an extraordinary, world-class faculty. Crucial to that mission is a significantly increased breadth of cultural, racial, and ethnic diversity among our teaching and research ranks.
We seek to normalize the inclusion within our 17 schools, colleges, research centers, and departments of people who are underrepresented in academia, including faculty and scholars from marginalized racial, ethnic, social, and religious groups. In service of this goal, the University has developed several programs to assist our search efforts and serve as a resource to better enable our faculty.
Please reach out to Megan Segoshi, Director, BU Diversity & Inclusion, at msegoshi@bu.edu with questions about these initiatives.
The University Scholars Program
In spring 2019, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Jean Morrison announced the launch of several faculty diversity hiring initiatives, including The University Scholars Program, which seeks to enliven our curricula and intellectual and creative endeavors through regular, substantive engagement with emerging and leading faculty and scholars from historically underrepresented racial groups.
The University Scholars Program is comprised of three key efforts: The Emerging Scholars Program, the Visiting Senior Scholars Program, and the Great Topics Program. Expand each of the three sections below to learn more about each of these efforts.
Learn more about the University Scholars Program.
Emerging Scholars Program
Through the Emerging Scholars program, we seek to normalize the inclusion within our schools/colleges and departments of people who are underrepresented in the academy, including scholars from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups; enliven our curricula and intellectual/creative endeavors through consistent and substantive engagement with such emerging faculty; and extend and strengthen our national and international networks, thereby deepening our search pools and positively impacting our search outcomes.
Learn more about the Emerging Scholars Program.
Visiting Senior Scholars Program
The Visiting Senior Scholars Program supports eminent scholars who support the University’s strategic goals of developing a diverse, world-class community of scholars and makers for visits of varying lengths (i.e. multiple day visits up to a semester-long residency) The Visiting Senior Scholars Program will ideally be used by BU academic departments when questions of curricular development are at stake and/or when the Visiting Senior Scholar in question brings incredible prestige to the University and may be of interest as a potential targeted hire for the hosting department. This program is designed to support visits by individuals, rather than groups of individuals as with the Emerging Scholars Program.
Great Topics Program
The Great Topics Program provides funds to departments to host important, bold, and beyond-the-typical conversations among leading thinkers and makers about issues explicitly related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
These conversations are meant to spark important dialogues of national importance that bring prominence to BU and that might inform not only the thinking on these issues, but future actions and outcomes. supports important conversations among leading thinkers/makers about issues explicitly related to race and/or diversity.
Faculty interested in submitting an application to host a Great Topics Program can do so beginning November 1, 2021.
Target of Opportunity Hiring Program
The Target of Opportunity Hiring Program (ToO), aims to provide nimbleness and flexibility in hiring and to allow academic leadership to capitalize on potential hires that represent an extraordinary opportunity for the University to support the above stated goals. The Target of Opportunity Hiring Program is comprised of two distinct tools: the Target of Opportunity Mechanism and the Target of Opportunity New Lines Program.
Learn more about the Target of Opportunity Hiring Program.
BU Faculty of Color Recruitment Committee
The BU Faculty of Color Recruitment Committee is a non-evaluative committee consisting of BU faculty of color. Faculty candidates may opt to meet with Recruitment Committee members as part of their interview process. The intent of the Recruitment Committee is to provide faculty candidates with an opportunity for informational interviews and candid conversations where candidates can ask questions and have a frank and honest discussion about faculty of color experiences at BU and in the Greater Boston Area.
Learn more about the BU Faculty of Color Recruitment Committee.
BU D&I STARS (Supporting Thriving, Achievement, Retention, & Success)
BU D&I STARS supports faculty from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in the academy who are within their first-ever two years of a faculty appointment.
Learn more about BU D&I STARS
Resources to Support Boston University Faculty
We want faculty to thrive at BU, both on and off campus. That’s why we offer professional development opportunities for graduate students and postdocs, administrators, and faculty at all stages of their careers. Expand each section below to explore some of the resources available to faculty:
Faculty and Staff Assistance Office
The Faculty and Staff Assistance Office (FSAO) is a resource where you or your immediate family members can find help. They provide free and confidential support, problem solving or coaching to address your work or personal challenges.
Center for Teaching & Learning
The Center for Teaching & Learning partners with faculty to cultivate teaching that is inclusive, centered on student learning, and guided by research. We offer individualized consultations, workshops, seminars, and institutes designed to promote critical reflection and experimentation in teaching, including the purposeful use of technologies. We are particularly excited this year to offer a variety of new programming intended to bring together educators interested in developing as teachers through cross-disciplinary conversations.
Office of Research
The Office of Research supports all aspects of research at BU, overseeing and coordinating between all the University’s research support offices and reporting centers to facilitate BU research.
National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity
Through University membership, BU faculty can access the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD) and participate in occasional writing retreats for scholars, workshops to help navigate identities in the workplace, and gatherings. To take advantage of the myriad resources offered by NCFDD, select “Become a Member” in the upper right corner, then select Boston University as your institution. You will need to activate your membership with your BU email address.
Organizational Development and Learning
Organizational Development and Learning (OD&L) aims to drive strategic learning and development through robust solutions, enabling individuals and teams to achieve extraordinary results in education, research, and patient care. Our team offers classes and workshops, program development and consulting services.
