Introducing the Faculty Development Advisory Board
We are pleased to announce the formation of a Faculty Development Advisory Board, created to assist the Faculty Development team as it supports school and college programming and designs new offerings, all intended to support faculty across all stages of their careers. This group will help ensure that Faculty Development’s programs, priorities, and investments are responsive to Boston University’s strategic framework and grounded in our shared commitment to excellence, inclusion, and impact.
Why an Advisory Board?
As higher education evolves, so too do faculty needs. Changing research expectations, teaching modalities, institutional priorities, and the realities of balancing professional and personal responsibilities are just a few of the issues faculty face. To help faculty meet those challenges effectively, the Faculty Development team needs structured, ongoing input from both faculty and those who support them.
The Advisory Board is designed to provide that input. It creates a regular forum for thoughtful engagement, allowing the Faculty Development team to test ideas, identify emerging needs, and refine initiatives. Just as importantly, it will help to ensure that Faculty Development remains aligned with what matters most to faculty.
What Will the Board Do?
The Faculty Development Advisory Board will:
- Provide strategic guidance to the Faculty Development team
- Identify faculty needs, both immediate and long-term
- Review and offer input on proposed initiatives, helping to shape their design and impact
- Contribute to the development of a strategic plan for faculty development efforts
- Serve as a sounding board for new ideas and ongoing challenges
- Share diverse perspectives from across disciplines, career stages, and experiences
- Act as ambassadors, helping to communicate opportunities to and obtain feedback from colleagues
An initial area of focus for the Board will be engaging with the findings and recommendations of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Caregiving Study, particularly as they relate to faculty support and institutional policy.
Advisory Board Members
Why It Matters
Strong faculty development is essential to academic excellence. It supports innovation in research and teaching, strengthens recruitment and retention, and helps build a community in which all faculty can thrive. The Advisory Board will help ensure that our efforts are well-designed, inclusive, and effective.
We Want to Hear from You
While the Advisory Board will play an important role, it is not a substitute for broad faculty input—it is a conduit for it. We encourage you to share your ideas, concerns, and suggestions:
- What support would make the greatest difference in your work?
- Where do you see gaps in current offerings?
- What should we prioritize in the coming years?
You can share feedback directly using the form below. There will also be additional opportunities for input as we develop our strategic plan.
Faculty Development Advisory Board Feedback
The Faculty Development Advisory Board is not a substitute for broad faculty input—it is a conduit for it. We encourage you to share your ideas, concerns, and suggestions.