Expanding Support for Our Faculty

From Dr. Gloria Waters, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer

As part of our University-wide commitment to recruit, support, and promote world-class faculty, I am delighted to share several important developments that strengthen the resources available to you and expand the ways we work together to advance our teaching, research, and scholarship.

Boston University Faculty Development has now launched as a University-wide effort to coordinate and expand professional development and mentoring opportunities for faculty at every stage of their careers. Reporting to Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs Maureen O’Rourke and with leadership from newly appointed Assistant Provost for Faculty Development and Success Vincent L. Stephens, the office will partner closely with schools and colleges to foster faculty growth and excellence in support of scholarship, career success, and teaching. The office has organized a faculty resources fair for new and early career faculty on Thursday, October 23, a new website will launch later this semester, and more information and opportunities are available on the Faculty Affairs website.

BU Faculty Development will be a cornerstone of the University’s commitment to faculty excellence and plans to work collaboratively with existing initiatives to strengthen opportunities across the academic community. Earlier this year, we launched the Institute for Excellence in Teaching & Learning, uniting the former Center for Teaching & Learning and Digital Learning & Innovation. Under the leadership of Wendy Colby, vice president and associate provost for BU Virtual and the Institute, the Institute partners with faculty across BU’s schools and colleges to elevate, support, and create transformative, engaging learning experiences that drive success, distinction, and impact for all students. The Institute supports innovative teaching and learning, advances the effective use of digital and emerging technologies, and drives initiatives such as the Shipley Academic Innovation Fund, which fuels experimentation and educational innovation across the university. The Institute also regularly offers workshops on topics ranging from AI in the classroom to inclusive pedagogy to creating strategies for success for every learner. For more information, visit the Institute’s website.

Complementing these efforts to strengthen professional development and teaching, BU Research Development has been working to position Boston University at the forefront of emerging and convergent research areas. Under the leadership of Director Lloyd Munjanja, the Research Development team is using advanced analytics to anticipate trends, identify high-growth federal research priorities, and position the University for leadership in emerging fields. The office is helping multi-investigator, cross-disciplinary teams compete successfully for large, strategically significant federal opportunities, including center-level programs and institutional training grants. This work is helping to position our faculty competitively and build the next generation of research leadership in our changing funding landscape.

Together, these initiatives reflect our deep and sustained commitment to supporting your success and ensuring Boston University remains a place where faculty thrive in their teaching, research, and careers. I am confident these important efforts will continue to strengthen the University and the faculty who make our community exceptional.