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Essay

A PKAL essay: Investing in faculty - Ways and means

In the process of setting forth an institutional vision, primary attention must be given to the character and quality of the faculty. A clear understanding of the why and the how of investing in faculty must be an integral part of the strategic planning process.

A response to Facione's roadmap for securing a budget

Jessica R. Young
This commentary emphasizes for faculty the crucial lessons of Facione's essay. Young explains the importance of knowing this information early in one's faculty career in order to carry out the projects necessary in being a succesful agent of change.

Getting support and budget for your great idea, part 3

Peter Facione
Complementing the first two sections on the chair and the deans and academic vice presidents, this third edition of Peter Facione's essay Getting support and budget for your great idea discusses the ways towards devising a budget for your great idea. Providing formulas and advice on developing a proposal, Facione emphasizes getting advice from others on campus in order to have a complete and comprehensive budget to include with your grant proposal.

Getting support and budget for your great idea, parts 1 & 2

Peter Facione
Peter Facione's essay develops a scenario through which a faculty member (or a team of faculty) with a good idea builds internal connections within a campus in order to secure resources to advance their ideas. He urges faculty to figure out how a single good idea fits into their long-term goals for professional advancement, into the departmental and institutional priorities, and how to articulate that connection to people with decision-making responsibilities. His main point is that good administrators "remember people who have good ideas and show initiative and energy, even if [they] cannot support the person at that moment and in the way the person is asking. [They] are talent scouts and coaches, mentors and leaders...looking for motivated people whose work and vision they can use for the betterment of that person and of the school."

Reflecting on faculty requests for funds

Roger E. Thibault
This commentary on Facione's essay provides some further insights into understanding the process for requesting funds and highlights the key administrative players who can provide the budgetary support for your ideas.

The role of the science dean

James M. Gentile
The story from Hope College, about the impact of strong leadership at the divisional level from the science dean, is presented in an essay by James Gentile, currently dean of science at Hope. How such leadership helps to frame and form a sense of community that breaks down disciplinary boundaries, encourages the joint pursuit of a research-rich learning environment, and forsters the scholarly career of each member of the faculty in the context of serving broader institutional goals.

What works: Providing a supportive climate in which all faculty flourish takes time, resources, and planning

Scholarly agendas provide the backbone for faculty development. These agendas should be linked to departmental goals, well balanced, flexible and realistic. In addition, departments should recognize faculty when pivotal scholarly goals are attained.

Worksheet to chart expectations, timing and impact of investing in faculty

PKAL developed a worksheet for administrators to determine the responsibilities of faculty and the support expected by faculty at different career stages.

Worksheet to determine the cost of investments to sustain quality faculty

PKAL developed a worksheet for faculty and administrators to assess the actual cost of faculty development activities.