Section 4: Faculty Rights, Responsibilities, and Policies
4.6 Faculty Development
In addition to opportunities listed below, see §3.12.5 on sabbatical leaves.
4.6.1 Grants The Faculty Development Grant Program exists to assist faculty members in specific projects which exemplify professional initiative and can be justified in broad terms as supporting the mission of the University. A detailed description of this program and of procedures for submitting grant proposals are distributed annually in the Dean’s Summer Memo and may also be obtained from one’s department chair or from the Office of Academic Affairs. Annual deadlines and procedures for submitting proposals are announced annually in the Dean’s Summer Memo.
4.6.2 Professional Travel Funding for professional travel is available in the departmental operating budgets, and through supplemental funding obtained through the Academic Affairs Office. The department chair is responsible for apportioning departmental funds wisely and fairly so that all members share in opportunities for development.
4.6.3 Jepson Fellowships A generous gift to the University from Alice Andrews Jepson ’64 and Robert Jepson, her husband, enabled the creation of the Jepson Fellows Program. This initiative is designed to enhance the University’s ability to recruit and retain the highest quality junior faculty members and to support them in their quest for promotion and tenure. The Fellowship award is for one full academic year, and the recipient will have his or her teaching load reduced by one half during the time of the Fellowship. The number of Fellowships awarded in any year is dependent upon the quality of the applications received and the amount of funds available from the proceeds of the gift (these vary depending on the investment performance and the Foundation’s spending policies). Jepson Fellows are awarded following an application and review process. To be eligible, the person must be at the rank of Assistant Professor or Associate Professor and must have completed at least three years at the University by the time the Fellowship would begin. Complete application details and requirements are distributed annually in the Dean’s Summer Memo.
4.6.4 UMW Center for Teaching The University has established a Center for Teaching to serve as a resource for faculty and staff to promote and sustain excellence in teaching, advance student learning, and develop innovative pedagogy and curriculum. The center’s objectives are to identify and provide ready access to high quality research, resources, and programs on effective and engaging teaching, meaningful student assessment, and emerging academic technologies, information and other instructional and creative resources. The center’s development is currently proceeding under the guidance of a Teaching Center Advisory Committee.
4.6.5 Division of Teaching and Learning Technologies The Division of Teaching and Learning Technologies (DTLT) provides Supplemental Teaching and Learning Technology Grants to support professional travel, conference/workshop registration, and software/equipment purchases. “Earnest Money” grants are meant to fund activities related to teaching and learning technologies that cannot be funded from other sources. DTLT also sponsors a Fellows program enabling faculty to work closely with DTLT staff to design and implement projects to enhance teaching and learning in specific courses by using information technologies.
4.6.6 Taking Courses Faculty members may enroll in courses at the University either for credit or for no credit, provided that it does not interfere with their own instructional or related duties. Those who wish to enroll in courses shall make their requests known in writing to the Dean, who will confer in each case with the chair of the department and the instructor. If approval is obtained from the instructor and chair, the Dean will communicate this approval to the faculty member requesting attendance in the course and to others as may be appropriate. Those who wish to enroll in courses for credit will then submit the appropriate application and related documents to the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. Upon approval by the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, the faculty member will register for the class through the Office of the Registrar and pay the appropriate fees. A permanent academic record listing course title, credit, grade earned, etc., will be maintained by the Office of the Registrar. For those who wish to enroll in courses for no credit, no fees will be paid and no permanent record of work will be maintained in the Office of the Registrar.
4.6.7 External Grants The Office of Foundation and Government Grants (OFGG) supports University faculty and staff in the development and administration of grant proposals for programs and research. The OFGG is a component of the institution's advancement program. Every proposal submitted for external funding to any agency or organization, whether public, private, for profit or non-profit, must receive administrative approval by the institution, through a process coordinated by the OFGG. This includes proposals which request faculty fellowships, sabbatical, or travel support. Faculty should consult the OFGG’s web page for further information at http://www.umw.edu/grantsoffice/.