Faculty Celebrations

2017-2018 Professional Development Leave Recipients

Congratulations to Dr. Gloria Lessan (Sociology) and Mr. Kenneth Robkin (Motion Picture Arts). Both have been awarded leave for the Fall 2017 semester.

Dr. Lessan plans to "write the second edition of the online course text Sociology of Law along with instructional materials. The second edition of this book will incorporate and update the many critical and legal developments that developed during the first Black American president's two consecutive terms, the recent presidential campaigns, the specifics of voting reports, and the potential changes in legal institutions that will take place after the 2016 election."

Mr. Robkin states that he plans to "create a science fiction narrative comprised of three areas: A novella, a collection of animated shorts, and a series of sculptures derived from the novella and animated shorts."

2017 Faculty Award Winners

Congratulations to the following faculty whose work has been nationally recognized.

• Ming Cui, Department of Family and Child Sciences, College of Human Sciences, has received a 2017-18 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program grant to Finland.
• Meegan Kennedy, Department of English, College of Arts & Sciences, has been awarded a 2017-18 NEH Fellowship.
• John Corrigan, Department of Religion, College of Arts & Sciences, has been awarded the Luce/ACLS Fellowship in Religion, Journalism & International Affairs.
• Christian Bleiholder, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Arts & Sciences is a 2017 recipient of the NSFCAREER award.
• Yan Li, Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering is a 2017 recipient of the NSF CAREER award.

2017-2018 Sabbatical Leave Recipients (One semester and two semester)

President John Thrasher and Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Sally McRorie have approved the following faculty members to take a sabbatical leave during the 2017-2018 academic year.

Faculty Support

Faculty Writing Groups

Did you know that faculty who participate in writing groups are more productive? Five faculty who met consistently in Fall 2016 reported the following successes during fall semester:

submitted four articles, five conference papers, one essay, and one book chapter; completed first drafts on two articles; drafted two grant proposals and submitted two grant proposals; began two new research projects; completed job letters for students.

The Office of Faculty Development and Advancement currently supports three faculty writing groups and hosts multiple faculty writing retreats. Check out the faculty writing retreats described below and then contact Peggy Wright-Cleveland to reserve your seat and experience a writing group firsthand.

Faculty Writing Retreats Pop-up Writing Retreats

Faculty Learning Communities (FLC)

Beginning at FSU this spring, Faculty Learning Communities (FLC) broaden our thinking and strengthen our sense of community. FLCs provide faculty the opportunity to meet in small groups and talk thoughtfully about ideas. The Office of Faculty Development and Advancement will facilitate scheduling, the disbursement of materials, and creating consensus goals. Topics may address teaching, research, or the state of the academy and be focused on a specific text or question. Possible topics to consider: What does inclusive pedagogy look like? What are my open access rights as an author? Who is crafting a public intellectual persona today and how influential is it? What are the professional ethics for discussing politics with students?

Smart people. Trained in different disciplines. Listening and thinking together. What's not to like?

Send topic ideas and names of faculty who might be interested to Peggy Wright-Cleveland via mwrightc@fsu.edu.

Social Science Policy Application Workshop

On March 24 from 10:30 ‑ noon social science faculty will gather to learn about the varied opportunities offered by the Woodrow Wilson Fellow programs and the Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow. To reserve your seat, contact Peggy Wright-Cleveland.

Center for Teaching Excellence

Fall 2016, FSU hosted three exceptional candidates for the Director, Center for Teaching Excellence position. Stay tuned for an announcement regarding this new position soon.

Diversity and Inclusion

Goal III of FSU's Strategic Plan 2017 ‐ 2022

When diversity and inclusion became part of FSU's Strategic Plan, the FSU community accepted a challenge to "realize the full potential of diversity and inclusion" in all aspects of our campus life. First, we agreed to "increase the diversity of FSU's student body, faculty, and staff." This not only means better institutional hiring and recruiting efforts, it means each faculty, staff, and student must incorporate into their work and study habits ways to be more welcoming and more engaging with those different from them. Second, we committed to "expand and strengthen academic and co-curricular programs, as well as administrative initiatives, that increase diversity and inclusiveness." We get to examine and improve current programs and imagine new ones. Finally, we must adjust our syllabi, our methodologies, our mentorship, our committee leadership, and our research to "develop globally and culturally competent students who are prepared to succeed in an increasingly multicultural an international society."

If you have a story to share about how inclusion has impacted your research, your service in committee work, your teaching, or your leadership, email Peggy Wright-Cleveland.

In case you have not seen this yet, here is part of FSU’s story on diversity: FSU Institutional Support

Nuts and Bolts

Academic Honor Policy

Get the most updated 2016-2017 Academic Honor Policy Statistics!

Did you know? Students have 3 different options they can exercise when there is an alleged violation of the Academic Honor Policy. See this "Quick Reference Guide" for additional information.

Check BlackBoard

Faculty Tip of the Week is now a daily feature.

Alternative Textbook Grants

University Libraries is offering a new Alternative Textbook Grants program. Alternative Textbooks cut costs for students, are environmentally responsible, and are peer reviewed. Check out the grant details here. If you need more information on Open Textbooks generally, consult this research guide.

Specialized Faculty Promotion

Specialized Faculty promotion binders for the 2016-2017 promotion cycle are due to the Office of Faculty Development and Advancement through Melissa Crawford by Friday, February 17, 2017. More information about the specialized faculty promotion process can be found on the FDA website.

P&T Online is On Its Way

Help us thank Melissa Crawford and Jennifer Buchanan for leading the successful development of the online P&T process. Members of the Faculty Development and Advancement team worked with ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) staff to envision and design a unique workflow process that will improve the P&T experience for faculty candidates and reviewers, department and college staff, and members of the University P&T Committee. Training for staff gets underway in February 2017, and the new system will be in place for all departments, schools, and colleges by the end of March for the 2017-18 P&T cycle. Watch for more information.

The FSU Faculty Community

News from Faculty Senate President Susan Fiorito

State of the University Address (December 7, 2016)

President Thrasher’s State of the University Address was well-received and highlighted recent accomplishments and provided a list of goals and preparations for the upcoming Legislative session that begins in March 2017. FSU moved up in national collegiate rankings five places from 43rd place last year to the 38th best public university in the country. This move puts us closer to our goal as a Top 25 public university in the nation. President Thrasher highlighted our accomplishments in the areas of fundraising, research, programs and facilities and diversity. Goals for the University include:

• Improving metrics for performance and preeminence funding and national rankings
• Recruiting top faculty and staff and continue efforts to bring salaries up to market levels
• Promoting "Take 15" (courses hours/semester) to move undergraduates toward a timelier graduation
• Updating the campus master plan to reflect future growth
• Breaking ground on the new Black Student Union (January 2017)
• Building on our diversity and inclusion efforts
• Continuing the Raise the Torch campaign

Legislative efforts include the fiscal proposal of $70 million to help FSU accomplish its goal of being a Top 25 university and opposing guns on campus. Please visit The President's website to listen to the full Address.

Resolutions and Proposals (January 2017)

The Faculty Senate unanimously approved the Liberal Studies Curriculum and overwhelmingly thanked Dr. Annette Schwabe for her continued hard work in building out the liberal studies program. The FS also approved two recent resolutions. The first resolution was in support of students impacted by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) policy, and the second was an updated resolution opposing firearms on State University Systems campuses.

Presentations

The Road Scholars program has had great success this year. There were three presentations in the fall, and two additional lectures are planned for this semester. The upcoming schedule includes:

• Origins of the Celebrity Chef, Friday, February 10, 1:30pm in Strozier’s Bradley Reading Room Professor Michal D. Garval, North Carolina State University
• Presentation by Silvio Torres-Saillant, Dominican Studies Institute, Friday, April 7, 1:30pm in the Strozier Bradley Reading Room

Move to Canvas

Robert (Robby) Fuselier, Interim Director, Office of Distance Learning, provided senators with a transition timeline for the transition from Blackboard to Canvas. Early adoption of the program will begin in the spring 2017 semester, with full implementation slated for Spring 2018. If you are interested in attending training and/or implementing Canvas early, please email Robby / 645-9176.

Faculty Events Calendar

• ACC Road Scholars Series: Dr. Michael D. Garval, Friday, February 10, 1:30 presentation, 2:30 reception, Robert Bradley Reading Room at Strozier Library
• Faculty Luncheon Series: Dr. Jessica Clark, Tuesday, February 14, 12:15 lunch, 12:45 presentation, Ukirk Tallahassee (formerly Presbyterian University Center), Reservations required: 850.222.6320 or office@ukirktallahassee.com
• Specialized Faculty Promotion Binders Due, Friday, February 17
• FSU Authors Day Thursday, February 23, Reading and Book Signing by Christopher Coutts, 2:30, Ukirk Tallahassee, Reception Celebrating Faculty Authors 4:00, Robert Bradley Reading Room, Strozier, Reception 5:00
• Deans and Chairs Meeting, Monday, March 27, 8:30 – 1:00, Turnbull Center

Faculty Award Application Calendar

Lasker Foundation Awards - Due 2/01/2017
Basic Medical Research Award
DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award
Koshland Special Achievement Award in Medical Science
Lasker-Bloomberg Public Service Award

National Science Foundation National Medal of Technology and Innovation - Due: 04/07/2017

National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship - Due 4/2/217

RCSA - Cottrell Scholar Awards - Due: 05/01/2017

Beckman Foundation Scholars Program - Due: 06/15/2017