Faculty Affairs Update – Jan. 26

Dear faculty colleagues,

Below are listed some opportunities, updates and reminders. Please share the relevant information with colleagues and those you mentor.

In this week’s update, you will find information on the following:

  • Did you know? Office of the Faculty Ombuds
  • Accepting Nominations: Friar Centennial Teaching Fellowship
  • Accepting Nominations: UT Austin Sidney E. Mezes Award
  • Accepting Nominations: 2023 Awards for Excellence in Graduate Education
  • Accepting Applications: Peer Networking Circles for Professional Faculty
  • Registration Open: Texas Teach-Up 2023
  • What to Know about ChatGPT
  • ChatGPT Panel Discussion on Jan. 27
  • COACHE Faculty Job Satisfaction Survey starting February 2023
  • Texas Global Grant Opportunities

Did you know? Office of the Faculty Ombuds
UT’s Office of the Faculty Ombuds was established to provide faculty with a prompt and professional way to resolve conflicts, disputes, or complaints beyond turning to their supervisors. The office assists faculty with any work-related difficulty, including interpersonal conflict or misunderstandings, as well as academic or administrative concerns. It maintains strict confidentiality and provides a safe place for faculty to have off-the-record conversations on issues related to work. You can learn more and reach out to our two current Faculty Ombuds – Drs. Lynn Katz and Chris McCarthy here.

Accepting Nominations: Friar Centennial Teaching Fellowship
The Friar Society is now accepting nominations for the 2023 Friar Centennial Teaching Fellowship (FCTF).This fellowship awards $25,000 annually to a tenured/tenure-track faculty member who has attained distinction in undergraduate teaching and who has made a significant contribution to the university beyond their calling. Nominations may come from students, faculty, staff, and administrators. The deadline for nominations is 6 pm on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. You can submit your nomination here. For questions or comments, please contact friarCTF@gmail.com.

Accepting Nominations: UT Austin Sidney E. Mezes Award
Each year, the Sidney E. Mezes Faculty Donation Committee recommends monetary awards to provide financial support for faculty members who may be in need of assistance due to unexpected circumstances, such as an illness, accident or other calamity. To find out more about the award, apply for yourself, nominate a colleague experiencing hardship, please visit the faculty awards website or email facultyawards@utexas.edu. Nominations are due on Mar. 23, 2023 and can be submitted here.

Accepting Nominations: 2023 Awards for Excellence in Graduate Education
The Graduate School is accepting nominations for the 2023 Awards for Excellence in Graduate Education which recognize graduate and professional student work as well as rewarding faculty and staff excellence in supporting our graduate and professional students. The deadline for submission of all nomination materials is Feb. 10, 2023. Visit the awards website for more information and to nominate a colleague or student.

Accepting Applications: Peer Circles for Professional-Track Faculty
Professional-track faculty are invited to apply for a new Peer Networking Circles program created by and designed for professional-track faculty. The new program will allow professional-track faculty to connect and share experiences with peers from across the university. Each semester, each “circle” will promote discussion of best practices centered on a particular theme. Twice monthly discussions will be facilitated by a professional-track faculty colleague who will moderate participants’ mutual exploration of the circle’s theme. Learn more about the new program and find information to apply here.

Registration Open: Texas Teach-Up 2023
Texas Teach-Up (TxTU), hosted by the Provost’s Teaching Fellows, brings instructors from all colleges and schools together to celebrate and reflect upon their teaching practices. This year’s event takes place over two days, Feb. 7 & 8, 2023, and will include a mix of both in-person and online courses. During the event, instructors are invited into the classrooms of their peers for a non-evaluative class observation, followed by a reflective conversation with the instructor over coffee and refreshments. Sign-ups for all Texas Teach-Up courses are open until Thursday, Feb. 2. Register for a course and take a peek inside your colleagues’ classrooms!

What to Know about ChatGPT
Many people are concerned about ChatGPT and its implications for teaching and academic integrity. The Center for Teaching and Learning has created a short resource guide that provides an introduction to ChatGPT as well as several suggestions for addressing its use in class both through discussion as well as creative course design.

ChatGPT Student Discussion Panel – Friday, Jan. 27 at 1pm
This informal discussion centers UT students’ perspectives on ChatGPT. Students will share their perceptions and questions regarding the tool and its applications within and outside of the classroom. Student panelists will also discuss what they want UT instructors and staff to know about their concerns and feelings around ChatGPT, and will begin to collaboratively imagine possibilities for a future in education that considers its role and potential impacts.

RSVP and Zoom Link 

Coming Soon: Faculty Job Satisfaction Survey in February 2023
For the third time, UT Austin will participate in the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) Faculty Job Satisfaction Survey. Participation is anonymous and your input will help us better identify faculty needs and inform ongoing opportunities and initiatives to improve faculty recruitment, development and retention. Details will be provided in subsequent communications and posted at provost.utexas.edu/initiatives/coache. Every voice matters, and we need your responses to ensure that every voice is heard.

Texas Global Grant Opportunities
Texas Global supports faculty in pursuing global research, teaching, publishing, and event collaborations, with close to $700,000 in awards granted to date across 15 colleges and schools. Texas Global is pleased to announce that applications are open for the following funding opportunities, with a deadline of Monday, Feb. 27.

Applications for the Internationalization Event Fund continue to be accepted on a rolling basis. For any questions, contact txglobal-grants@austin.utexas.edu.

Please reach out with any faculty-related questions to the Faculty Affairs team. We’re here to support you in any way we can.

Stay well,

Tasha Beretvas

 

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