Dear faculty colleagues,
This is a devastating moment in time for so many of our friends, families and colleagues. Please take the time to check in on and support those around you. And please share safety and well-being resources that are available for all students, staff and faculty.
This Faculty Affairs newsletter consists of the following items. Do please share whatever might be of relevance with your fellow colleagues and those you mentor.
- Faculty P&T Information Sessions â Fall 2023 (Updated Schedule)
- Faculty Retirement Information Session
- Accepting Submissions: Faculty Authors Reception
- Guidelines for Responding to Academic Technology Vendors
- Make Your Voice Heard: New Course Evaluations Video
- CTL Updates: October 2023
- 2023 Academy of Distinguished Teachers Inductees
- Reminder: 2023 University Health Services Flu Shot Clinics
- Call for Stories â First-Gen Longhorns Faculty Spotlight
- Celebrating Free Speech Week on the Forty Acres
Faculty P&T Information Sessions â Fall 2023
The provostâs Faculty Affairs team will be hosting in-person promotion (and tenure) information sessions during the fall semester. These sessions include a representative from the Presidentâs Promotion (& Tenure) committee and offer the opportunity to share advice and answer questions focused on the relevant promotion(s). Please join us whether you are thinking about your own promotion or mentoring a fellow faculty member with their promotion.
Thursday, October 19, 3-4pm in MAI 212
Tenure-track Faculty Promotion & Tenure Information Session with Sharon Wood, Executive Vice President and Provost
Monday, October 23, 3-4pm in MAI 212
Professional-Track Faculty Promotion Information Session with Richard Flores, Deputy to the President
UPDATED: Friday, November 17, 9-10am via Zoom https://utexas.zoom.us/j/96059894975
Tenured Associate Professor Promotion Information Session with Dan Jaffe, Vice President for Research
Faculty Retirement Information Session
Join us for an informative presentation about insurance and other benefits for UT Austin faculty retirees. Gain a better understanding of UT Select retiree insurance, Medicare and coordination with UT Select, returning to work after retirement, and so much more. Following the presentation, a panel of retired members of UT Austin faculty will share their experiences of transitioning to retirement and continuing involvement in academia and the university community.
Tuesday, November 7, 12-2pm via Zoom
Accepting Submissions: Faculty Authors Reception
The Faculty Authors Reception was created to highlight the breadth of scholarship and creative activity taking place across the university. We are now accepting submissions for this yearâs Faculty Authors Reception. There will also be an in-person event on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 to celebrate published works from 2023.
Eligibility
- Published works including scholarly monographs, published creative works (e.g., novels and anthologies of poetry), exhibition catalogs, and edited collections.
- Books must have been published between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023.
- Current UT Austin faculty member.
- Deadline: November 17, 2023
Guidelines for Responding to Academic Technology Vendors
The Office of Academic Technology has published guidance for faculty who are receiving unsolicited emails from software vendors.View Guidelines
Make Your Voice Heard: New Course Evaluations Video
In an effort to encourage effective responses and higher response rates, students, faculty and leadership created a new, 2-minute video about the purpose and value of course evaluations. Faculty are invited to discuss the video with their students and give students time to complete course evaluations during class. Explaining the purpose of course evaluations and providing examples of helpful comments can inspire more meaningful feedback.
Watch the Video
CTL Updates: October 2023
The CTL October newsletter included updates for the first full month of the semester. Highlights include the following:
PTF Think Tank: Teaching Neurodiverse Students
Come learn more about embracing neurodiversity on our campus and what you can do to work toward an environment that is more accessible and inclusive for neurodiverse students. This Think Tank takes place on October 26 and will be facilitated by Katie Tackett and Longhorn TIES. All instructors are welcome!
Think Tanks, facilitated by the Provost’s Teaching Fellows, invite instructors to discuss problems and tackle tough topics in a safe environment among a diverse group of fellow instructors.
Teaching in the Age of Generative AI
The technologies supporting generative AI tools continue to change and become more sophisticated. How can we create assignments for our students that addresses the presence of generative AI tools? This two-day workshop will focus on providing suggestions for crafting assignments that acknowledge their presence, either accepting or not accepting their use, focusing primarily on assessment. On the first day (Nov. 15), we will explore policies and recommendations at UT as well as a few sample practices. On the second day (Dec. 6), participants will be offered the opportunity to share their ideas and receive peer feedback.
Congratulations to Experiential Learning Excellence Award Winners
Rain could not keep people away from the Experiential Learning Excellence Awards & Inspiration Brunch that took place at the Kendra Scott Center on October 5th. The awards are based on student nominations and focus on recognizing individuals who exemplify excellence in experiential learning and who create environments in which all students feel able to bring their whole selves to their unique Longhorn Learning Experience. This year, 47 members of the UT community were nominated, across most Colleges and Schools; several academic-support units were also represented. Congratulations Brandelyn Flunder, Christopher Aarons, and Kasia Dinkeloo!
2023 Academy of Distinguished Teachers Inductees
Four faculty members were inducted into UT Austinâs Academy of Distinguished Teachers this year which honors excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level. These new inductees will receive a $25,000 stipend, will hold the title Distinguished Teaching Professor, and will serve as members of the Academy for the duration of their faculty appointment at UT Austin.
The 2023 inductees are:
- Anthony Brown, Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, African and African Diaspora Studies, and Center for African and African American Studies, College of Liberal Arts
- Ruth Buskirk, Professor of Instruction, Department of Molecular Biosciences, College of Natural Sciences
- Ashley Farmer, Associate Professor, Department of African and African Diaspora Studies & Department of History, College of Liberal Arts
- Michael Marder, Professor of Physics, Executive Director, UTeach
- Domino Perez, Professor, Department of English and the Center for Mexican American Studies
Reminder: 2023 University Health Services Flu Shot Clinics
Stay healthy this flu season. Our on-campus flu shot clinics, running from Oct. 4-27, are open to all UT Austin students, faculty and staff. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. For details on vaccines, eligibility, costs, and scheduling visit healthyhorns.utexas.edu/flushots
2023 Flu Shot Clinics
Call for Stories â First-Gen Longhorns Faculty Spotlight
The First-Gen Longhorns team is looking to spotlight new members of the first-generation community on their  recently redesigned website. First-Gen Week (November 6-10) is fast approaching, and they want to show students that first-gen faculty and staff are a fundamental part of our campus and a strong and proud part of the UT family. Your story could be key!
The submission form is hosted on Microsoft Office 365 and, therefore, will require a log-in with your university Microsoft account. Submitting to the form does not guarantee publication.
First-Gen Longhorns Faculty and Staff Spotlight Form
Celebrating Free Speech Week on the Forty Acres
Free Speech Week (FSW) is a yearly event to raise public awareness of the importance of freedom of speech and of the press in our democracy and to celebrate that freedom. This non-partisan, non-ideological event is intended to be a unifying celebration of these rights that all Americans share.
If you have any faculty-related questions, concerns, and solutions please feel free to contact the Faculty Affairs team. Weâre here to support you in any way we can.
Stay safe and well,
Tasha Beretvas