Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence

Jan. 24, 2024 

2024-2025 Award Nominations

Nominations are now open for the 2024-2025 Academic Affairs Awards. You can learn more about each award and nominate using the link below. Nominations close, Friday, Jan. 24th. 

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January 24, 2025

Engaging Undergraduates in Research: Methods, Experiences, and Opportunities

10 AM - 1 PMRUC 101

Dr. Dan VandenBerge

This workshop seeks to help faculty grow in their understanding and use of undergraduate research.  Participants will learn how undergraduate research can grow faculty’s research programs as well as benefitting the students with whom they work.  We will explore best practices for connecting students to existing research and mentoring them through the experience.  Both internal and external resources for supporting undergraduate research will be highlighted.  Methods for recruiting students to undergraduate research will also be discussed.  Activities will include an introductory presentation, active group learning and discussions, a brief presentation of funding opportunities, and a panel discussion with faculty and students about their experiences with undergraduate research.

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January 31, 2025

Writing to the Call, Proposal Reviews, and Panel Service

12:00 PM Derryberry 200

Jeanette Luna, Department of Earth Sciences

Take your proposal from good to excellent! This session explores best practices for submitting winning proposals, incorporating feedback from panel reviews, and leveling up your grant writing through panel service. 

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February 8, 2025

 High Powered Computing and Artificial Intelligence

8 AM-4 PM AIEB 249

Sponsored by the College of Engineering

Interested in using high-powered computing or artificial intelligence in your research? Join us for this 1-day workshop to connect and collaborate with other faculty using these tools. Learn about Tech’s HPC facilities and get started using state-of-the-art AI in your own research.  

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February 28, 2025

Managing Multiple Research Projects

10:30-1:30 PM RUC 101

Join us for an insightful session on effective project management and building successful research teams. Explore the stages of planning, initiating, executing, and monitoring projects, and discover tools like Gantt charts and strategies for managing multiple sponsored projects. Learn critical leadership skills for recruiting and retaining talented team members, collaborating effectively, and ensuring a supportive environment for cutting-edge research. Hear from experienced panelists who will share their successes and challenges, offering practical advice on what strategies to embrace and which to avoid. Bring your questions for an engaging discussion!

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April 4, 2025

Research Strategies for Social Impact and Economic Development

10:30-1:30 PM RUC 101

Discover how local and regional partnerships can enhance research activities in Tennessee by exploring the state's economic development history and its impact on communities. Learn about the current and future research landscape in the southeastern U.S., emerging interdisciplinary collaborations, and the role of legislative support, including the Governor's budget and funding strategies. Celebrate the diverse scholarly and creative work resulting from Tennessee Tech-community partnerships and hear from panelists who have successfully connected with both local and international communities to make a positive impact. Engage with practical insights and find inspiration for your own research endeavors.

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February 3, 2025

Reclaiming Our Time: AI and Academic Productivity

1:00-2:00 PM 

Virtual 

Academia often demands more from faculty of color, especially women. Service duties like mentoring, advising, and supporting marginalized students and filling diversity quotas on committees leaves less time to focus on aspects of the job that are most heavily weighted in our evaluations. This unsustainable pace often compromises our productivity, creativity, efficacy, and ability to engage in self-care. This presentation, best suited for individuals with little or no familiarity with artificial intelligence (AI), offers strategies for reclaiming our time by harnessing the power of AI. Together we will explore practical uses for leveraging AI to optimize our research and teaching.

Facilitators:

Nicole M. West, PhD, Missouri State University;

Marjorie Shavers, PhD, Missouri State University;

Ximena Uribe-Zarain, PhD, Missouri State University;

Sharnnia Artis, PhD, George Mason University

Register

February 13, 2025

How to Align Your Time With Your Priorities

1:00-2:00 PM

Virtual

Grab your strategic plan and learn the secret to making it work day-to-day and week-to-week! How to Align Your Time with Your Priorities is a step-by-step guide to holding a weekly planning meeting (aka The Weekly Meeting). In this webinar you'll learn:

What works…and what DOESN'T work when it comes to weekly planning
Why weekly planning is the bridge between your strategic plan and getting control of your workday
The 30-minute technique that will help you make sure that the most important things get done each day
And much more...
This is a HANDS-ON webinar where you'll not only learn the technique but actually do it!

Facilitator:

Naomi Levy, PhD, Professor, Santa Clara University

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February 20, 2025

Academic Leadership: When, Why, and How to Step Up

1:00-2:00 PM

Virtual

Faculty receive little guidance and preparation for stepping into leadership roles. This lack of guidance is especially true for those not seen as stereotypical leaders. Faculty often wonder when might it be appropriate to step into a leadership role, if at all. What should be some considerations? How does one shift into academic leadership roles? In this webinar, answers to these questions will be provided and self reflection will be encouraged.

Facilitator:

Tasha Souza, PhD, Faculty Recruitment & Retention Coordinator, Sacramento State University

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March 13, 2025

How to Develop a Daily Writing Practice

1:00-2:00 PM

Virtual

In this webinar you'll learn:

• The three biggest myths about writing that hobble new faculty productivity

• The surprising difference between struggling new faculty members and those who are designated as "rising stars"

• The 30-minute strategy that will increase your writing productivity AND decrease your stress, anxiety and guilt

Facilitator:

Angelique Davis, PhD, Professor, Seattle University

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March 25, 2024

Mentoring Up for Faculty

1:00-2:30PM

Virtual

Whether you're new to your faculty role or more experienced, you'll likely need to find and manage relationships with mentors for your own professional success and advancement. However, finding effective mentors and managing these relationships can be challenging

In this workshop, you’ll be led in interactive discussions with your peers to identify challenges that you face in engaging in effective mentoring relationships and crowdsource efforts that have helped people in similar circumstances. You’ll also participate in evidence-based activities designed to address common challenges, including strategies on how to identify your specific needs, approach mentors with your requests, and align expectations between you and your mentor.

Facilitator:

Steven Lee, PhD, Assistant Dean of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity, Stanford University

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April 17, 2025

Academic Leadership: Cultivating Your Mentorship Network

1:00-2:00 PM

Virtual

In this interactive webinar, we will introduce audience members to a new NCFDD tool that aims to help academic leaders identify their specific mentoring needs and get those needs fulfilled. In addition, we’ll share some practical approaches and tips on how academic leaders can expand their network of mentors and sponsors.

Facilitators:

Lisa Hanasono, PhD, Bowling Green State University;

Tasha Souza, PhD, Sacramento State University;

Jen Sandoval, PhD, University of Central Florida

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