University Creates New Position
University seeks associate provost for faculty development
In response to a recommendation from the Boston University Council on Faculty Diversity and Inclusion (CFDI), University Provost David Campbell is asking faculty to nominate candidates for associate provost for faculty development (APFD). The person selected for the job will work closely with the provost and the president to support all aspects of faculty development, including recruitment, mentoring, advancement, retention, and diversity. He or she will work to foster a climate supportive of an excellent and diverse faculty, to increase the representation of women and underrepresented racial/ethnic groups on the faculty, and to ensure equitable treatment of all faculty members. Among other duties, the APFD will:
• Provide intellectual leadership within the University on issues related to faculty development, diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Pending approvals, serve as an ex officio voting member of the University Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure Committee, as appointed by the University provost and the chair of the Faculty Council
• Serve as a key advisor to the provost and the president on faculty and academic administrative appointments and faculty salary equity
• Work directly with deans on mentoring and other faculty development programs and serve as a liaison with other individuals and offices involved with faculty development and diversity efforts
• Work with Institutional Research to develop reports and maintain databases on the University’s progress in respect to faculty development and diversity
• Design and implement leadership training and educational programs for chairs of departments and search committees to promote all aspects of faculty development
Campbell notes that the successful candidate will be a senior member of the current Boston University faculty who has a proven record of fairness and excellence. He or she should have excellent communication skills, including the ability to articulate a shared vision for Boston University, build consensus around faculty development programs, and accomplish results across a spectrum of institutional subcultures, academic and professional. A more comprehensive description of the position can be found here.
Campbell encourages all faculty members to “consider the opportunity and to nominate yourself or any colleague you feel would excel in this position.” Nominations should be sent by e-mail to apfd@bu.edu, or in hard copy to the Provost’s Office, marked "in confidence: APFD nomination."
The APFD position is one of several recommendations made after more than two years of study by the University’s Council on Faculty Diversity and Inclusion, created by President Robert A. Brown in fall 2006.
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