Welcome to the Office of Faculty Affairs

As faculty, you are an important resource of the College of Medicine. The quality and success of our institution depend on the intellectual environment created by an outstanding faculty and your continuing commitment to our education, research, patient care and community improvement missions.

The Office of Faculty Affairs works collaboratively with the  Schmidt College of Medicine leadership, department chairs and University leadership to promote faculty and organizational success consistent with the College’s  Strategic Plan  and evolving LCME standards. Faculty Affairs has a broad range of responsibilities that offer resources and support for our faculty.

We have put together resources relevant to faculty development, faculty vitality and success among other topics. The  Faculty Handbook  available on the College of Medicine Intranet contains all relevant information and policies for faculty. If there are additional topics you would find helpful, or you would like additional information about any of these resources, please contact our office.

Thank you for all that you do on behalf of the students, residents and patients to improve the health of our community. We are here to serve and look forward to continued collaboration and success!

Mahyar A. Nouri-Shirazi, Ph.D.
Interim Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs
Professor of Immunology
mnourish@health.fau.edu

Michael Turtz, M.P.A.
Director of Administration
mturtz@fau.edu

Faculty Affairs Responsibilities

• Assist departments to recruit, develop, promote, and retain outstanding, innovative faculty members
• Develop, operationalize and coordinate various faculty affairs initiatives, projects and processes critical to the success of faculty including promotion and tenure, annual evaluations, annual assignments, sustained performance evaluations, third year reviews, and mentoring
• Provide guidance on the operational aspects of faculty recruitment, compensated academic appointments processing and compensated appointment renewals
• Assist faculty, department chairs and administrators in the interpretation of and compliance with faculty affairs regulations, policies and practices of the University and College
• Oversee the development of the College faculty and affiliate faculty, particularly in ways that enhance career development, scholarship, leadership, and academic advancement (promotion and tenure), as related to faculty members' roles and responsibilities and their professional goals in teaching and education
• Work closely with the Dean, Provost’s Office and College leadership in faculty affairs policy and document development and modification consistent with Provost and University regulations and in alignment with the requirements of national accrediting entities
• Promote, model and promulgate a culture of respect and collegiality among the College faculty, including transparent leadership decision-making, professionalism and adherence to the College’s principles, values and policies

Academic Enrichment Fund

Financial support is available to provide faculty with resources and experiences that enhance opportunities for scholarship and career growth leading to promotion.

Guidelines

Eligibility

Faculty members with 0.5 FTE or greater and primary appointments in the Clinical Science Department may apply for Academic Enrichment Fund. Applicants who have received awards two years in a row totaling $6,000 are ineligible to receive funding until one year has elapsed since the last award.

Project Categories

The Academic Enrichment Fund provides financial support for individual or multiple faculty members for academic work, with strong preference to work related to projects in the two project categories listed below.  The expenses covered may include research supplies, purchase of equipment, software, stipends for students or research assistants, travel expenses, conference or course fees, production costs, and other such expenses if required for implementation of the proposal.  Priority will be given to projects that are completed during the academic year in which funding was awarded and that have the potential to further the applicant’s career development and/or lead to further external funding.

1. Teaching Activities
   This category covers projects directed to enriching a faculty member's teaching. It covers funding for educational projects that are not already supported by time included in the applicant’s AoR or other College resources. Projects should lead to the publication or presentation of scholarly peer-reviewed materials and/or the acquisition of program development funding. Examples of funding possibilities under this category include but are not limited to:  1) development of teaching methods; 2) inclusion of teaching materials in a peer-reviewed venue; 3) presentation of teaching materials at conferences and workshops; 4) travel expenses for consultation and study with leaders of pedagogical and disciplinary trends at other institutions; and 5) production of texts or educational software.
2. Research Activities
   This category covers projects directed to enriching a faculty member's research program leading to the publication or presentation of scholarly peer-reviewed articles and/or the acquisition of external funding. Research may be basic, translational, clinical/health services, quality improvement, or educational.  Examples of possible projects in this category include but are not limited to:  1) development of research projects through collection of pilot data; 2) "bridge funding" for funded projects that are expiring that have promising results; 3) publication of research findings in a peer-reviewed venue; ) presentation of research findings at scientific meetings, conferences, and other institutions; 5) consultation with outside experts; and 6) travel to research centers for consultation with other professionals and/or training in research methods if required for implementation of the proposal.

Funding

The amount of funding during the initial year will not exceed  $3,000 per proposal  in order to offer Academic Enrichment Fund support to at least six faculty members.

Deadlines

Applications for funding are accepted twice a year, with the  Spring Cycle  requiring submissions by December 10 of the preceding year and the  Fall Cycle  by July 10 of the same year.

Whenever a deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, it will be extended to the next successive working day at 5:00 p.m. All proposals should be submitted electronically to the Office of Faculty Affairs through the  Academic Enrichment Funds Application Form.

Funds will be distributed after each cycle, based on the review and ranking of proposals by the Academic Enrichment Fund Committee, until all available funds are allocated. Committee members who are applicants will not participate in ranking their own applications. The Committee will formally meet twice a year to review proposals and recommend funding.

Applicants will be notified of funding decisions within  five weeks  of the application deadline.

Proposal Format

Material in applications is restricted to the  application form  and a  proposed budget justification. Failure to provide any of the required information will render the application incomplete, and it will be returned to the applicant for completion prior to review.

The narrative and budget must be limited to  three single-spaced or double-spaced pages  and address the importance, need, and feasibility of the project. The budget section must include a reasonably detailed explanation of how the requested funds will be spent.

1. A brief description of previous teaching experiences and/or research relevant to the project
2. Describe in what significant ways will the proposed activity enhance your academic development
3. Describe the specific outcomes including when and where will your scholarly work be presented or published

Evaluation Criteria

In recommending proposals for funding, the Academic Enrichment Fund Committee will utilize the following general criteria:

1. Quality and scope of the proposed project 
2. Potential to further the applicant’s career development 
3. Potential to lead to further external funding
4. Relevance of the proposed project to College/Department missions 
5. Strength and clarity of goals, activities and outcomes of the proposal
6. Intellectual and professional impact of the proposed project
7. Likelihood that proposal achieves its stated aims
8. Academic enrichment for students
9. Justification of the proposed budget
10. Project previously not funded at FAU

Proposals from junior and senior faculty are equally welcome, and will receive full consideration. Special consideration may also be given to first-time applicants who have not received Academic Enrichment Fund in the previous year.

Reporting Requirements

Successful applicants must provide the Academic Enrichment Fund Committee with a brief final report within eight weeks of completion of the project. Those who do not file a final report are ineligible to receive future Academic Enrichment Fund support and may be required to return some of the dispersed funds received.