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New Faculty Workshop

Building an Academic Career:

Finding and Succeeding in a Liberal Arts College Position

Hope College, Holland, Michigan

July 9-11, 2004

Registration Closed

Pictures and comments from last year's picnic

Coordinators: Janet Andersen, Pew Program Director, Hope College, 616-395-7909; Marlene Field, Program Assistant, Hope College, 616-395-7530, pewscimath@hope.edu or fieldm@hope.edu.

Abstract: This workshop is designed to help new faculty make the transition to teaching at a liberal arts institution. Faculty often feel under-prepared and overwhelmed as they began their academic career. Graduate schools and post-doctoral fellowships typically give excellent training in research, but little if any guidance on the other aspects of an academic career. The workshop will focus on the questions of balance including balancing work with one’s personal life, balancing teaching with research, and balancing the needs of the students with the needs of the department. The workshop will also address the issues associated with starting a career such as how to establish a research program and how to prepare to teach a new course. Another important tool that we hope to provide is assistance in establishing relationships with peers and mentors. Expenses (including travel, registration, lodging, and meals) are provided by the Pew Consortium for faculty at Pew Consortium institutions.

General Description and Need for Workshop

The format of the workshop will combine seminars, case studies, break-out sessions on specific issues, meetings with a mentor in the same academic discipline, and informal discussions with peers and more experienced colleagues. After the meeting, participants will be placed on a list-serve to facilitate long-term mentoring and peer support networks.

New faculty will attend seminars on "The Transition to a Full-Time Job in Academics." Soon-to-be faculty will attend seminars on " Getting a job at a Liberal Arts Institution." Sessions for all faculty include "Teaching a Course for the First Time," "Establishing a Research Program," and "Balance: How to Stay Sane and Productive". There will also be a session, using case studies, on how to address difficult situations often encountered when teaching at the college-level.

Expected Outcomes of the Workshop

We hope to give participants, both new faculty and post-doctoral fellows, the tools to be productive and established in their first tenure-track position. There will be formal and informal opportunities to establish regional and disciplinary peer and mentor contacts. A further benefit of the workshop will be to increase involvement of new faculty and university members in the Pew consortium.

Tentative Workshop Schedule

FRIDAY, July 9th

4:30 pm Registration at Cook Residence Hall

6:00 pm Dinner at the Haworth Center
Welcome by Dr. James Boelkins
Panel of Pre-Tenure Faculty.

SATURDAY, July 10

MORNING
9:00am Group discussion on "Transitioning to a Full-Time Job in Academics"
OR (60 minute session)
Getting a Job at a Liberal Arts Institution

10:00am Break

10:30am Remaining Active as a Researcher:
Establishing a Research Program that is Sustainable Throughout one's Career
Research with Undergraduates
90 minute session

12:00 - LUNCH - Cook Cafeteria

AFTERNOON
1:00pm Teaching a Course for the First Time: Where to Begin
60 minute session

2:00pm Break

2:30pm Case studies - small group discussion
120 minute session

4:30pm
Meeting with Mentors

6:30 pm Picnic at the Beach

SUNDAY, July 11

MORNING
9:00am "Balance: How to Stay Sane and Productive"
90 minute session

10:30am Best Resources: Websites, Books and Organizations
30 minute session

11:00am "Ways that Pew can help You Survive"
30 minute session

11:30 am LUNCH - Cook Cafeteria (Box Lunches will be available for those with early flights)