The Office of Academic Leadership and Faculty Affairs is seeking a faculty associate who demonstrates a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, beginning January through May 2020, with the possibility of renewal for subsequent semesters. This position will be compensated with funding up to $5,000, which can be used for re-assigned time, professional development funds, or a stipend. Faculty of any rank are eligible to apply; applications are due by Nov. 30.
Details on how to apply can be found below.
The faculty associate will work to improve diversity and inclusion efforts on campus. The faculty associate will take the lead on analyzing gaps, adopting known effective practices to address those gaps, implementing changes on campus and measuring the impact of those changes. In addition, the faculty associate will focus on developing retention initiatives that support minoritized faculty and contribute to a more inclusive culture on campus.
Boise State University is part of a five-year statewide National Science Foundation EPSCoR grant called Genes to Environment: Modeling, Mechanisms and Mapping (GEM3). One goal of the GEM3 project is to strengthen and diversify Idaho’s STEM workforce, so grant funds have been set aside to develop a System to Attract and Retain Talent (START). The goal is to attract, retain and develop a diverse academic research community of faculty in GEM3-related areas.
The purpose of the faculty associate position is to enable faculty members to focus their experience, expertise, and talents on the university’s diversity and inclusion efforts while providing leadership and support to their colleagues. This position provides an excellent professional development opportunity for those interested in pursuing either informal or formal leadership roles as part of their career direction. It also offers an opportunity to conduct (funded) research on the START program and its impact.
Because this is a statewide effort, START coordinators have been identified at the University of Idaho, Idaho State University and Boise State to work collaboratively. At Boise State, the Office of Academic Leadership and Faculty Affairs has been designated as Boise State’s coordinating office.
In 2018-2019 (Year 1), Boise State’s START coordinator focused on mapping existing faculty recruitment and retention practices, researching inclusive hiring and retention practices, integrating inclusive leadership practices into leadership development programs, and using START grant funds for faculty development around inclusive excellence (e.g., partial funding for the NCFDD institutional membership).
During spring 2020 (Year 2), the START coordinator will use grant funds to support a faculty associate program where faculty with expertise and experience in diversity and inclusion efforts lead the project.
Experience and Expertise
- Expertise and experience in diversity and inclusion work
- Experience leading faculty groups and/or initiatives
- Interest in analyzing gaps in our current practices, implementing changes, and measuring the impact
- Background in faculty development preferred
Roles and Responsibilities
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- Meet regularly with the university’s START coordinator
- Meet and coordinate with others working on diversity, inclusion and equity initiatives on campus (in all units).
- Focus on developing recruitment and retention initiatives that support minoritized faculty and contribute to a more inclusive culture on campus.
- Complete a written summary of goals achieved and recommended next steps for the START grant.
- Utilize campus experiences to further research and scholarship interests.
Application Details
1. Submit an application to the START coordinator, Michelle Payne, at mpayne@boisestate.edu by Nov. 30.
2. Faculty associate appointment will be finalized by Dec. 15, 2019, for start in January 2020.
3. Applicants must receive approval from their respective department chair and dean prior to being appointed (faculty are encouraged to discuss with appropriate individuals in their unit and college prior to application).
4. Applications will be reviewed by a panel including the START coordinator, the executive director of STEM and Diversity Initiatives, the associate director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, and the program coordinator for Academic Leadership and Faculty Affairs.
5. If needed, the START coordinator will provide the faculty associate a letter to document his/her work (as support for the tenure and promotion process and/or annual performance evaluations). The faculty associate will also document his/her activities and outcomes in Faculty 180, as appropriate.
Application Format
1. List your name, rank and department.
2. Statement of qualifications and interest (no more than two pages).
a. Describe your interest in the position.
b. Describe your relevant experience and expertise with diversity and inclusion, as well as with faculty development, faculty recruitment, hiring and/or retention. Please address your background as it relates to the responsibilities in this position.
c. If applicable, describe any relationship between this work and your current or future research agenda. The program offers an opportunity to study the potential institutional changes of the START Program at Boise State.
Evaluation Criteria
- Demonstrated commitment to inclusive excellence at Boise State.
- Knowledge and expertise in diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Ability to work collaboratively.
- Strengths in execution, researching, developing programs.
- Interest in analyzing gaps, implementing changes and measuring impact.
- Overall record and potential for leadership in faculty excellence initiatives.
- Vision for inclusive excellence for Boise State and how serving in a faculty associate role will contribute towards Boise State achieving this vision.