Diversifying the faculty initiative

scholar collaboration & prospective faculty day - February 20

In support of goal six:   Recruit and Retain Great Faculty and Staff from the ISU Strategic Plan, colleges
and departments are invited to participate in Scholar
Collaboration & Prospective Faculty Day. The purpose
of the day of engagement with approximately 20 prospective faculty from historically underrepresented groups is:

• To showcase Indiana State University and the opportunities for employment here;
• To make ISU's commitment to diversity more transparent via a coordinated experience that
  supports college and department efforts at
  diversifying their faculty;
• To facilitate collaborative relationships on
  scholarship; and
• To evidence support for a candidates’ careers regardless if ISU becomes their academic home.

The tentative outline for the day is as follows:

1. Welcome


2. Session on Tenure and Promotion


3. Scholarship Colloquy with participants and ISU faculty.  Participants will discuss a piece of research/planned research, as will members of the ISU faculty, in small groups.  Presentations are informal.  Opportunities for collaboration and grant support will be discussed. 


4. Research Poster Session Social with posters by ISU faculty


5. Lunch and tour of campus with students/faculty/staff


6. Experiential Learning and Community Engagement Colloquy. Prospective faculty and ISU faculty engage in discussions on selected experiential learning and community engagement themes.


7. Session on Terre Haute


8. Reception & dinner hosted by President Bradley and Cheri Bradley


9. Evening event TBA

Department to hold interviews on February 21.

How it works:   Department chairs, with the support of their Dean, may advance a request to invite a particular applicant. Their names as they match what is entered into the applicant tracking system should be sent to Pamela Allison in Academic Affairs (x2307; Pamela.Allison@indstate.edu) along with the particular search. These persons should submit a vita and letter of interest for participation consideration through the designated Opportunity Hire portal in the applicant tracking system (ATS). Unsolicited applications to participate that are received through the ATS will be advanced to the appropriate department(s) and Dean for consideration of an invitation to participate.

Why we are doing it:   Expanding faculty diversity is an identified need of the institution. This process overcomes the shortcomings of independent searches by sending a particularly powerful message about the value of diversity at ISU since numerous diverse candidates are all brought here at once and by extension the potential exists to form a true cohort. Furthermore, it gives us an opportunity to structure an especially powerful experience for them while here and to build collaborations that transcend whether or not ISU ultimately becomes their academic home.

All travel and accommodation costs will be covered centrally.  Participants will also receive a $300 honorarium in recognition of their invited scholarly presentation.