Dear Faculty Relations
A collection of articles and advice on communication, managing relationships, other topics of interest to faculty members and academic leaders.
Dear Faculty Relations is a regular feature in the two newsletters听published by The Office of Faculty Affairs. The听Faculty Development & Support (FDS) is directed to tenured faculty, faculty on the tenure track, and faculty on the instructor/ clinical track.听The Academic Leaders Institute (ALI) newsletter is directed to academic leaders, such as deans, associate deans, chairs, and associates.听
Do you have a question for Dear Faculty Relations? Ask us using the form below听and we will try to get it answered in future newsletters!
Summer Writing Roadblocks - July 2024 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听We鈥檙e several weeks into the summer break and let鈥檚 just say I haven鈥檛 hit my writing goals. I need your sympathy, but more importantly, I need tools. What does my brain need to stay on track?听 鈥� Thoroughly Blocked听
Supporting International Colleagues听- June 2024 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听I鈥檝e heard from my international colleagues that they often feel isolated and invisible as they navigate the US higher education system, learn unspoken departmental norms and expectations, and develop new professional听and personal relationships while living far away from friends and family. What can I do to make my department a more inclusive space for international faculty? 鈥撎齀nclusive Colleague听听
Best Practices for Campus Leaders - May 2024 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听It鈥檚 two years into my leadership role, and I鈥檓 short on time and long on conflict. Do you have any top-shelf advice to share?听鈥� In Need of a Boost听听听听
Burned Out - May 2024 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听May is here and I feel like a candle burned to the end. But I committed to writing two book chapters this summer. Help! 鈥撎鼴urned Out听
Insights from Leadership - April听2024 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听I serve in a leadership role in my unit and I鈥檓 curious to explore more senior roles. Do current campus leaders have any insights to share from their own paths?听听鈥撎鼵urious to Serve听
Destination: Tenure - April 2024 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听I recently commenced my journey down the tenure track and aspire towards a successful tenure review.听 How do I chart my course? 鈥� Navigating Towards Tenure听
Granting Credit Toward Tenure - March 2024 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听My department is about to hire an excellent new tenure-track assistant professor from another university where she has already served as a faculty member for 3 years. She is asking whether her work at her current institution can count toward tenure here. How should I advise her?听鈥撎�Chair Wanting to Give Good Advice听
Religious Accommodations - March 2024 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听I鈥檝e heard that our obligation to provide accommodations to students for religious observances has changed recently. Can you give me an update so I can do what is needed?听鈥�听I Want to Get It听Right
Prioritizing Faculty Wellness听- February 2024 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听With so much emphasis on student wellness, how can I also support faculty in utilizing what鈥檚 available to prioritize their personal health and wellness? 鈥�听Trying to Lead by Example听
Impostors Unmasked听- February 2024 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听Do I have impostor syndrome, or am I just lacking confidence? I feel like I don't belong. 鈥撎齋tressed Out鈥�
Valuing Teaching and Clinical Faculty - January 2024 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听I鈥檝e heard some of our teaching and clinical faculty feel like department outsiders. Do you have any tips on how to integrate teaching and clinical faculty in departments better and help them feel valued?听鈥� Wanting Everyone Included听
Disappointing FCQs - January 2024 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听鈥淗elp! I got my FCQs back, and they are awful. What do I do?!鈥澨�撎齍nlucky and NOT in Love (with my FCQs)听
Faculty Mentoring - December 2023 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听When I joined the faculty at 澳门开奖结果2023开奖记录, I was assigned a mentor by my department, but although they were well-intentioned, they didn鈥檛 know how to provide the kind of support I needed as an early-career professor. Now that I have been here for several years, I want to be a mentor to others, but I鈥檓 not sure how best to support them. What advice do you have to be a great faculty mentor?听鈥� Want to Pay It Forward听听
Responding to Difficult Feedback - November 2023 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:鈥疘 have struggled to effectively respond to feedback and criticism when I鈥檝e impacted someone with my words or actions. I want to be open to the possibility that I have caused harm, especially because that is never my intent. How can I handle these situations without getting defensive? 鈥撎齌rying to Remain Open鈥�
Animals in the Classroom听- November 2023 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听A surprising number of dogs are in my classroom this semester. I鈥檓 unsure if I can ask students about them or how to manage these additional 鈥渟tudents.鈥� What can I do? 鈥撎齆ot a Dog-Sitter听
Strategies for Inclusive Faculty Hiring听- October 2023 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听Do you have any practical strategies to move our faculty hiring practices forward and not simply engage in a performative check-off practice? 鈥� Seeking Meaningful Inclusive Hiring听
Building Community on Campus - October 2023 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations听鈥撎鼿ow can I meet other faculty across campus? I feel alone sometimes and would like to engage with other faculty outside my unit, but I'm not sure how. Can you help?听鈥� Alone in Atlas听
Job Expectations and Vague Contracts - September 2023 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听I have received complaints from postdoctoral fellows who have issues with their faculty/PIs about how their jobs have changed since they were first hired; for example, being moved to an entirely new project and research area, working extended hours, not receiving adequate communication or guidance. They are confused about original contractual arrangements that appear vague. What is the best way to approach this issue when it festers negativity between mentors and their postdocs? 鈥撎鼵hair听Wondering about Vague Contracts
Welcoming New Colleagues听- September 2023 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听When I was hired several years ago, I sat in my new office alone. The first week I thought everyone was too busy to say hello, but as the semester went on, not one person ever stopped by to welcome me. This year there is a new faculty member in our department, and I want to be sure that the same thing doesn鈥檛 happen. What can I do to welcome my new colleague warmly? 鈥撎鼵ollegial Colleague
Is AI the End of Academic Writing?听-听August听2023 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听My students are required to complete academic writing assignments as part of their course assignments. Students ask if they can use AI to complete them. Is this an appropriate path? 鈥撎齀 have AI anxiety
Abrasive Behavior听- July 2023 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听One of our colleagues has a knack for rubbing people the wrong way. Their words and actions are harsh, aggressive, and confrontational. They make me and others feel uncomfortable, intimidated, and even fearful for psychological safety. How might I address this to create a better departmental culture? 鈥�听听Abused in Boulder
Navigating Gossip听- July 2023 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听Everyone here is a gossip. It鈥檚 causing me to avoid the office. Is there anything I can do? 鈥�听Distrustful听
Making the Most of My Summer听- May 2023 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听You may recall听my note from last year. I reached out in a bit of a panic in July because I felt, once again, like I was coming up short in terms of summer productivity. I鈥檓 being proactive this time 鈥� reaching out as the semester ends. I鈥檓 still worried, though, that I鈥檒l feel bad about my productivity come August. I would love advice on how to set myself up for a successful summer. 鈥撎齅aking the Most of My Summe鈥媟
Retaining BIPOC Faculty听- April 2023 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听Over the last decade, we have lost several BIPOC colleagues in our unit. Sometimes, we didn鈥檛 even get a chance to counteroffer. In my leadership position, I want to ensure we do everything possible to retain our colleagues and be aware of issues that may drive our BIPOC colleagues to seek positions elsewhere. What can I do? 鈥�听Seeking Greater Awareness
How Do I Engage with a Hostile Colleague?听- April 2023 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听I have a colleague who has been increasingly hostile to me. They have sent upsetting emails and have engaged in some aggressive personal interactions. I鈥檝e tried to defuse the situation, but nothing is changing. I have to continue working with this individual, but the situation is getting increasingly worse. What can I do? 鈥�听Feeling Overwhelmed听
Is an Online Presence Necessary?听- March 2023 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听I am a faculty member engaged in research, teaching, and service activities. Most days, it is a struggle to stay afloat. Recently, a colleague mentioned that I need to have a social media presence and brand myself and my research online. Why should I care about having a social media account? 鈥� Your Anti-Social Media Professor听
Tips for Prioritizing听- February 2023 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听How do I know what I should prioritize? Now that the semester has begun, I am feeling overwhelmed and rushed but not accomplishing much.鈥疘 have no idea where to begin. 鈥� Time is Getting Away
Coaching Your Staff听- January 2023 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations: What is meant by holding a coaching discussion with staff? How can I be an effective supervisor?听鈥� Effective Supervisor
Better Mentoring of Your Grad Students听- January 2023 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations: I am overwhelmed by one of the many new (to me) aspects of this job. I鈥檓 in my second year in my tenure-track position and am now primary advisory to two doctoral students, one in their first year and one in their third. I feel like I was JUST in their shoes (and, really, I was, having gone straight from completing my Ph.D. to my current position). I understand that this is not unusual, but I鈥檓 feeling pretty lost and want to do a good job. Can you share some tips? 鈥� Advisee to Advisor Flip听
Advice From Your Dean听- November 2022听ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听What do you wish you had known earlier in your career about being a leader? I'd appreciate hearing from our deans.听鈥� Looking for Advice
Personal Pronouns Matter听- November 2022听FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听There seems to be a rapid change in the number of students using different pronouns, such as they, them, theirs, or xe, xem, xeirs. These pronouns sound out of place, and I wonder about their grammatical correctness. How should I address students in my classes who have made requests to use such pronouns? 鈥� What is Up听With Pronouns?听
Stay Interviews听- October 2022听ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听With all the talk around the great resignation and re-evaluation, I'm worried听about those around me either leaving or being disengaged in their work.
How do we keep our people?听鈥撎鼺earful of the Great Resignation
Imposter Syndrome听- October 2022 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听Sometimes I feel like I don鈥檛 know what I am doing, and it is only a matter of time until I am "found out". What can I do? 鈥� Feel like a Fake
Worried Incoming Chair听- September 2022 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听I was elected as the department chair last spring and began on July 1. While I am very excited to lead the department and positively impact our faculty, students, and staff, I have some concerns keeping me up at night. I am worried about the role of our outgoing chair, a full professor with a strong personality and connections both within and outside the university. I am also an associate professor in our department with aspirations to go up for promotion to full. Do you have any advice for me? 鈥� Worried Incoming Chair听
I Just Got Here, Now What?听- September 2022 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听I was beyond excited when I received a job offer for a tenure-track faculty position here at CU last winter.听It was my top choice, the culmination of years of work, the entry point to my dream career, and the perfect motivator for completing my dissertation on time! Well, I've moved my family across the country; I'm trying to manage all the logistics of the move, settling in, and starting 1) a new job and 2) my first (and hopefully for the foreseeable future) tenure-track position. I'm so overwhelmed; honestly, I'm not even sure what my questions are!听- I'm Here, Now What
Welcome New Faculty Aboard!听- August 2022 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听We spent months recruiting and hiring a new faculty member. Now that they have arrived, I鈥檓 not sure what is important to do next to make sure we can retain them. 鈥� The Chair Who Values New Hires
Creating a Sense of Belonging听- August 2022 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听As the semester begins, how should I approach creating a great classroom experience for my class and fostering a sense of belonging? I hear that a sense of belonging is positively associated with academic success and motivation. - Caring Faculty
Performance Planning听- July 2022 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听I just completed my employee's year-end review. Is it already the start of the new performance cycle? What should I do? How do I plan? - Planner
Save My Summer听- July 2022 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听HELP! I鈥檓 in my third year in a tenure-track position and am freaking out. For the past two summers, I鈥檝e had big plans for writing. I鈥檝e fallen short each summer, and when I heard those July 4th fireworks, I thought, 鈥淗ere we go again.鈥� At the same time, I鈥檓 still exhausted from the past academic year. How can I manage the competing goals of finding time to recover (I have young children, so 鈥渕e time鈥� is limited) while keeping up with my writing to be 鈥渙n track鈥� for reappointment? - Save My Summer
Staff Evaluations: Year-end Evaluation听- June 2022 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听I know performance reviews have to be done next month for my university staff and research faculty. What does a successful year-end review look like?听 - Anxious Supervisor听
Supporting Your Resiliency听- June 2022 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听听I think I may be burning out.听 I have noticed that my physical energy levels are not quite the same as they used to be.听 It is a struggle to stay asleep at night, which makes waking up a challenge, and I feel my energy levels remain sluggish throughout the day.听 On top of that, I find myself with a shorter fuse than usual and making silly mistakes in my writing, teaching, and other work.听 I think stress might be the culprit, but the demands of life make it challenging to work on self-care, which only exacerbates my stress levels.听 I feel like I am caught in a loop.听 What do you suggest? 鈥� Burnt out听
Conflicts of Interest and the Breakdown of Trust听- May 2022 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations: I currently chair a department with an outstanding reputation. We built our program by attracting faculty from the strongest departments in our field, including the department where I received my Ph.D. degree. This esteemed department has hired some of our PhDs, including one of my students.听
Our department is currently engaged in a contentious search for a new colleague. Although we have an excellent applicant from this esteemed department, some of my colleagues are concerned that I, as Chair, may have a conflict of interest. As it turns out, the applicant's advisor is a former student of mine, perhaps the most brilliant student I have ever had the pleasure to teach. I trust my former student who says we should hire this applicant!听What should I do? 鈥� Chair Who Knows Brilliance
Amorous Relationships听- May 2022 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations: There has been headline news about the reckoning over office romances. Is it okay to date someone in my unit? - Interested in a relationship
Why Comply?听- April 2022 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations: Why does it matter that the faculty in my unit complete the DEPA form? What can I say to sway them of its importance? - Compliance Weary
Work-Life Balance听- April 2022 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations: I often find myself spending more hours on my work and research than what is even expected of me from my department. This has created some problems at home鈥擨 feel distracted or less available to my family and friends. Is there something that can be done? 鈥� Stretched Too Thin
What to do when a student is displaying concerning behavior or is in crisis听- March 2022 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听I am worried about a couple of my students. I got an email from a student鈥檚 parent saying their child is in the hospital. When another student was in my office a few weeks ago, they reported feeling anxious and, at times, depressed. I haven鈥檛 seen them in my class since then. I鈥檓 unsure if they have support resources in place. Should I refer them to you? 鈥� Concerned about Student
Stuck in Associate Land听- February 2022听FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations: I am an associate professor, and I have been at this rank for over a decade now. In my case, I have been asked repeatedly to serve in administrative roles, such as the department鈥檚 associate chair and later as the department chair. I haven鈥檛 had enough time to pursue my research. I suspect other faculty members, particularly BIPOC and women faculty members, are in a similar boat with increased service loads or other responsibilities and circumstances, which prevent them from meeting the standards for promotion to full. Are we all destined to be career associate professors? 鈥� Stuck in Associate Land
Advice from a Veteran Chair听- February 2022 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations: I鈥檓 both excited and nervous about my new position as the Department Chair. What can I do to help myself and my department thrive? 鈥� New Academic Leader
Creating Collaborative Classroom Norms听- January 2022 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations: I鈥檝e had students make ignorant comments during class. How do I deal with microaggressions and other problems I see happening in my classroom and manage discussions about sensitive or difficult topics? 鈥� Teachable Moments
When Faculty or Staff Display Concerning Behavior听- January 2022 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听I have noticed a change in behavior from one of the faculty in my department. Lately, they just don鈥檛 seem like themselves and most recently, they had an outburst in our department-wide meeting and started yelling at their colleagues unprovoked. What resources are available to me to address this situation? 鈥� Concerned About Behavior听
What's the Law Got to Do With It?听- December 2021听ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听I know the PRR is an Academic Affairs Policy; does it have legal implications too? 鈥� Worried about the Law
Protecting Your Job: The Family Medical Leave Act 鈥� What鈥檚 in it for me?听- December 2021 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations: I need to take some time off to deal with my health issues. Why do I need leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) if I am a tenured/tenure-track faculty member? How is it in my best interest to file for leave under the FMLA when I have accrued sick leave? What happens if I need to be out past the 12-week FMLA entitlement? 鈥� Needing time off
Overwhelmed with Service Responsibilities听- November 2021 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听I am a junior faculty member on the tenure track. I will be coming up for tenure in three years. My department is attentive to spreading service assignments equitably among all faculty members; however, this year's service assignments are especially time-intensive. I have also agreed to serve on college-level committees and on committees for professional associations, which also require significant investments of my time. While I am committed to the goals of these service assignments and want to continue to do well as a teacher, I am concerned that this heavy service load, in conjunction with my teaching, will take time away from my research activities as I move closer to tenure. What should I do? 鈥� Service Scholar
Seen but not Heard听- October 2021 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听I find my department鈥檚 faculty meetings irksome.听The chair never calls on those of us who are pre-tenured, and as a result, only the senior members of the department shape important policy decisions.听My other junior colleagues say, 鈥淲hy talk?听Someone will hold it against you when you come up for tenure.鈥� Are they right?听I am frustrated at being seen but not heard.听鈥� Seen but not Heard
Complicity and the Chair: Maintaining a Positive Environment听- August 2021 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听Several faculty members came to my office wringing their hands about the behavior of a colleague who frequently interrupts others, raises their voice, and bangs on the table during meetings. The faculty member is also known to be spiteful, having tanked a person鈥檚 tenure years ago; others are afraid to speak up. They aren鈥檛 alone, I鈥檝e witnessed this and have felt the same way, and I don鈥檛 want to deal with it. For our new faculty coming to their first meetings, this behavior feels particularly threatening and intimidating. I know this colleague well and understand the newish faculty fright, but I am used to it and would rather not engage. I checked the personnel files, and there are no notes that any supervisor has ever reported or dealt with this behavior before, even though it has gone on for a long time. I want to let it go. 鈥� Uncomfortable Chair
The Rules Do Not Apply听- August 2021 FDS Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听An untenured faculty member came up to me (I am a tenured, full professor in the department) with concerns about the shifting nature of the department culture, the unwritten rules for how decisions are to be made. They told me they had been quietly waiting for three years to access a parking spot near the building they work in and believed they were next in line for one. Instead, the nearby parking spot was assigned to a newly hired faculty member. They then asked me to advocate for them. How do I support my untenured colleague? And how do we navigate these unwritten rules? 鈥� Supportive Full Professor
"The PRD is history. The PRR is where it鈥檚 at.鈥�听- June 2021 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations: What is the difference between the PRD versus the PRR? 鈥� Lost in the Alphabet Soup
TA/GPTI Professionalism is Faculty Professionalism听- April听2021 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations: A faculty member reported a student in violation of the听Honor Code听and shared emails and a zoom recording as part of the supporting documents. I was dismayed to learn the TA screamed at the student and described the student as a sociopath to another colleague. Does the PRD apply to graduate students too? 鈥� TA Supervisor
"Primum non tacere. First, do not be silent."听- March 2021 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations: The same people bully and dominate our meetings. Everyone knows they are problematic, yet at meetings, everyone is silent. How do we speak up? - Silent
Sanction is a Contronym听- February 2021 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations: I was told that a faculty member acted unprofessionally. I鈥檓 the Supervising Administrator. I checked out the allegation and found it was true. What next? How do I sanction? - Sanctioner
Accountability听- January 2021 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations: Our department has a tenured full professor who doesn鈥檛 show up to meetings, which results in other faculty having to take up the slack. I don鈥檛 know what to do when this person doesn鈥檛 do their job. Can I hold them accountable? - Accountable
Overcoming Conflict Avoidance听- December 2020 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations: Dealing with faculty members who are not respectful or collegial, whether in meetings or over email, overwhelms me. I know it鈥檚 my job, but I鈥檓 not very good at handling confrontational interactions. How can I address this? - Conflict Avoidant
No Response to Emails听- November 2020 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations: What can I do about a faculty member who doesn鈥檛 respond to emails or submit required activity reports, like FRPA or DEPA? I email reminders; they say they鈥檒l get around to it but don鈥檛. Sometimes they also ignore my emails. I have more urgent matters to attend to, and besides I resent having to baby-sit adults, so I let it go. Should I? - Fed Up
The Bully听- October 2020 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty Relations:听An untenured faculty member came to me with concerns that a senior faculty advisor bullies them. How do I resolve this? - Stuck in the Middle听
No Mask and Too Close for Comfort听- September 2020 ALI Newsletter
Dear Faculty听Relations:听I听received a report of a professor wearing only a face shield with no face mask and had his face shield lifted above his mouth during class. Also, he walked within three feet of several students while teaching. What can I do? - Too Close for Comfort听听
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Insights from John P. Frazee, Former听Director of Faculty Relations, 澳门开奖结果2023开奖记录
Why We Can't Just Get Along听 In this essay, John Frazee explains why academics sometimes struggle to maintain good working relationships.
Don't Hit Send Until You Read This听 John Frazee takes on one of the biggest sources of conflict: email.
New Kid on the Block听 Being the new kid on the block -- a junior faculty member newly arrived on campus -- presents multiple challenges you鈥檒l need to manage to lay the foundation for a successful career. John Frazee offers some advice.
The Old New Kid on the Block听 Joining a new institution as a senior faculty member or administrator presents many challenges. John Frazee offers some advice for managing them.
A Different Kind of Career Capstone听 Forging a different path in academia, John Frazee discusses the importance of conflict management and resolution as an academic leader.听
"Bullying": How Helpful Is the Term?听听John Frazee speaks to the importance of using听appropriate听terms to describe inappropriate behavior, in an effort听to avoid听diverting attention from real issues in the workplace.听
"Wicked" Colleagues听听John Frazee discusses parallels between the Broadway hit 鈥淲icked鈥� and听what听value听can be found听in hearing all sides of a story.听
Advice from a Veteran Chair听 A chair with years of experience听offers candid reflections and advice听on the role.听
Listening is a Difficult (and Essential) Leadership Skill听 A neuroscientist explains the difference between hearing and listening.听
Miscommunication听听John Frazee shares thoughts on miscommunication, misunderstanding, and curiosity.听
What's an Apology?听听John Frazee offers definitions and examples of what is (and is not) an apology.听