Faculty Leadership Fellows Program
PURPOSE
As part of its portfolio of professional development programming for faculty, the Office of the Vice President of
the Frost Campus offers the SLU Faculty Leadership Fellows Program, designed to provide qualified and motivated
faculty the opportunity to learn from, work with, and work as senior-level University academic leaders on a limited
appointment. The goals of the program are to:
 identify faculty interested in serving SLU – and higher education, broadly – as senior-level academic
administrators
 provide unique, Fellow-focused learning and work opportunities that advance Fellows toward their distinct
professional goals
 expose Fellows to the complexities of University operations, and to the rewards and challenges of seniorlevel institutional service
 establish strong relationships between Fellows and senior academic administrators, particularly those
directly mentoring the Fellows
 enhance the work of Campus Vice Presidents’ Offices via the expertise and experience of the Fellows
 continually prepare outstanding faculty leaders for increasingly-higher level leadership positions
throughout the University
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION & FELLOWSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES
Each academic year, the Frost Campus Vice President will solicit and select several highly-qualified applicants to
serve as Faculty Leadership Fellows. Fellowships vary in nature/scope of work and time commitment, depending
on: a) the professional development goals of the prospective Fellow; b) the flexibility of the Fellow’s home
academic unit; c) needs of the Vice President; and d) available funding.
Typically, Fellows will be given release time from their home units to serve on .25% - .50% FTE fellowship
appointments for one semester up to three full academic years in the Vice President’s office; for full-year
fellowships, each Fellowship year does include work during one summer. The three standard models for yearlong Fellowships (and application/nomination deadlines) are:
Model One: Fall Start
Model Two: Spring Start
Model Three: Summer Start
Summer
Fall
Spring
Spring
Summer
Fall
Summer
Fall
Spring
Application/Nomination
Deadline: February 1
Application/Nomination
Deadline: October 1
Application/Nomination
Deadline: November 1
The home academic unit(s) of each Fellow will be compensated accordingly by the Vice President to cover costs
associated with the loss of the faculty’s work (teaching, research and/or service) for the duration of the fellowship
period; depending on the Fellow’s regular contract, a summer stipend may also be awarded. The Vice President’s
compensation plan will be developed in consultation with the governing deans, directors and department chairs
to mitigate concerns about the impact of an awarded Fellowship on a unit’s financial and/or productivity status.
Faculty Fellows will be guided throughout their fellowships by the Vice President and one or more formallydesignated, senior-level mentors whose current work assignments and professional expertise are well-aligned
with the Fellow’s developmental goals. Fellows and mentors will meet regularly; many will be working closely
together throughout each week, and proximate office space will be provided. Fellows’ work assignments will be
designed to maximize opportunities to interact with senior leaders throughout the University, and will permit
access to and participation in decision-making processes as much as possible; learning to work within the bounds
of appropriate confidentiality is part of the Fellowship experience. Participation in Fellowship-related
regular/standing and ad hoc meetings is anticipated.
Work assignments will be significant and meaningful to University operations. Many will be project-based,
requiring Fellows to learn about and conduct a string of related initiatives to achieve successful completion.
Fellows will also participate regularly in senior-/leadership team meetings, and be asked to contribute as members
of those teams.
A brief list of possible areas of Fellowship work is offered below:
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


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
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Academic Planning / Strategic Planning
Academic Program Development and Assessment
Academic Support Program Leadership
Accreditation (University-Level/HLC)
Assessment of Student Learning
Charter School Sponsorship
Enrollment and Retention Management
Evaluation and improvement of University administrative processes
Faculty Development
Institutional Research (Qualitative & Quantitative Data Analysis and Modeling)
Summer Programs Development
And numerous other options…
Prior to submitting fellowship applications, prospective applicants will be encouraged to speak with the staff of
the Office of the Vice President. Their discussions will be centered on the staff sharing aspects of their work
pertinent to the Fellowship application to better inform and clarify applicants’ understanding and expectations of
the proposed Fellowship.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA & SELECTION PROCESS
To be eligible to be considered for the Faculty Fellows Program, prospective Faculty Leadership Fellows must:


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hold a full-time faculty appointment (either tenure-track or non-tenure-track)
complete a formal application (see attached Application below)
submit a letter of support from the Dean/Director of their respective College/School/Center (see
below)
Applications will be reviewed by a committee comprised of the Executive Staff of the Office of the Vice President,
Frost Campus and any current Faculty Fellows. The committee will make recommendations to the Vice President
regarding each nominee. After working with the nominees’ governing chairs and/or deans/directors to determine
the propriety and feasibility of each Fellowship proposal, the Vice President will make a final decision.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications for Faculty Leadership Fellowships require the submission of the following two documents together:
1.
A Faculty Fellows Application Form (see attached) completed by the prospective Fellow.
2.
A formal letter of support offered by the Dean/Director of the prospective Fellow’s respective
College/School/Center. This letter should:
a. be no more than two pages
b. evidence a clear understanding of and support for the prospective Fellow’s longer-term
professional development goals and specific Fellowship goals
c. present illustrative highlights of the prospective Fellow’s leadership qualities
d. evidence a commitment to work with the Frost VP on a compensation plan to adequately cover
duties vacated to accommodate the Fellowship appointment and responsibilities
Both the Dean’s/Director’s letter of support and prospective Fellow’s completed application must be received by
the Office of the Vice President together, and no later than the deadlines noted in the table above.
Upon review of applications and final decisions to offer Fellowships, the Vice President will notify all involved
parties of the outcome within one month of each application/nomination submission deadline.
QUESTIONS?
If you need more information about any aspect of the Vice President’s Faculty Fellows Program, please contact:
Dr. Paaige Turner
Associate Vice President, Frost Campus
DuBourg Hall, Room 454
(314) 977-3193
turnerp@slu.edu
Frost Vice President’s Faculty Fellows Program
Application Form
BACKGROUND DATA
Applicant’s Name:
Applicant’s “Home Unit” (Department/College/School/Center):
Faculty Rank
Assistant Professor
Tenure Status
Tenured
Associate Professor
Full Professor
Not on Tenure Track
On Tenure Track, In Progress
Year of Tenure Review:
Completed Third-Year Review?
Proposed
Duration of
Fellowship
One Semester
One Year
Two Years
Options:
Three Years
Fall
Spring
Starting in…
Fall
Spring
Summer
NOTE: Applicants must attach a current curriculum vitae as part of this application.
FELLOWSHIP DUTIES SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
Please describe the type of Faculty Leadership Fellowship you’re interested in: What type of work do you want to
do? Note “day-to-day” tasks and any specific projects you might lead or assist with.
(enter response here)
FELLOWSHIP GOALS
Describe the learning or developmental goals for your Fellowship: What knowledge do you want to gain? What
skills do you want to develop, and why? How do you hope to be changed by the proposed Fellowship experience?
Address how the kind of work identified above will help you to reach those goals. Also, offer ideas for how you
think your progress toward meeting your Fellowship goals might be assessed.
(enter response here)
FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS
Summarize any significant achievements as a faculty member at SLU. Highlight achievements that speak to a)
your interest in this proposed Fellowship and b) your abilities to succeed in the proposed Fellowship. As a
reminder, you must attach a current curriculum vitae to this application.
(enter response here)
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Summarize any academic leadership roles (both formal and informal) in which you have served at SLU (and at
previous institutions, if appropriate). Discuss how such experiences have impacted your interest in this Faculty
Fellowship.
(enter response here)
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS
Detail your current professional development plans, including reflections on your interest in academic
administration and senior leadership positions.
Address your vision for what an exemplary
academic/administrative leader must know and be able to do to be successful, and how your professional
development plans – including work as a Fellow -- evidence an intentional path toward gaining such knowledge
and skills.
(enter response here)
QUESTIONS?
If you need more information about any aspect of the Vice President’s Faculty Fellows Program, please contact:
Dr. Paaige Turner
Associate Vice President, Frost Campus
DuBourg Hall, Room 454
(314) 977-3193
turnerp@slu.edu