Faculty Development Council Meeting
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
2:30- 3:30 p.m.
Adelbert Hall, Room M2
Members Present:
Christine Ash
Diana Bilimoria
Cleve Gilmore
Alison Hall
Unable to Attend:
Ica Manas-Zloczower
Jessie Hill
Ronald Occhionero
Amanda Shaffer
Lynn Singer
Carol Stark
Patricia Underwood
Daniel Scherson
The meeting was called to order by Diana Bilimoria at 2:30 p.m. The minutes from the
last meeting on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 were approved.
Diana updated the committee with an overview of the year.
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Faculty Development Council has met five times, including this meeting, in 2012.
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At the last meeting on April 24, our guest was Provost Baeslack and we presented
him with the “Draft Report on the Faculty Development 2011-2012”. The
Provost accepted the Report and agreed with the recommendations.
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Diana will present our Report at the Deans Council meeting.
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At our next meeting on June 20, our guest will be Bob Miller who will discuss
“Enhancing Research Resources for Faculty”.
Agenda for today’s meeting:
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Alison Hall to discuss Summary of National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institutions Developing Excellence in Academic Leadership (IDEAL) project and
findings.
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Continue discussion of faculty development needs for full professors.
Faculty Development Council Meeting
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Page 2
Alison Hall distributed and discussed the following two handouts on “School of Medicine
(SOM) IDEAL Team Project – Faculty Discussion Group Summary, Narrative Report
and Consolidated Comments – dated April 13, 2012” and SOM IDEAL Project –
Implementation Suggestions – dated May 2, 2012. (see attached)
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IDEAL is a three-year program funded by the NSF led at Case by: Lynn Singer
(PI), Diana Bilimoria (Co-PI), and Amanda Shaffer, Project Director. Details at
www.case.edu/provost/ideal/.
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CWRU has partnered with the following five universities: Bowling Green State
University, Cleveland State University, Kent State University, University of
Akron and University of Toledo.
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The four IDEAL Change Leaders at the SOM for 2011-2012 are: Walter Boron,
Alison Hall, Ruth Siegel and Neena Singh.
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The previous climate survey results were not positive. The IDEAL project’s goal
was to improve the retention of tenured women faculty through improving the
overall climate.
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Focus groups were set-up to discuss recommendations regarding climate
improvement. The discussions were then summarized in themes.
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A draft report was discussed with Executive Council, Basic Science Department
Chairs, and then the Dean. The Dean was surprised by the comments and sent out
an email to the SOM faculty about steps taken to address the problems. She
stated that better communication from her office is needed.
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Some concerns were voiced by Council members about who will see the IDEAL
report generated. Should the reports be considered confidential? Will it be posted
on a website? Will it be a public document? Will access require sign-in? Should
the information be shared among faculty at other schools within CWRU?
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The intent of the project is to improve the climate and to address what we can do
better. The focus of the project was on retention of senior women. Report should
lead to positive actions, and help resolve climate problems.
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A climate task force set up by the Dean and SOM’s Executive Council will take
up the recommendations identified in the report.
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Council members stated that they were impressed by the work done by the
IDEAL faculty group in SOM. Climate improvement and retention of faculty are
important for senior faculty, since it provides an atmosphere to thrive.
Faculty Development Council Meeting
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Page 3
Continuation of discussion of faculty development needs for full professors:
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What recommendations can the Council make regarding the faculty development
of full professors?
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There is a need to mentor full professors as well as other levels.
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Amanda to send a focus group summary report from the College of Arts and
Sciences IDEAL team regarding the needs of full professors. (see attached)
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Full professors need support to keep their research active. Their labs need to be
improved and updated. Currently in some schools, the labs of full professors are
deteriorating or becoming obsolete since they are not updated and well
maintained.
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Full professors also need funds or seed money to create new avenues in research –
to avoid feeling stuck and being used.
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Some universities have refresh programs – we do not.
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There is a constant service need for full professors at committees/meetings.
Service allocations must be equitable.
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NSF ACES offered professional academic coaching and leadership development
coaching to full professors. Many full professors found this useful.
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Full professors need to be asked:
o What is needed to help you further develop your career?
o What are new and exciting pathways in your career?
o What leadership can you exercise in your professional societies?
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We need to deploy pilot money for curious and interesting projects for full
professors. Such grant funding is better at other places, e.g., Johns Hopkins.
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CWRU needs to develop standards on rates and allocation rules on research.
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There is a culture-related problem – professors are trained to work independently,
yet now we have to work with teams. Some full professors need tools to be
effective in team science.
Faculty Development Council Meeting
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Page 4
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Senior people also need models to support their careers.
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Full professors need better guidance on benefits to start small companies.
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Many full professors need guidance on how to be a mentor and help junior
faculty.
Meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, June 20 from
9:30-10:30 a.m. in Adelbert Hall, Room M2.
Minutes by Carol Stark, carol.stark@case.edu or (216) 368-4389.