Professional Development
Council of Chairs-Leadership Workshops for Department Chairs/Heads
Leadership development workshops for chairs/heads are offered twice per semester to enhance the skills and confidence of department leaders. Interactive training topics include chairs as academic leaders, managing people and conflict, faculty mentoring and evaluation, resource management, and recruitment, retention and faculty development.
Learn more about the Council of Chairs Workshops
National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD)
Faculty may sign up for a free account with NCFDD and immediately benefit from a suite of professional development webinars, courses, chats, and mentoring tools that focus on strategic planning, explosive productivity, work-life balance, and healthy relationships.
The Bridge Program
The Bridge Program uses the best practice approach to provide an innovative and comprehensive teams-based method to faculty mentoring. The Bridge Program assists departmental leadership, mentors, and mentees with program implementation and the necessary resources to unburden program participants and ensure quality experiences. Mentees will be asked to participate in faculty development workshops. Mentors will be asked to attend mentor training and schedule regular meetings with their mentees. We ask that in return, this commitment is seen as counting towards departmental service requirements. Specifically, the Program offers:
- Support through a Welcoming Team of preferably three faculty mentors that aids the new faculty in getting connected to the department and assists with resources from before they arrive through their first year in residence.
- Continued support through a Success Team of 2-3 faculty members that provide mentoring assistance starting year two and throughout the tenure and/or promotion process.
For more information, see the UA ENGAGE website
Teaching and Faculty Support Center (TFSC)
Get the peer support you need to enhance teaching strategies and engage students in learning.
Learn more at teaching.uark.edu
Teaching Camp
Every August, the TFSC offers an off- campus 2-3 day for interested faculty campers. Topics vary each year and the objective is to spend time reflecting on teaching, engaging with other teachers, and jumpstarting the academic year.
Learn more at teaching.uark.edu
Peer Mentoring Circles
Small groups of faculty are matched with a faculty facilitator whose role is to convene a meeting once per month and encourage frank discussion in a non-judgmental, inclusive, and supportive environment. No group members or facilitator will be from the same department and the facilitator will be at least one career milestone ahead the members of the peer group. All participants will adhere to a strict code of confidentiality. Peer mentoring circles provide additional support outside one’s home department and nurture connections between faculty members across campus.
Learn more about the Peer Mentoring Circles
Mentoring Graduate Students (and Postdocs) Workshop Series
Interested in being a more effective mentor to graduate students and postdocs? This six-session series offers a fun and informative way for all faculty to learn to how to inspire, manage, and professionally develop their mentees. Sessions are organized around the following themes: mentoring styles, work-life balance, effective communication, mutual expectations, diversity, equity, and inclusion, independence, professional development, and legal and ethical considerations.
Learn more about the Mentoring Graduate Students Workshop
Faculty Writing Circle
The Office of Faculty Affairs, Writing Studio and Program in Rhetoric and Composition have joined forces to create the Faculty Writing Circle. This program provides writing support and addresses the mental and logistical challenges faced by many academic writers. The Faculty Writing Circle allows faculty to tailor their writing support options to meet their individual schedules and needs. For more information, email facdev@uark.edu.