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Faculty Center

ABOUT US

Faculty Center Mission

Guided by the Mission of Brigham Young University and the Aims of a BYU Education, the Faculty Center helps all BYU faculty promote faith-based teaching and learning, foster unity and commonality of purpose, and flourish in teaching, scholarship, and citizenship at every stage of their professional lives. The Faculty Center seeks to fulfill this mission through the following objectives:

  • Faith and Learning. Help faculty incorporate gospel truths in all student interactions and apply gospel methodology in their teaching, mentoring, scholarship, and service.

  • Faculty Development. Assist faculty to flourish in each area and stage of their careers, progress toward CFS and rank advancement, and model lifelong learning and service for students.

  • Academic Leadership. Support faculty leaders in developing Christ-centered leadership skills and foster future leaders among faculty and students.

Priorities

The Faculty Center supports university and college faculty development initiatives by focusing on the following priorities:

  • New faculty orientation, stressing the BYU Mission and Aims and creating a covenant community of disciple scholars
  • Sustained support for pre-CFS faculty in teaching, scholarship, and citizenship
  • Ongoing professional development of mid- and late-career faculty
  • Instruction and training for faculty serving in administrative roles
  • Implementing BYU’s distinctive mission as a university sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, helping faculty authentically incorporate gospel truths into all student interactions and teach their subjects bathed in the light and color of the restored gospel

Programs and Resources

All Faculty

Guided by the Aims of a BYU education and by the doctrine of the divine potential of all human beings, the Faculty Center at Brigham Young University promotes a covenant community that values covenant belonging and works to establish a welcoming and supportive environment for all faculty.

To foster professional development, the Faculty Center offers seminars, workshops, and Faculty Learning Communities on topics such as incorporating gospel methodology in teaching and mentoring, active learning, scholarship, time management, life and work balance, and conflict resolution. The Faculty Center also coordinates with other academic support units such as the Office of Belonging, the Sorensen Center for Moral and Ethical Leadership, and the Office of Careers and Experiential Learning to accomplish university aims.

New Faculty Series (NFS)

The New Faculty Series is an 18-month program that supports new faculty in building a strong foundation for quality teaching, scholarship, and citizenship. The series includes the Fall Seminar, Spring Seminar, Faculty Learning Communities, mentoring, and faculty development plans. Participation in the series helps faculty members: (1) embrace the university’s mission to build faith and testimony in students; (2) increase their understanding of faculty opportunities and responsibilities; and (3) strengthen their ability to make significant contributions through their professional service.

Pre-CFS Faculty Series

To provide continuing support for pre-CFS faculty after the New Faculty Series, the Faculty Center offers seminars each fall and winter semester. These cover topics such as incorporating gospel methodology in teaching, addressing concerns of various faculty groups, and developing habits of productive scholarship.

Mid-Career Faculty Series

The Faculty Center provides support to faculty after achieving CFS, helping them maintain a strong scholarly trajectory, hone their teaching skills, and prepare for expanded university citizenship in the mid-career stage. Seminars designed to support faculty throughout this phase of their careers include workshops on professional development leaves, financial planning, scholarship, time management, and Faculty Learning Communities. The Faculty Center also hosts an annual celebratory dinner for promoted faculty and their spouses.

Late-Career / Retirement Series

The Faculty Center sponsors an annual banquet for retiring faculty as well as financial planning and retirement benefit seminars for those in this stage of their careers. It also offers an annual Transitions Workshop each January to help prepare faculty considering retirement within the year.

Academic Administrator Series (departchair.byu.edu)

The Faculty Center offers workshops and Leadership Learning Communities for academic administrators to develop Christ-centered leadership skills. They meet regularly to discuss key issues and receive instruction and training. The Center also sponsors a website for department chairs and other academic administrators, which provides information on chair responsibilities, academic and faculty development sessions, relevant publications and resources, and directories of BYU academic administrators. The new academic leader curriculum includes training on rank & status, department governance, hiring & recruiting, finances & budget, strategic planning & unit reviews, belonging and the covenant community, annual stewardship interviews & letters, personnel issues, and curriculum.

Faith & Learning (faithandlearning.byu.edu)

BYU has a unique mission “to assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life.” In harmony with this mission, the Faculty Center incorporates faith and learning in all Faculty Center programs. Through workshops, discussion groups, videos, the Faith and Learning website, and other means, the Faculty Center seeks to help faculty raise the quantity and quality of reflections and conversations on faith and learning at BYU. It currently sponsors the My Journey as a Scholar of Faith series, a series of pre-CFS faith and learning panels, and sessions on faith and learning in the New Faculty Series and Faculty Learning Communities, thus assisting faculty to authentically incorporate gospel truths into all student interactions and to teach their subjects bathed in the light and color of the restored gospel.

Adjunct Faculty (adjuncts.byu.edu)

Based on feedback from its adjunct faculty, the Faculty Center developed and maintains a website for adjuncts that includes important contact and orientation information, maps, a teaching toolbox, and links to important resources across campus. The Faculty Center also sponsors a resource fair in the fall that includes adjuncts, an adjunct seminar each spring, and the opportunity to participate in Faculty Learning Communities