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Faculty Affairs
Office of the Provost

Provost’s Initiatives and Action Items

The Provost’s Office is committed to use the COACHE survey results to further advance Vanderbilt’s commitment to the faculty’s experiences and their lasting influence on Vanderbilt’s campus environment. New and ongoing initiatives, programs, committees, and other commitments that further the faculty’s career development are posted on this page.

Faculty Governance

  • The Provost’s Office created a new Shared Governance Committee during academic year 2016-2017 and charged it with seeking to understand Vanderbilt’s current governance processes at the school/college and University levels for facilitating and incorporating faculty dialogue. The committee is continuing its work in the 2017-2018 academic year.
  • The Provost’s Office of Academic and Faculty Affairs formed a new University Faculty Affairs Committee during academic year 2017-2018. The committee includes associate deans from all schools/colleges and the Vice Provost for Academic and Strategic Affairs. The new committee will share faculty concerns, identify problems and develop solutions, seeking to draw on best practices used on campus and at other institutions.

Inclusive Excellence

  • The Provost’s Office created a new position in August 2017 – the Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence – and appointed Dr. Melissa Thomas-Hunt, formerly of the University of Virginia, to the position.
  • The office releases annual reports that are focused on equity, diversity and inclusivity efforts at the University.
  • The university created a new Chancellor’s Awards for Research on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. This annual award recognizes excellence in research, scholarship, or creative expression that advances our understanding of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
  • The Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence has designed and is hosting workshops on “Finding and Attracting Top Talent: Best Practices for Faculty Searches.” The first workshop was held in fall 2017. Additional workshops will be delivered to support department chairs and faculty in creating inclusive departmental climates, collaborating with colleagues, and supporting and coaching newer faculty.

Interdisciplinary Work

  • The Provost’s Office of Cross-College Initiatives was launched in AY 2016-17 to support the Trans-Institutional Programs (TIPs). TIPs is designed to serve as a catalyst to support new ideas, cutting-edge research and the development of infrastructure by supporting emerging and existing trans-institutional centers and institutes.
  • The office also supports University Courses, a funding program open to both VU and VUMC-employed faculty for new trans-institutional courses taught in schools and colleges reporting to the Provost.

Faculty Research and Teaching

Mentoring and Recognition

  • The Provost’s Office started the Provost Research Studios program to provide funding for full-time faculty (tenured, tenure track, and non-tenure track) who are not full professors to receive mentoring on scholarship and career development.
  • The Provost’s Office continued the Chancellor Faculty Fellows program to provide funding and professional development to newly tenured faculty.
  • The Provost’s Office of Academic and Faculty Affairs created a National Awards and Academics Committee during academic year 2017-2018 and charged it with aiding the University in developing strategies to increase the recognition of our faculty in the form of national awards and membership in national academies.
  • The office also developed and is implementing a new internal awards process to ensure engagement with all parts of campus and recognition of the research, teaching, and service accomplishments of our faculty. The plan includes consideration of possible new awards.
  • The office also expanded support and training for academic leaders such as department chairs, program directors, and associate deans. It launched an annual Department Chair Orientation to be held at the start of each academic year.

Outreach and Communication

  • The Provost’s Office increased the transparency of the tenure process by sharing information about the Promotion and Tenure Review Committee, including its membership, on the Faculty Development and Diversity website.
  • The Provost’s Office developed and provides support for the Faculty INSIGHTS series, which will include panels on the promotion to full process open to tenured associate professors.
  • The office also organized and will continue to organize events aimed at faculty who accepted their first professor post (tenure-track or NTT) within the last 2 years.
  • The Provost’s Office will continue to update the Vanderbilt community through the Provost’s Newsletter, The Open Dore .
  • The Provost’s Office will continue to hold the Open Dore on Location, which is a monthly informal discussion session at various locations across campus. Open Dore on Location sessions are open to all faculty.

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