Working Group Recommendations
Following the 2024 COACHE survey, the COACHE Steering Committee, together with faculty working groups, identified three key themes in response to the survey findings. The action items outlined below emerged from the recommendations of these working groups and have been endorsed by both the committee and the Office of the Provost. As these initiatives are implemented, we will continue to monitor progress and assess improvements in these areas through the next COACHE survey in 2028.
Theme I: Interdisciplinary Work
Contact: Dr. DeAnna Toten Beard, vice provost for faculty affairs
| Action | Who |
|---|---|
To promote campus dialogue and deepening understanding and coordinate for the academy a set of reading materials about interdisciplinary, intradisciplinary, multidisciplinary, transdisciplinary and/or collaborative research and scholarship. | Ad Hoc Committee |
| Draft plan for new award(s) for interdisciplinary work (research and teaching). | Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Honorifics, the Office of the Vice Provost for Research |
| As part of their comprehensive review of guidelines related to faculty promotion, all units will be asked to clarify how interdisciplinary research and scholarship will be considered in these processes. | Departmental Faculty |
| Identify and document effective models of interdisciplinary teaching already in place at Baylor. | Ad Hoc Committee |
| Continue to prioritize interdisciplinary endowed chairs and cluster hires to strengthen work in strategic areas. | Provost, Deans |
Theme II: Promotion Pathways
Contact: Dr. DeAnna Toten Beard, vice provost for faculty affairs
| Action | Who |
Consider a policy change to revise titles of lecturers and senior lecturers to better align nomenclature and demonstrate consistency across processes. | President's Council |
| Recruit faculty leaders to help design an opt-in, university-wide mentoring program that pairs Tier 2 faculty members with trained Tier 3 mentors from related, but distinct, academic departments. Develop a tailored version of the program to address the unique needs and experiences of online faculty. | Vice Provost for Community Engagement and Belonging, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs |
| Introduce an annual promotion information session for recently appointed tier 2 faculty that explains the process and gives guidance on setting a course toward promotion. | Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs |
| As part of their comprehensive review of guidelines related to faculty promotion, all units will consider expectations for progress towards promotion to tier 3 | Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, Deans |
| Improve the transparency of the process for faculty to request approval to apply for tier 3 promotion. | Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs |
| Study possible models for tier 3 promotion committee(s) university-wide or at the college/school-level. Provide analysis and recommendations to the deans and provost for possible consideration of committee organization and structure. | Ad Hoc Committee |
Theme III: Research Support
Contact: Dr. Kevin Chambliss, vice provost for research
| Action | Who |
Study the distribution in pre-award period of URAs with particular expertise in specific funding agencies and make any recommendations for changes to URA placement and/or additional training for specific funding agencies. | Director of Pre-Award |
| Continue to communicate the reasons for 10-5-3 deadlines and work with PIs proactively to meet them. | Pre-Award Office |
| Periodically assess deadlines for possible changes (at minimum, every other year). | Pre-Award Leadership (AVP, Director, Managers) |
| Formalize the Council of PIs as a body that can advise and consult on matters of process. | Office of the Vice Provost for Research |
| Assign to the Council of PIs to clarify its structure, requirements of membership, and purview. Include the responsibility for reviewing annual survey of PIs. | Council of PIs, Office of the Vice Provost for Research |
| Monitor PI satisfaction with grant support staff using annual survey tool already in place. | Office of the Vice Provost for Research |
| Review annual survey of PIs and making any recommendations based on the findings. | Council of PIs |