CFDA Priorities - 2026-2027 Academic Year

Strong mentoring relationships are among the most influential factors in faculty success, contributing to increased scholarly productivity, career satisfaction, promotion, retention, and leadership development. Faculty often enter and navigate academic careers with varying levels of access to professional networks, institutional knowledge, and informal support systems. Intentional mentoring initiatives help address these gaps by providing guidance, fostering a sense of belonging, creating opportunities for collaboration, and increasing visibility within and beyond the institution. By offering diverse mentoring structures - including individual mentoring, affinity-based mentoring circles, research communities, and networking opportunities - the institution can better meet the needs of faculty across career stages and identities while cultivating a more connected, collaborative, and supportive academic community.

Activities Include:

• Individual, tailored mentorship opportunities
• Mentorship circles for affinity groups and aligned career goals
• Research communities
• Mentor trainings to advance mentorship skills
• Speed mentoring and networking events
• School/college consultation and support for their mentorship programs

Faculty well-being is a critical foundation for professional effectiveness, engagement, and long-term career success. Increasing demands related to teaching, research, service, clinical responsibilities, and administrative work have contributed to elevated levels of stress and burnout across higher education. At the same time, faculty well-being has important implications for student learning and engagement, mentoring, institutional climate, and organizational effectiveness. A data and research-informed approach to faculty well-being allows the institution to identfy areas of need, target resources, strategically, and align efforts with broader institutional priorities. Through partnerships with IEC, Human Resources, and other strategic initiatives, faculty well-being efforts can strengthen a culture of care, promote sustainable work environments, and support faculty in thriving both personally and professionally.

Activities Include:

• Use institutional data to target well-being activities
• Create and strengthen partnerships with IEC, HR, and strategic intiatives to foster an inclusive community where belonging and meaningful work support the flourishing for all
• Sponsoring and coordinating wellness week activities in collaboration with IEC, HR, and faculty fellows
• Utilize climate survey and student mental health survey data to target faculty support needs
• Create faculty well-being online resource hub
• Stronger alignment with staff, students, and services that may impact faculty

Faculty career development and recognition are essential components of a thriving academic workforce and a key driver of faculty engagement, retention, and advancement. Faculty needs evolve throughout their careers, requiring targeted developmental opportunities during critical transition points, from onboarding and early-career sucess to mid-career growth and leadership development. Structured programming such as New Faculty Welcome Day, the Early Career Academy, and a Mid-Career Faculty Success Cohort provides faculty with the knowledge, skills, networks, and resources necessary to navigate their careers effectively. Equally important is the intentional recognition and promotion of faculty accomplishments, which reinforces a culture of excellence, increases visibility of faculty contributions, and helps faculty feel valued for their impact in teaching, scholarship, service, clinical work, and community engagement. Together, these efforts support both individual career success and the institution’s broader goals of excellence and faculty retention.

Activities Include:

• New Faculty Welcome Day
• Early Career Academy (monthly sessions for faculty of all ranks in years 1-5 of position)
• Lecturer Summit
• Professional development grants for IRC, tenure-track, and tenured faculty
• Mid-career faculty success cohort program
• Professional learning opportunities that advance faculty research, teaching, service, and leadership skills
• Promote informal faculty recognition and visibility