Initiatives

As Georgia State is recognized as one of the most innovative universities in the nation, it has achieved extraordinary success in using a data-driven approach to tackle challenges students face. It is also one of the most diverse universities in the country, proving that students from all backgrounds can succeed.

With this spirit of innovation, Georgia State’s Commission for the Next Generation of Faculty was tasked to identify challenges and opportunities for addressing faculty diversity, equity and inclusion.

Following the issuance of the Commission’s report, an implementation steering committee was formed to advise the Provost on how to put the Commission’s transformative recommendations into action.

Learn more information by selecting the buttons below.

Commission Report

The report was delivered by the commission in September 2019. Click “Commission Report” to read it. You can also select “Video Presentation” to view a recording of the Sept. 4, 2019 public presentation.

Implementation Steering Committee

Following the fall 2019 report of the Commission of the Next Generation of Faculty, Provost Wendy Hensel solicited nominations of faculty to serve on an implementation steering committee. The Commission recommended the steering committee to guide the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations and facilitate the university’s progress on diversity and inclusion.

In consultation with key colleagues, during October 2019 Provost Hensel selected inaugural members of the committee to reflect the broadest possible representation across colleges, backgrounds, faculty status and interests.

The ISC is charged with:

• Providing advice and guidance on how to best implement the recommendations and best practices initiatives as outlined in the report
• Serving as a liaison between the provost and university community on matters relating to the implementation of Commission recommendations and best practices initiatives
• Assisting with the publication of an annual report to the university community identifying action steps taken and progress toward achievement of recommendations and best practices initiatives.

In June 2020, ISC submitted an initial report with recommendations and guidance following the spring 2020 semester. You can read the report by selecting the appropriate button below

In the report of the Commission for the Next Generation of faculty, the commission highlighted the need to promote conversations and community engagement among faculty, especially those from underrepresented groups.

In response to this recommendation, the Next Generation of Faculty’s Implementation Steering Committee proposed establishing faculty identity organizations, affinity groups of faculty interested in engagement, community-building and advocacy among individuals who share the same identity. Given the charge of the president’s commission, initial priority is being given to faculty identity organizations for underrepresented minority faculty.

After surveying the faculty for interest in April 2020, a tremendous response was received and several groups have been formed as listed below. Points of contact will be listed soon.

If you are interested in participating in a group, please select the blue button marked “interest form” under the affinity groups list below.

Affinity Groups

• African American/Black
• Hispanic/Latinx
• American Indian/Alaska Native
• Asian
• Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
• LGBTQ+
• Women
• Veterans
• Individuals with Disabilities

The Provost’s Visiting Scholars Program brings to Georgia State University promising and leading faculty from underrepresented minority groups for short-term visits. This program serves a two-fold purpose: these visiting scholars will enrich the intellectual life of the campus at the department level and above, and they will be positioned to communicate Georgia State University’s strengths to potential future faculty members, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. In this way, the program will enhance ongoing faculty recruitment efforts. Georgia State welcomed the inaugural class of Provost’s Visiting Scholars during the first half of 2018.

Georgia State University is an institutional member of the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD).

NCFDD is an independent professional development, training, and mentoring community for over 83,000 faculty, post-docs, and grad students, dedicated to supporting academics in making successful transitions throughout their careers. The organization offers workshops, professional development training, and intensive mentorship programs that provide concrete, empirically tested strategies for increasing productivity, and pays special attention to the challenges faced by underrepresented faculty.

Georgia State faculty, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows are eligible enroll in a free sub-account to access the center’s online resources on topics such as increasing writing productivity, prioritizing and managing time, cultivating mentors, securing external funding, and maintaining work-life balance.

For more information on how to sign up, visit the Office of Faculty Affairs at https://faculty.gsu.edu/for-faculty/ncfdd/.

The Office of Faculty Affairs provides supportive infrastructure and programming to recruit, appoint, retain, and support Georgia State faculty members and to help them achieve their full potential.

Toward this end, the Office of Faculty Affairs provides support in the following areas:

• Faculty-related policies and procedures such as those related to appointment, leaves, and promotion and tenure;
• Faculty development programs, workshops, and fellowships, many of which are offered through our outstanding Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning;
• Leadership programming for university administrators and department chairs; and
• Management of Georgia State’s awards process to recognize outstanding faculty through a range of university-wide and system-wide awards.