10 Strategic Goals for Faculty Success in the
24-25 New Academic Year
- Enhance Student Engagement
- Integrate Technology Effectively
- Promote Diversity and Inclusion
- Focus on Student Well-Being
- Incorporate Experiential Learning Opportunities
- Strengthen Research, Scholarship and/or Creative Works (not just disciplinary, but SoTL!)
- Cultivate Professional Development
- Foster Collaboration and Interdisciplinary Work
- Support Student Career Readiness
- Engage in Community and Institutional Service
Bonus Tips to Mitigate Burnout!
- Prioritize Time Management
- Cultivate Mindfulness and Stress-Relief Practices
- Build a Supportive Network
As the 2024-2025 academic year approaches, faculty across the country are feeling the pressure from an evolving higher education landscape. Challenges such as declining enrollment, financial constraints, and the increasing need to support student success are just a few of the intensifying demands placed on educators. In this environment, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the political, social, and economic noise surrounding higher education. However, it’s important to remember that small, consistent steps can make a significant difference.
The tips that follow are designed to help you prepare to welcome students and set up your classes for the new academic year. By focusing on these strategies, you can better navigate the challenges ahead while also maintaining your own well-being and supporting the success of your students.
Enhance Student Engagement
Why It Matters:
Engaged students are more likely to succeed academically and retain information. In today’s blended learning environments, fostering engagement through interactive activities, discussions, and collaborative projects is essential for maintaining student interest and promoting deeper learning. The key to successfully improving student engagement through any strategy should start with the instructor fostering a welcoming attitude within themselves and their classroom
Strategies:
Incorporate Intentional Techniques to Foster a Welcoming Classroom Environment
Incorporate Active Learning Techniques
How to Implement:
To demonstrate to students at you are approachable be mindful of micro expressions (smiling, frowning, blank looks, etc) and consider being a little more open and vulnerable. This doesn’t have to mean sharing private details or information. Small talk before class about weather, a funny observation, or interesting fact can ease tension and apprehension that may build up in students.
Use techniques like think-pair-share, group discussions, or problem-based learning in your classroom. These activities encourage students to actively participate in the learning process, making the material more engaging and helping students to better retain information.
Additional reading: Faculty Approachability Project Promotes Empathy and Connection
Integrate Technology Effectively
Why It Matters:
With the rise of digital learning tools and platforms, integrating technology in a meaningful way can improve accessibility, remove barriers to learning, personalize learning experiences, and make course materials more dynamic and interactive.
Strategy:
Utilize Learning Management Systems (LMS) to Their Full Potential
How to Implement:
Use your institution’s LMS to create interactive assignments, quizzes, and discussion forums. You can also incorporate multimedia resources, such as videos and podcasts, to cater to different learning styles and make course materials more accessible. Your institution’s LMS administrator and/or instructional designers are unsung heroes in the academic world. Tap into their expertise. Even if you are quite familiar with your LMS, there is always something you can learn. Make it a goal to learn one new technique, feature, trick every month or every semester.
Additional Reading: How to Improve Accessibility in Online Learning
Top 10 Tips for Teachers: Lessons Learned from Using an LMS for Over a Decade
Promote Diversity and Inclusion
Why It Matters:
In the wake of the attack on DEI in higher education, it is more important now more than ever for faculty to foster an inclusive learning environment and welcome diversity. Students come from increasingly diverse backgrounds, and students deserve to feel welcome and valued. This goal involves incorporating diverse materials, perspectives, and teaching methods that reflect the varied experiences of your students.
Strategy:
Diversify Course Content and Perspectives
How to Implement:
Review your syllabus and reading lists to ensure they include a range of voices and perspectives, especially from underrepresented groups. Include case studies, examples, and guest speakers that reflect the diversity of your student body.
Additional Reading: How to Promote Inclusion in the Classroom
Five Ways to Promote a More Inclusive Classroom (may be behind a paywall)
Focus on Student Well-Being
Why It Matters:
The mental health of students has become a significant concern in higher education. Faculty can play a key role in supporting student well-being by being aware of the signs of stress, offering flexible deadlines when appropriate, and guiding students to available resources.
Strategy:
Implement Flexible Deadlines and Open Communication
How to Implement:
Offer flexible deadlines (where appropriate) or allow students to choose between different assignment formats to reduce stress. Maintain open communication channels, such as regular office hours or virtual drop-in sessions, where students can discuss their concerns. Faculty shouldn’t feel like they need to become therapists or psychologists. Understanding your institution’s resources to direct and support students as well as a little empathy and flexibility can go a long way.
Additional Reading: Student psychological well-being in higher education: The role of internal team environment, institutional, friends and family support and academic engagement.
Fostering College Student Mental Health and Resilience
Incorporate Experiential Learning Opportunities
Why It Matters:
Experiential learning allows students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world contexts, which enhances their understanding and retention. It also prepares them for professional challenges by providing hands-on experience in their field of study.
Strategy:
Integrate Internships, Practicums, or Fieldwork into Courses
How to Implement:
Collaborate with industry partners to create opportunities for students to engage in internships, practicums, or fieldwork as part of their coursework. This can be done by designing assignments that require students to apply what they’ve learned in a real-world setting. Most institutions have Career Centers and may even have staff focused on employer relationships. Utilize and leverage their expertise and knowledge on workforce skills and needs into your courses.
Additional Reading: The 10 Commandments of Experiential Learning
Strengthen Research, Scholarship and/or Creative Works
(not just disciplinary, but SoTL!)
Why It Matters:
Engaging in research and scholarship not only advances knowledge in your field but also enhances your teaching by bringing the latest findings and perspectives into the classroom. It also strengthens your professional reputation and contributes to your institution’s academic standing. Better yet, if you include students, it can be a fantastic learning opportunity, especially for undergraduates. Finally, depending on your institution and the expectations for your position (tenure track, non-tenure track, R1, etc) don’t pass on opportunities in the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). Going to try something new in your class? Curious if a new approach is scalable? Collaborate with colleagues and turn it into a study! If your institution values SoTL, it may (and really should) hold the same value as disciplinary research, scholarship and creative works for promotion and tenure.
Strategy:
Integrate Research Projects into Your Teaching
How to Implement:
Design course assignments that align with your research interests. Encourage students to undertake small-scale research projects, which can contribute to your ongoing research while giving students valuable experience in academic inquiry. The course where I had the strongest student feedback (and evidence of student learning) was my analytical chemistry course where I embedded a multi-semester study examining BPA and BPS in thermal receipt paper and its fate in the environment.
Additional Reading: Grand Challenges for SoTL
Cultivate Professional Development
Why It Matters:
Lifelong learning is essential for educators. By attending workshops, conferences, and training sessions, faculty can stay current with the latest trends in education, pedagogy, and their respective disciplines, thereby improving their effectiveness in the classroom and in their research.
Strategy:
Attend and Participate in Faculty Development Workshops
How to Implement:
Make a commitment to attend workshops or seminars offered by your institution’s teaching and learning or faculty development center. These sessions often cover the latest teaching techniques, technology tools, and classroom management strategies as well as assistance in grant prep, research and work-life balance strategies. Also reach out to the Director or professional leading the center as they can provide additional guidance and consultation and provide other opportunities for professional development.
Additional Resource: Your institution Faculty Development or Teaching and Learning Center. Seriously, visit them or pull up their internal website. Easily one of the more underutilized resources by faculty on a college campus.
Foster Collaboration and Interdisciplinary Work
Why It Matters:
Interdisciplinary collaboration can lead to innovative teaching approaches, research projects, and solutions to complex problems. By working with colleagues from different fields, you can enrich your own teaching and research and provide students with a broader, more integrated educational experience.
Strategy:
Develop Interdisciplinary Projects or Courses
How to Implement:
Partner with a colleague from a different department to co-teach a course or develop a collaborative project that brings together students from multiple disciplines. This not only broadens the educational experience but also encourages collaboration among students. I co-taught a general education course looking at issues in our global food system where we had faculty from multiple departments contributing to provide different perspectives and approaches to big questions and challenges.
Additional Readings (a refreshing scholarly journal article!): Interdisciplinary College Curriculum and its Labor Market Implications
The World Needs Students With Interdisciplinary Education
Support Student Career Readiness
Why It Matters:
Students are increasingly concerned with how their education will translate into career opportunities. By integrating practical skills, industry insights, and career-focused content into your courses, you can help students bridge the gap between academic learning and professional success. As mentioned earlier, most schools have centers and resources devoted to career readiness and internship experiences. Work with professionals in these areas to strengthen the inclusion of key skills in your course (regardless of discipline).
Strategy:
Incorporate Real-World Assignments and Guest Speakers
How to Implement:
Design assignments that mimic real-world challenges relevant to your field, such as case studies or project-based tasks. Invite industry professionals to speak in your class, offering students insights into how their learning applies to their future careers. It can also help develop critical skills needed in the workplace.
Additional Reading: Using Case Studies to Teach
Engage in Community and Institutional Service
Why It Matters:
Faculty service is a critical component of the academic role, contributing to the governance and mission of the institution. Engaging in community service can also enhance the institution’s reputation and provide valuable learning experiences for students.
Strategy:
Lead or Participate in Service-Learning Projects
How to Implement:
Integrate service learning into your courses by involving students in community-based projects that are connected to course objectives. This not only benefits the community but also helps students apply their learning in real-world settings. An example was a general education capstone course where we worked with a local food policy council to tackle the challenge of improving access to excess food from local farmer’s markets to people in need (while also providing some compensation to the farmer) in a timely manner.
Additional Reading: How to improve student success with community-based learning.
Tips for Handling Burnout and Promoting Holistic Wellness
In addition to the strategic goals outlined above, it’s equally important to focus on your own well-being as you navigate the demands of the new academic year. Here are three bonus tips to help you avoid burnout and promote holistic wellness:
Bonus Tip 1: Prioritize Time Management
Why It Matters:
Effective time management is crucial for maintaining a balanced workload and avoiding burnout. By organizing your time efficiently, you can reduce stress, increase productivity, and ensure that you have time for both professional responsibilities and personal well-being.
Strategy:
Adopt Time-Blocking Techniques
How to Implement:
Set aside specific blocks of time in your daily or weekly schedule for different tasks, such as grading, research, meetings, and self-care. Use tools like calendars or time management apps to allocate these blocks and stick to them. Ensure you include breaks and personal time in your schedule to recharge and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Bonus Tip 2: Cultivate Mindfulness and Stress-Relief Practices
Why It Matters:
In the fast-paced environment of academia, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by deadlines and responsibilities. Mindfulness and stress-relief practices help in managing anxiety, enhancing focus, and improving overall mental health, which are critical for sustaining long-term productivity and job satisfaction.
Strategy:
Incorporate Mindfulness Exercises into Your Daily Routine
How to Implement:
Dedicate 5-10 minutes each day to mindfulness exercises such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga. You can also introduce short mindfulness sessions at the beginning or end of your classes to
benefit both yourself and your students. Regular practice will help you stay grounded, reduce stress, and approach your work with a clear mind.
Bonus Tip 3: Build a Supportive Network
Why It Matters:
Having a strong support network is essential for managing the emotional and professional challenges of academic life. A supportive community can provide encouragement, advice, and a sense of belonging, all of which are important for preventing burnout and promoting holistic wellness.
Strategy:
Engage in Peer Support Groups and Professional Networks
How to Implement:
Join or create peer support groups within your institution where faculty can share experiences, challenges, and strategies for maintaining wellness. Attend networking events, both in-person and virtual, to connect with colleagues who share similar interests or face similar challenges. Regularly interacting with a supportive network can help you feel less isolated and more empowered to tackle the demands of your role. Need a place to start, feel free to connect with me! (www.linkedin.com/in/gregdpillar).
By focusing on these strategic goals and wellness practices, you can navigate the challenges of the upcoming academic year with resilience and purpose, ensuring that both you and your students thrive. Remember, it’s about taking small, consistent steps and doing the best you can, without being overwhelmed by external pressures. What tips do you have for the upcoming year? What have I missed? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!.