UMass Amherst Wins Delphi Award for Innovative Policies Supporting Non-Tenure-Track Faculty
The Office of Faculty Development has announced that UMass Amherst has been selected as a winner of the 2024 Delphi Award by the Pullias Center for Higher Education at the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education, in partnership with the American Association of Colleges & Universities. As a winner of the award, the university will receive $15,000 to continue its work to support non-tenure-track faculty in promoting student success.
In 2023, UMass Amherst was recognized as a Delphi Award finalist and has continued to build on its previous work and long-standing commitment to non-tenure-track faculty. Joining UMass as a winner of the 2024 Delphi Award is the Michigan State University College of Arts and Letters.
“It is an incredible honor for UMass Amherst to receive the Delphi Award,” says Fouad Abd-El-Khalick, provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs. “This recognition truly reflects the importance of bolstering programs and policies that support inclusion and success for non-tenure-track faculty, who make significant contributions to our core mission of teaching, research, and/or service.”
UMass Amherst’s administration and the Massachusetts Society of Professors (MSP) have collaborated to create comprehensive policies, practices and programming supporting non-tenure-track faculty, including: salary parity and promotion steps; workload accommodation and professional development; job security; and a full range of benefits including medical insurance, a generous leave policy and retirement benefits.
“The outstanding UMass Amherst teaching, clinical, research and extension faculty are core to our campus's mission for excellence in education, scholarship and community engagement,” says Michelle Budig, senior vice provost for faculty and academic affairs and co-author on the application.
“Through a strong partnership with the faculty union, UMass Amherst has created a working environment where non-tenure-track faculty thrive. The Delphi Award celebrates the UMass Amherst model that includes, among many points of pride, enhanced job security through pathways to continuous appointment, promotion ranks and promotion raises; expanded professional development opportunities, including professional development fellowships; leadership development; and equitable access to paid family, parental and sick leaves. While there is always room to improve, UMass Amherst strives to be a welcoming institution that attracts, supports and celebrates the accomplishments of our top-notch non-tenure-track faculty,” she said.
The application was led by Christiane Healey, senior lecturer of biology and student success leadership fellow.
“I am grateful that UMass’ efforts to support non-tenure-track faculty have been recognized with a Delphi Award,” Healey says. “UMass is a leading example nationally: Our campus shows that strong working conditions and support for non-tenure-track faculty benefit the institution, improving recruitment, job satisfaction, retention and ultimately enhancing the student experience.
“As a non-tenure-track faculty member I can attest to the impact of UMass’ policies and programs,” Healey continues. “My teaching and leadership roles benefit greatly from colleague and mentor support here. Non-tenure-track faculty make outstanding contributions in many roles, and the Delphi Award is an opportunity to celebrate their achievements.”
Application co-author Eve Weinbaum, professor of sociology and labor studies adds, “We are thrilled that the Delphi Award recognizes the leadership role of the faculty and librarians’ union in setting national standards for non-tenure-track faculty. Thanks to the many outstanding faculty and librarians who advocated successfully for UMass Amherst to make systemic changes to improve wages, working conditions and job security for everyone.”