Faculty Development Events
SBS First Year Faculty Programming
SBS works with the Office of Faculty Development’s First Year, First Friday series for faculty who are new to UMass Amherst. We meet both as a smaller SBS group of new faculty and in larger discussions with new faculty across the university over breakfast to discuss research, teaching and managing work, and creating a community of new faculty who can learn from each other and share their own practices and experiences.
Funded Research Programming
ADVANCE program workshops are delivered in partnership with units across campus to extend and enhance our existing campus offerings. Partners include the Provost’s Office, the Office of Equity and Inclusion, the Institute for Social Science Research, the Institute for Teaching and Faculty Development, the Center for Research on Families, as well as the College of Education, the College of Natural Sciences, the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and the School of Public Health and Health Sciences. Please contact Donna Baron with any questions.
The "I'm a PI, Now What?" workshop series is intended to assist faculty Principal Investigators in managing the sometimes challenging tasks of getting all the administrative work completed on a grant while staying focused on the research. Developed by senior grant-funded faculty, this series covers topics such as overall PI responsibilities, working with subcontractors, hiring and supervising staff, monitoring budgets, reporting strategies, and thinking about applying for the next grant.
Faculty Career Advancement Programming
The Office of Faculty Development (OFD) hosts a centralized calendar of on-campus events which are specifically offered to support UMass Amherst faculty in their professional development.
OFD also offers a variety of writing retreats and workshops, including monthly Scholarly Writing Retreats on the last Friday of each month throughout the academic year in the Faculty Commons which offers ample space for writing at large tables, workstations with computers, two collaborative workrooms, wireless Internet access, a scanner and copier/printer, and a view of the Pioneer Valley. You are welcome to join for an hour, come and go to accommodate unexpected meetings, or spend the entire day in the company of your colleagues. Entry requires a valid UMass Amherst UCard. Please complete the online registration process required by the library to have your UCard programmed for entry.
The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) supports faculty across all career stages and disciplines with programs and resources focused on student-centered teaching, course and curriculum design, intercultural competency, leadership, and more.
SBS Faculty Research Groups
Joining a faculty research group is an effective way to get feedback on your research and helps you develop a network of like-minded scholars across disciplines. UMass and College of Social and Behavioral Sciences have many dynamic, active working groups that are open to new members.
Administrative Leadership Programming
Faculty at all ranks (both tenure-track and non-tenure-track) are called upon to lead. Whether running an academic department, serving as a graduate or undergraduate program director, chairing a committee, spearheading a working group, or running a lab, the Office of Faculty Development (OFD) offers an array of programs designed to help faculty understand leadership styles, enhance leadership skills, and help explore pathways to future leadership roles.
New Chairs Academy: An intensive leadership training for new departmental heads and chairs. This academy, offered by the Office of Faculty Development, the Provost's Office, and Workplace Learning and Development, occurs annually in August.
LEAD+: Leadership Enhancement for Academic Departments (LEAD+) is professional development and support program for heads and chairs of academic units across UMass Amherst. It is offered jointly by the Academic Personnel Office and the Office of Faculty Development.
LEAF: Leadership Essentials for All Faculty (LEAF) is a workshop series for all faculty who are interested in learning more about leadership and enhancing their leadership skills.
