In an effort to expose interested faculty to the ins-and-outs of academic administration, West Virginia University is launching an Academic Leadership Fellows program, joining other prestigious institutions in providing select faculty members an opportunity to work with top administrators.

In creating the initiative, WVU joins Penn State University, Purdue University, and the Johns Hopkins University in offering academic administration leadership experience to current faculty via an intensive on-campus program.

“When we began to consider creating a fellows program, we looked closely at what was being offered at a number of other institutions,” said C.B. Wilson, associate provost for academic personnel. “I think we’ve developed a real win-win initiative, one that will offer faculty valuable experience while also providing high-level support to major academic programs or processes at WVU.”

Possible areas of focus for fellows include academic program development, student success initiatives, and the promotion and tenure process. All fellows will be expected to contribute directly to the work of the provost’s office.

“We have some tremendously exciting academic initiatives ongoing or just beginning,” said Provost Joyce McConnell, “and we have just as many exceptional faculty across campus who are interested in exploring administrative roles. This program is the perfect way to bring our needs and our talent together in a dynamic, productive way.”

The Office of the Provost is currently accepting applications for the Academic Leadership Fellows Program. Current Morgantown campus faculty members at or above the associate professor level or equivalent are eligible to apply.

Academic Leadership Fellows will work under the direct mentorship of either the provost or an associate provost on a particular area of academic administration. Areas include: graduate academic affairs, undergraduate academic affairs, academic personnel, and university-wide academic administration. Applicants may apply to work in any of these areas, though only one applicant will be accepted for each.

Applicants accepted for the 2015-2016 academic year will be members of the inaugural class of Fellows. Future classes of Fellows may have the opportunity to work in the colleges, the libraries, or other units.

McConnell, who will mentor one fellow in her office, said she looks forward to working closely with a faculty member who may wish to pursue a permanent administrative position in the future.

“I began my academic career as a faculty member,” she said, “then I served as an associate dean and a dean. I know how difficult the transition can be into an administrative role and I think this program can be tremendously beneficial in showing interested individuals how to make the shift.”

The link to application materials can be found at http://wvufaculty.wvu.edu/opportunities. Applications with all required documents must be received or postmarked by the end of the business day on Monday, March 2, 2015. For more information or answers to any questions, contact CB Wilson at cbwilson@mail.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

ac/02/05/15

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