Faculty Development | Lawrence University

Lawrence offers a variety of opportunities for personal and professional development. Every faculty member is encouraged to participate in a few each year to connect with colleagues and grow as a professor.

Programs for new faculty are on the New Faculty Mentoring web page.

Lawrence Opportunities

Faculty development opportunities are offered by the Dean of Faculty Office, the Office of Diversity & Inclusion, the Inclusive Pedagogy Committee, and the Director of Advising. Events are announced via email and in the LU Insider. Look for information on the following web pages:

Diversity & Inclusion resource groups
Diversity & Inclusion events
Spiritual & Religious Life programs and events
Wellness & Recreation activities

Other Opportunities

Additional faculty development opportunities are offered by:

the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM)
the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)
Faculty Focus articles and the Teaching Professor conference & newsletter
pedagogy conferences for specific disciplines

Look under Grant Support for how to apply for funds to attend a professional conference.

Mentoring Circles

Mentoring Circles are peer-facilitated groups of up to 8 people that meet regularly to solve professional problems and support members' personal development as faculty members. Formal circles are organized by offices on campus; informal circles emerge on their own. Recent and current circles include:

Faculty of Color - addressing the unique challenges faced by faculty of color
Pre-Tenure Faculty (Years 2-5) - advancing from reappointment to tenure
Support for Scholarship - making progress on research & writing (informal, self-organizing)

Formal circles will invite new members in the fall and spring and will produce an annual report of accomplishments, challenges, and plans for the coming year.

For more information, or to suggest a new formal circle, contact Kimberly Barrett, Vice President for Diversity & Inclusion and Associate Dean of the Faculty.