Welcome Back!

Faculty Focus will publish monthly on the second Tuesday of each month during the 2018-2019 academic year, beginning Sept. 11. For questions or comments about Faculty Focus, contact Beverly Clark, beverly.clark@emory.edu, Director of Communications for Emory College of Arts and Sciences.

Save the Date: Strategic Plan Event Launch Sept. 5

Emory University is set to embark on a 10-year strategic plan – One Emory: Engaged for Impact – that will foster a culture of eminence to retain, attract, and inspire scholars of the highest order.

All Emory College faculty recently received an invitation from the President and Provost to attend the strategic plan launch event on Wednesday, September 5 from 3-5 p.m. in the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts. The event will outline the plan specifics for Emory faculty. Faculty are encouraged to make time to attend the event and learn more about how the plan will impact you. RSVP online.

Reception for New and Promoted Faculty Sept. 21

All Emory College faculty are invited to join Dean Michael A. Elliott on Friday, Sept. 21 from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. in the atrium of the Mathematics & Science Center to honor new faculty, promoted faculty, and named chairs.

Faculty Development

New Faculty Orientation & Luncheon Series

New Faculty Orientation takes place 1:30-3:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 28 in Atwood Chemistry 360. The orientation will be facilitated by Dean Elliott and will feature an overview and introduction to key College and University administrators and their respective offices. Orientation will be followed by the University Convocation at 4:30 p.m. in the Woodruff PE Center. All new faculty are encouraged to attend.

Additional monthly luncheons will be held for new faculty throughout fall semester and will feature speakers from key areas of the University and College. The full schedule can be found on the Office of Faculty website.

Orientation Sessions for New Department Chairs

The Emory College administration hosts several orientation sessions for new department chairs and program directors to assist them in their development as academic administrators.

The first session is a kickoff luncheon from noon-2:30 p.m. in the Carlos Museum (Ackerman Hall, 3^rd Floor), Friday, Aug. 24, after the regular department chairs meeting. Dean Elliott will discuss the role of the department chair and program director and introduce members of the College administration. The full schedule can be found on the Office of Faculty website. All sessions after the initial August 24^th orientation are open to all chairs.

Office Undergraduate Education: Important Dates & Events

Looking for undergraduate researchers?

The Research Partners Program connects second- and third- year students interested in working on a research project with a faculty mentor who needs a research assistant. Students in the humanities, arts, social sciences, and sciences are encouraged to apply. Students work closely on a faculty member’s existing research project before they undertake more independent research. Interested faculty may post their research projects online with the Office for Undergraduate Research (URP). For more information, contact Cora MacBeth, Assistant Dean, URP.

First-Year pre-major advising and showcase

First-year students will meet with their pre-major advisors on Monday, Aug. 27 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. based on the schedule determined by your department PACE Liaison. If you have questions regarding your pre-major advising schedule, please contact your department PACE Liaison or Undergraduate Program Coordinator.

New students will also attend the "Academic Showcase" 2:30-4 p.m., Monday, Aug. 27 in the Woodruff Library. Various departmental representatives will be on hand to answer student questions. If a Pre-Major advisee has questions about another subject area that you’re unable to answer during the morning meeting, please direct them to the appropriate department at the Showcase.

First-Year Registration and Add/Drop/Swap

Incoming students began registering for their fall semester on Aug. 13. First-year students will have the opportunity to make changes on August 27-28, before Add/Drop/Swap opens to all students on Aug. 29. Add/Drop/Swap ends Sept. 5.

Degree Application Deadline: The student deadline for fall graduation applications is Friday, Sept. 14.

Research and Grant Support Opportunities

Save the Date: Foundation Relations Social

Come meet the Office of Foundation Relations and learn more about how they work with faculty and staff from 3-5 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 11 in the Carlos Museum Reception Hall. Light hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine will be served. RSVP by Aug. 31 to barbara.voss@emory.edu.

Call for PERS grant proposals

The Program to Enhance Research and Scholarship (PERS) will consider proposals from Emory College faculty for modest seed funding for new research, research travel, other research related activities, and matches for equipment grants. The Fall 2018 deadline is 5 p.m., Friday, Oct. 12. Proposals must demonstrate, where appropriate, efforts to seek other sources of funding, and will be evaluated on the basis of merit and need.

Learn more about grant funding support

Representatives from the Emory College Office of Research Funding Support and other university offices are available to meet with departments interested in increasing grant funding for research, student/postdoc support, and pedagogy. Tiffany Worboy (Associate Director, Foundation Relations), Kady Weingart (Director, Colleges and Professional Schools RAS) and Ron Calabrese (College Senior Associate Dean for Research), are available to visit your department during a faculty meeting or other prearranged time.

They can explain how Foundation Relations, Research Administration, and Emory College administration can help you identify funders, navigate foundations, prepare budgets and submit proposals, and obtain supporting commitments from the College to fund your research, research training, or pedagogical efforts. Contact Ron Calabrese to arrange a time for a visit.

Emory College Social Media

Share your events

Emory College is active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (mobile only, @emorycollege). Follow us for updates and news around campus. Need help promoting an event? Send your event flyers (PDF's) and photos for promotion to College Communications Manager April Hunt at april.hunt@emory.edu at least 10 days in advance of your event.

Guidelines and Best Practices Available

Emory College developed a set of social media guidelines and best practices last spring that are designed to provide faculty, staff, and students with practical advice that adheres to the Open Expression policy and our commitment to academic freedom, as well as other existing policies. Questions? Contact Emory College Communications Director Beverly Clark or Communications Manager April Hunt.

Finance: Year-End Close

Emory's fiscal year ends on Friday, August 31. Full details are available on the University's Finance website. Below are three important University finance deadline dates for departments:

• FY18 First Close: Tuesday, Sept. 11
• FY18 Second Close: Friday, Sept. 21
• FY18 Final Close: Thursday, Sept. 27

College deadlines are one week prior to those dates to ensure transactions complete the approval process:  

• FY18 First Close: Tuesday, September 4
• FY18 Second Close: Friday, September 14
• FY18 Final Close: Thursday, September 20

Facilities Updates

The Emory College facilities office is completing feasibility studies for strategic renovations to Callaway Memorial Center, White Hall, and the General Classroom Portfolio. Design efforts will begin this fall with construction and renovations likely to begin summer of 2019.

A new 70-seat flexible classroom in Atwood Chemistry Center is now available for reservation. It can be scheduled through the Registrar’s Office. It features moveable seating, dual screens, and sliding marker boards.

Decatur Book Festival Sept. 1-3

Several faculty and staff from Emory College of Arts and Sciences will be featured during the 2018 AJC Decatur Book Festival Aug. 31-Sept. 2, and Emory University is a presenting sponsor this year. In addition to faculty authors who will speak and read from their books as part of the festival program, faculty and staff will participate on several panels and presentations. More details can be found on the CFDE website.

AAAS, Provost Present Session on African American Women's Writing

The American Academy of Arts & Sciences and the Emory University Office of the Provost present a discussion on "The Study of African American Women’s Writing: Past and Futures," a Morton L. Mandel Public Lecture, on Thursday, Sept. 6.

The program begins with a reception in the Rose Library at 5 p.m., followed by the panel discussion at 6 p.m. in the Jones Room, Woodruff Library. The program features:  Frances Smith Foster, Charles Howard Candler Professor Emeritus of English and Women’s Studies, Emory; Pellom McDaniels III, Curator of African American Collections in the Rose Library; and Beverly Guy-Sheftall, Anna Julia Cooper Professor of Women’s Studies at Spelman College. Michelle Wright, Longstreet Professor of English at Emory, will moderate the discussion after an introduction by Emory University Provost Dwight McBride. Register online by Thursday, Aug. 23.