Associate Provost for Faculty Advocacy

Overview

The Associate Provost for Faculty Advocacy (APFA) is a new position that will provide advocacy for and on behalf of faculty members at Texas A&M University. This advocacy will take place through several means, including meetings with individual faculty and representing their concerns and perspectives to university administration/administrators. Additionally, the APFA serves as an important liaison between the faculty and the administration, ensuring that faculty perspectives and interests are effectively communicated to decision-makers, both for individual as well as collective concerns, in the decision-making process.

Position Description

The Search

The Associate Provost for Faculty Advocacy (APFA) will provide advocacy for and on behalf of faculty members at Texas A&M University and will report to the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs. The Associate Provost for Faculty Advocacy will be integrated with the Office of Faculty Affairs and have a direct line of communication with the Provost and Executive Vice President.

This advocacy will take place through several means, including meetings with individual faculty and representing their concerns and perspectives to university administration/administrators, and directly communicating with the Provost regarding faculty concerns. The APFA is expected to collaborate closely with campus offices that oversee processes related to faculty members, including VPR and GPS. They will also interact with faculty groups, including the Faculty Senate, Council of Principal Investigators, Council of Deans, and the Department Head Council Steering Committee, as well as staff who engage in scholarly or educational activities in their primary job role, including librarians and research scientists. The APFA thus serves as a liaison between the faculty and the administration, ensuring that faculty perspectives and interests are effectively communicated to decision-makers during the process. The APFA will also have opportunities to develop new programs, mechanisms, and initiatives that support faculty.

Stephaney Davis is leading this search with Texas A&M University Executive Searches.

#accordionGroup1 { display: none; }

The Associate Provost for Faculty Advocacy (APFA) will provide advocacy for and on behalf of faculty members at Texas A&M University and will report to the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs. The Associate Provost for Faculty Advocacy will be integrated with the Office of Faculty Affairs and have a direct line of communication with the Provost and Executive Vice President.

This advocacy will take place through several means, including meetings with individual faculty and representing their concerns and perspectives to university administration/administrators, and directly communicating with the Provost regarding faculty concerns. The APFA is expected to collaborate closely with campus offices that oversee processes related to faculty members, including VPR and GPS. They will also interact with faculty groups, including the Faculty Senate, Council of Principal Investigators, Council of Deans, and the Department Head Council Steering Committee, as well as staff who engage in scholarly or educational activities in their primary job role, including librarians and research scientists. The APFA thus serves as a liaison between the faculty and the administration, ensuring that faculty perspectives and interests are effectively communicated to decision-makers during the process. The APFA will also have opportunities to develop new programs, mechanisms, and initiatives that support faculty.

Stephaney Davis is leading this search with Texas A&M University Executive Searches.

Opportunities & Challenges

This new position that supports faculty advocacy presents a unique opportunity and the ability to shape the direction and focus of this role in the university. This will include strengthening faculty advocacy in its capacity, visibility, accessibility, and independence across all Texas A&M campuses. A challenge of the position will be to establish independence within the faculty advocacy role. While being a part of the Faculty Affairs office provides an in-depth understanding of policies and processes from a faculty perspective, faculty should have confidence that this role is perceived as an advocate for them, with clear distinction from administrative influence.

#accordionGroup2 { display: none; }

Key Responsibilities

Individual Faculty Advocacy

Meets with, supports, and advises faculty members and staff who engage in scholarly or educational activities in their primary job role, across Texas A&M University. Provides guidance to faculty members on processes related to faculty issues, climate issues, grievances, complaints, and other concerns of faculty on campus, and is not involved in a decision making capacity with any personnel action such as tenure and promotion. Develops oversight of these issues across campus to identify areas where additional resources, policies, or structures would better support faculty and an excellent work environment.

Representing Faculty Interests

Advocates for faculty interests and on behalf of faculty during operational decisions and policy development across offices, including Provost, Faculty Affairs, Graduate and Professional Studies, Academic Affairs. Proactively identifies potential consequences of decisions for faculty and works with decision makers to improve the outcomes for faculty, as needed/necessary.

Developing Faculty Programs

Identifies strategic areas to intervene in current structures, policies, or resources to improve faculty outcomes and engagement. Collaborates with other offices to find solutions to address issues and promote an excellent work environment for faculty members. This can include additional duties as delegated by university administration or identified by the APFA based on the needs of the faculty.

#accordionGroup3 { display: none; }

Individual Faculty Advocacy

Meets with, supports, and advises faculty members and staff who engage in scholarly or educational activities in their primary job role, across Texas A&M University. Provides guidance to faculty members on processes related to faculty issues, climate issues, grievances, complaints, and other concerns of faculty on campus, and is not involved in a decision making capacity with any personnel action such as tenure and promotion. Develops oversight of these issues across campus to identify areas where additional resources, policies, or structures would better support faculty and an excellent work environment.

Representing Faculty Interests

Advocates for faculty interests and on behalf of faculty during operational decisions and policy development across offices, including Provost, Faculty Affairs, Graduate and Professional Studies, Academic Affairs. Proactively identifies potential consequences of decisions for faculty and works with decision makers to improve the outcomes for faculty, as needed/necessary.

Developing Faculty Programs

Identifies strategic areas to intervene in current structures, policies, or resources to improve faculty outcomes and engagement. Collaborates with other offices to find solutions to address issues and promote an excellent work environment for faculty members. This can include additional duties as delegated by university administration or identified by the APFA based on the needs of the faculty.

Qualifications & Characteristics

Required Education and Experience

Terminal Degree
Current faculty member at Texas A&M University
Ability to recognize and advocate for concerns of tenure-track faculty, tenured faculty, academic professional track faculty, and librarians
Demonstrated record of campus leadership and faculty engagement
Ability to collaborate across offices and units
Experience building programs and initiatives
Excellent communication skills.

Preferred Education and Experience

Experience with Texas A&M policies, procedures, culture, and leadership
Training or certification in conflict resolution and/or mediation
Experience of creating strategic goals and successfully implementing related programs
Experience with university-wide programs

#accordionGroup4 { display: none; }