About the Office of Faculty Advancement
The Office of Faculty Advancement at Clemson University was officially created in February 2023 as an opportunity to provide institutional support focused on the success and development of all faculty at Clemson University. In an effort to support the professional success of all Faculty, our office is committed to supporting research-informed policies, practices and professional development opportunities. Faculty are a linchpin in meeting Clemson Elevate’s goals of providing the #1 student experience and doubling research by 2035. We recognize the impact of faculty on our research and educational community. We are here to equip them with the tools needed to develop and achieve all their career goals at Clemson University.
The Office offers a wide range of programming and is involved in policy conversations across campus. The office currently has two main focal areas — faculty mentoring and best practices in faculty review.
Our Mission, Vision and Values
In September 2023, the Office of Faculty Advancement officially created and charged its Advisory Board, which participated in developing the vision, mission and values of the office and continues to play an essential role in the strategic visioning of the office.
Vision
To cultivate a culture at Clemson University where every faculty member is valued, empowered and equipped to advance their career and support transformative change, from the local community to the global stage, by actively promoting an inclusive academic community.
Mission
To support personal and institutional development through the adoption of data-driven policies while leveraging the institutional support necessary to enable all Clemson faculty to fulfill their professional aspirations both within and beyond our institution.
Values
The Office of Faculty Advancement values the following:
- The commitment of our faculty to attain and maintain national recognition in the realms of instruction, research, mentoring, engagement and service.
- Fostering opportunities and a culture that supports Clemson's values.
- The importance of the diverse perspectives, that faculty members bring to their scholarly activities.
- The individual effort each faculty member exerts to advance their career through professional development.
- Our commitment to meet the objectives set forth in the Clemson Elevate strategic plan.
- Collaborations and partnerships that promote productive interactions among all members of our faculty community.
Key Focal Areas: 2023 - 2026
Best Practices in Faculty Review
Decision-making processes and systems supporting faculty evaluations are critical contributors of faculty success across career stages. Clemson University intends to work diligently and with intentionality to employ research-informed principles and best practices in faculty review systems and decision-making processes. Under this focus area, the team will continue to develop programming and suggesting best practices based on the current research and practices at other institutions. The office is currently focused on best practices of evaluation of teaching effectiveness and will expand to goal setting, annual reviews, and tenure-promotion-reappointment (TPR) in upcoming years.
Get help with faculty evaluationMid-Career Faculty Mentoring
Faculty mentoring is a core component of faculty success and professional advancement. The Office of Faculty Advancement will examine trends in mentoring research and best practices, organizing and leading an existing university-wide network of faculty mentors to support mid- and later-career faculty. This priority is identified as a need in Higher Education research and was identified by research and evaluation of faculty needs at Clemson. In these areas, we offer a number of professional development and faculty mentorship opportunities.
For additional resources in other areas, explore the Faculty Resources page.
