Xavier University (Cincinnati, Ohio). Faculty Development Committee

The Xavier University Faculty Development Committee assists in the awarding of four financial awards: Faculty Development Leave, the Jesuit Faculty Fellowship Award, Summer Fellowships, and the Wheeler Award.

The Faculty Development Committee consists of five principal faculty representing all three colleges at Xavier University. The Faculty Development Committee reviews all applications and the Chair, together with the Office of the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, submits the acceptable proposals to the Provost and CAO. The Committee indicates to the Provost and CAO its own judgment regarding priority among the proposals it submits. The Provost and CAO has the final voice in approving proposals for funding.

Faculty Development Committee members applying for a Faculty Development Award (e.g. Wheeler, Summer Fellowship. or Leave) must recuse themselves from all discussions pertaining to that award category. Faculty Development Leaves are available to Principal Faculty with a minimum of three years in the tenure-track position at Xavier. Tenure-track faculty may apply in the fall of their third tenure-track year. These grants may be at full salary for one semester or at one-half for two semesters. Recipients of faculty development leaves will generally be released from regular committee assignments for the period of the award. Within two months after the end of the leave or fellowship, the faculty member must submit a project report to the Ofice of the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and the faculty member's department chair and dean.

The endowed Faculty Fellowship competition is made possible by a generous gift from the Xavier Jesuit Community. The purpose of the Fellowship is to promote scholarship that enhances the service of faith and the promotion of justice. Each year, by means of a competition, a faculty member is selected as a Xavier Faculty Fellow. The Fellow is provided with a one semester leave with full salary, and a budget of $5,000 to cover expenses such as travel, student assistance, or materials related to the project. All full-time tenured or tenure track faculty from all disciplines are eligible to apply. Faculty Fellows are expected to present a seminar to the University Community within one academic year following the Fellowship.

Summer Fellowships are intended primarily, but not exclusively, for junior faculty members in the tenure-track position at Xavier. The current stipend is $4,000. the faculty member may teach one course or workshop during the summer of the award. Within two months after the end of the fellowship, the faculty member must submit a project report to the Office of the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs.

The Wheeler Academic Development Fund was established to support selected teaching activities related to improving academic programs. Monies for the fund were provided from the estate of Esther Wheeler, long-time administrative assistant in the Xavier Evening College. She was the wife of Professor Charles Wheeler, a former Chair of the English Department and the first Director of Summer Sessions. The Wheeler Awards are made to cover expenses associated with the following types of projects: 1, Individual Projects directed toward a faculty member developing new courses or new approaches to current courses, or 2, Group Projects directed toward improving or strengthening the capacities of programs and departments to meet their teaching responsibilities. The Wheeler Awards are to fund pilot programs and new initiatives and efforts, and not to replace existing sources of funding or to provide ongoing support for a program. (Source for the above information was the Xavier University Faculty Development web site, accessed September 10, 2013).

From the guide to the Xavier University Faculty Development Committee records, 1976-2013, 1994-2013, (Xavier University Archives and Special Collections)