News and Information for Ohio State Faculty
FACULTY AFFAIRS
February 2025
A message from Provost Bellamkonda
In his first week as Ohio State’s chief academic officer, Executive Vice President and Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda shares his excitement about becoming a Buckeye and his unwavering commitment to creating environments in which students can thrive, and faculty can flourish.
Distinguished University Professor nomination deadline Jan. 31
Distinguished University Professor award nominations are due Jan. 31. The Office of Academic Affairs awards the permanent, honorific title of Distinguished University Professor on a competitive basis to full tenure-track professors who have truly exceptional records in teaching, research, scholarly or creative work and service.
Faculty Affairs Leadership Podcast: Karla Zadnik
In this inspiring episode, the focus is on the pursuit of joy and fulfillment in both your personal life and the workplace. Dr. Karla Zadnik joins the podcast to explore the idea that finding happiness is not only possible but essential for leading a balanced and meaningful life.
Important resources and support for faculty and instructors
The Office of Academic Affairs is sharing the reminders and resources at the link below to assist all Ohio State faculty and instructors during the spring semester. Topics include:
- Weather or other short-term closing
- Religious accommodations
- Free speech, academic freedom and freedom of expression
- Listen. Learn. Discuss.
- Navigating conflict in the classroom
- Duty to report
- Incorporating generative artificial intelligence (AI) into your work
- Excused absences for short-term illness
Korie L. Little joins Faculty Affairs as a Faculty Fellow
Korie L. Little, professor of sociology and Distinguished University Scholar, has joined Faculty Affairs as a Faculty Fellow. In this role she will be developing and implementing a faculty-to-faculty mentoring program that offers resources and trainings and aligns efforts to recognize faculty who mentor other faculty.
Participate in the pilot study of a new student feedback survey
Instructors are sought to participate in an opt-in pilot of a new student feedback survey. The new instrument is intended to replace the SEI starting in the 2025-26 academic year and will be called the Survey of Student Learning Experiences (SSLE). The SSLE was pilot-tested in the GE Launch Seminar during autumn semester. A larger, opt-in pilot will be conducted in spring semester. Interested instructors should complete this survey by Jan. 30 to opt in to the spring pilot.
3 Ohio State faculty named fellows of National Academy of Inventors
Three Ohio State professors have been elected as members of the National Academy of Inventors 2024 class of fellows. The newest NAI fellows are Joseph Heremans, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and an Ohio Eminent Scholar in Nanotechnology, and two retired professors: 2023 Nobel Laureate Pierre Agostini, professor emeritus of physics, and Longya Xu, who recently retired as professor of electrical and computer engineering.
Telling Your Story workshop
All faculty preparing their dossier for promotion and tenure review are invited to register for the Telling Your Story workshop. In this session, we center the academic story within the core dossier and work with faculty to develop the narratives. Participants will leave this workshop with draft narrative statements and resources for continuing to develop these narratives. The workshop will take place Feb. 21 from 9 a.m. to noon in the Ohio Union Great Hall Meeting Rooms 1 and 2.
Opportunities
Teaching using generative AI: University and national updates
Gain valuable insights into the transformative impact of AI on education and how it is shaping the future of teaching and learning. In addition, learn about Ohio State AI tools and resources. The session takes place on Jan. 23 from noon to 1 p.m.
Limited Submission Opportunities
The Office of Foundation Relations manages the limited submission process for private foundation opportunities, which are listed on the Research Funding and Awards site.
Open and Upcoming Opportunities:
- David and Lucille Packard Foundation - 2025 Packard Fellowships for Science and Engineering
Internal due date: Feb. 10; Anticipated nomination date: March 14; Anticipated proposal due date: April 18 - Pew Charitable Trusts – Pew Scholars Program in Biomedical Sciences
Anticipated posting date: March 14; Anticipated internal due date: April 15; Anticipated nominations to funder due date: May 15; Anticipated proposal due date: Sept. 5 - Public Interest Technology University Network – PIT-UN Challenge Grant
Anticipated posting date: March 18; Anticipated internal due date: April 7; Anticipated proposal due date: May (date TBD)
Nominations open for Provost’s Midcareer Scholars: Scarlet and Gray Associate Professor Program
A new cycle is open and nominations are being accepted for the Provost's Midcareer Scholars: Scarlet and Gray Associate Professor Program. It supports tenure-track faculty who have recently been appointed to the rank of associate professor and is designed to acknowledge and reward scholarly, teaching and service excellence. Nominations are due Jan. 17.
February Course Design Institute
How can generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) help you design courses that align with your learning goals and meet your students' needs? Join this AI-Infused Course Design Institute, where you will learn how to prompt GenAI to support course design tasks such as creating expected learning outcomes, designing assignments and developing rubrics. Apply by Jan. 23.
Inclusive STEM Teaching Project at Ohio State
This spring, join Ohio State instructors for a six-week online course from the Inclusive STEM Teaching Project. Funded by the National Science Foundation, this project helps STEM faculty, postdocs, grad students and staff cultivate inclusive learning environments. Register by Feb. 4.
2024-25 Community Engaged Course Development Grants
The 2024-25 Community Engaged Course Development Grant application is open until 9 a.m. on Jan. 27. Any Ohio State instructor can apply for a grant of up to $4,000 to support the development of a new community-engaged course or revising an existing course to include community engagement.
Outreach and Engagement Documenting Impact Grants
Applications are being accepted for the Outreach and Engagement Documenting Impact Grants. Grants support program evaluation and impact reports for community-engaged research or community-engaged projects, in collaboration with a community partner, that addresses a specific need or problem within the community. Applications are due Feb. 25.
Applications open for the annual OSEP awards
In collaboration with Ohio State Energy Partners (OSEP), the Office of Academic Affairs has opened a call for grant proposals that align with the university's sustainability goals; align with advancing access, engagement and inclusive excellence goals; or promote research translation. Submissions are due March 17. Faculty, staff and students are eligible to apply. Awards range from $10,000 to $50,000.
"Spark" grants for arts engagement
Funded by the Mellon Foundation, Spark Grants provide seed funding for community-engaged arts projects. The competition is open to faculty, students and staff members on any Ohio State University campus for projects that center the arts and that are done in partnership with community organizations. Proposals involving communities served by our regional campuses are especially welcome and will receive priority consideration. Proposals are due March 17.
Support for teaching with technology
The Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning has expanded programming and services to help faculty innovate their teaching and enhance their courses with university-supported technology tools. You can access self-paced courses and on-demand videos, join a GenAI learning community, register for an upcoming workshop, work toward an endorsement in Technology-Enhanced Teaching or Online Teaching, or request a consultation.
Call for proposals: Research and Implementation Grant Program
The Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning's Research and Implementation Grant Program supports faculty research on evidence-based teaching practices and innovations in Ohio State courses. Applications are due April 7.
CAREER Award Proposal Development Program
The National Science Foundation's (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program supports early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization. Ohio State supports early-career faculty in pursuit of this award through the CAREER Proposal Development Program. Applications, including a one-page project summary, are due Jan. 17.
Faculty Affairs events calendar
Faculty Affairs has a wide range of engaging events throughout the year. Check out the events calendar for the latest. The calendar is updated on a regular basis.
In the News
- Grand Challenges: Homelessness (James Lachaud)
- Dense human population is linked to longer urban coyote survival
- Acoustic sensors find frequent gunfire on school walking routes
- A rising trend of ‘murderous verbs’ in movies over 50 years
- How the freezer factors into lowering food waste
- Ohio State performs a record 20-person, single institution living kidney donor transplant chain
- Ohio State promotes STEM education with community garden