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Office of Academic Affairs
Office of Faculty Affairs

Faculty Focus May 2026

May 5, 2026

News and Information for Ohio State Faculty

FACULTY AFFAIRS
May 2026 

Collage of faculty

Six selected as 2026 Distinguished University Professors

Six faculty members were recently named Distinguished University Professors, the university’s highest faculty honor. Distinguished University Professor is a permanent, honorific title awarded annually to up to six tenure-track professors who have been at Ohio State for at least five years and have demonstrated truly exceptional records in teaching, research, scholarly or creative work and in service. 

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Provost’s Midcareer Scholars: Scarlet and Gray Associate Professors selected

Six associate professors were recently chosen to participate in the next cohort of Provost’s Midcareer Scholars: Scarlet and Gray Associate Professors. The program supports tenure-track faculty who have recently been appointed to the rank of associate professor with tenure and who have demonstrated exceptional excellence in scholarship, teaching and service.

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Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching banner

2026 Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching recipients announced

The Ohio State University’s Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching, established during the 1959–60 academic year, is one of the university’s most prestigious teaching awards. Ten faculty members were recently notified of their 2026 awards through surprise announcements led by senior university leaders. 

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Faculty collage

Faculty-to-Faculty Mentorship Awards

Six faculty members were recently announced as the inaugural Faculty-to-Faculty Mentorship Award recipients. This new university‑wide award, established by the Office of Academic Affairs, recognizes faculty who go beyond traditional expectations by investing time, expertise and care into guiding peers in their professional growth, scholarly development and overall success.

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President and Provost’s Leadership Institute

The Office of Academic Affairs is pleased to announce that the President and Provost’s Leadership Institute (PPLI) is being relaunched with three programs in support of emerging leaders who are interested in both informal and formal leadership roles in academia. 

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Distinguished Scholar Award recipients named

The Distinguished Scholar Award is among the highest annual honors awarded at Ohio State. The university-level award annually honors faculty members who demonstrate scholarly activity, conduct research or creative works that represent exceptional achievements in their fields and garner distinction for the university. Learn more about the scholars at the links below. 

 

Learn More About the Award

 

Opportunities

Update on Federal ADA Title II Digital Accessibility Compliance deadline

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced a one-year extension of the compliance deadline for the ADA Title II digital accessibility rule. For large public entities such as Ohio State, the enforcement date has been moved from April 24, 2026, to April 26, 2027. 

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Dive into course design and AI at May's Course Design Institute

Are you designing or redesigning a course for autumn semester? Join colleagues for the May Course Design Institute. In this multi-day experience, Drake Institute staff guide participants through a backward design process that integrates evidence-based strategies and purposeful use of GenAI to design impactful courses. Sessions meet virtually via CarmenZoom on May 19, 22, 26 and 29 from 1-4:30 p.m. 


Learn More and Register

 

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:

More Opportunities

 

Reminders about Respondus Lockdown Browser

Respondus LockDown Browser is a tool that can be enabled on CarmenCanvas quizzes to create a more secure testing environment. Keep in mind that LockDown Browser does not monitor, restrict or flag student behavior. 

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Fulbright U.S. Scholar competition now open for 2027-28

With more than 380 awards in over 130 countries, Fulbright provides exceptional opportunities for faculty to advance their research, expand international collaborations, and strengthen the global profile of their academic units. Most award applications are due Sept. 15, and U.S. citizenship is required. The Office of International Affairs offers comprehensive advising, including assistance identifying suitable awards, refining project ideas and preparing strong proposals.

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On-demand training: Make your CarmenCanvas content accessible

Need quick, accessible training directly related to your teaching platform? A valuable resource is waiting for you in CarmenCanvas! Access the self-paced course, available through the CarmenCanvas help menu. This course is designed to teach you how to make your course content accessible, ensuring you're ready to meet the new accessibility standards. It’s a perfect, on-demand way to learn the skills you need for creating accessible content. 

Visit Carmen Canvas

 

Nominations open for BTAA Academic Leadership Program

Established in 1989, the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) Academic Leadership Program is an intensive program that develops leadership and managerial skills for faculty who have demonstrated exceptional ability and academic promise. Nominated faculty should be professors or associate professors who are close to promotion and have demonstrated leadership experience and an interest in pursuing other leadership roles. Nominations for the 2026-27 cohort are due May 8 and may be submitted via email to facultyaffairs@osu.edu.

Learn More and Submit a Nomination

 

From Debate to Dialogue: Conversation Strategies to Build Connection Across Difference

This training series, co-presented by Community Building and Conflict Resolution and The Drake Institute for Teaching and Learning, is a two-day training opportunity where participants will learn to apply essential skills for building affirming dialogue in the workplace and the classroom. The spring training will be held June 2-3 from 9 a.m. to noon each day (virtual). 

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Ohio State Mentoring Initiative invites departments and programs to request mentoring workshops

The Ohio State Mentoring Initiative invites departments and programs to request Better Research Through Better Mentoring workshops for the summer or upcoming academic year. These workshops help faculty build practical mentoring skills. Use the link below to request a free, one-hour workshop. Learn more and view topics at go.osu.edu/osmi.

Request a Workshop

 

Join the Consortium of Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences

Faculty leading summer undergraduate research experiences are invited to join the Consortium of Undergraduate Research Experiences, now housed in the Graduate School. The consortium connects more than 10 programs and offers development workshops, social events and a research symposium. Participation is free; members commit to committee service or summer events. To join, please email gradrecruit@osu.edu with your program name and number of student participants by May 15.

Learn More About the Consortium

 

Faculty Affairs events calendar

Faculty Affairs has a wide range of engaging events throughout the year. Check out the events calendar for the latest on opportunities for the 2025-26 academic year!

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