Drake faculty members are invited to participate in a Faculty Writers’ Workshop (FWW) focused on working effectively on our writing and scholarship. We will meet virtually from 10 a.m.–11 a.m. on Fridays (Feb. 4, Feb. 25, March 25, April 22, May 13) to discuss issues with getting writing done and workshop work-in-progress, with optional additional meetings for writing quietly together.

Our goal will be to help set ourselves up to make progress on our scholarship over the semester. To the degree faculty are interested, we will read and discuss Joli Jensen’s book Write No Matter What. The session will also include discussion/workshop of the faculty members’ own scholarship and on-site writing time.

This writers’ workshop has been generously supported by the Provost’s Office, the Humanities Center, and the Dean of the College of the Arts and Sciences. There are spots for ten faculty participants. Should more than ten individuals express interest, priority shall be given to 1) Those who actively participated in the previous Faculty Writers’ Groups, 2) Tenure-track faculty who are not yet tenured, 3) Faculty who are members of groups under-represented. Participants who attend all five sessions will receive a stipend of $150 (approximately$109+38% benefits).If you are interested in participating, please fill out the interest form by 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28.

If you have questions, please contact the co-facilitators of the FWW, Nate Holdren (nate.holdren@drake.edu) and En Li (en.li@drake.edu).

— Nate Holdren, Law, Politics & Society; and En Li, History Department

The Office of Equity and Inclusion is thrilled to announce that the Crew Scholars Program is expanding. Beginning Fall 2022 the Crew program will triple in size, growing from one entering first year cohort of 20–25 students, to three EFR cohorts of 20–25 students each.

Three Drake faculty members will be competitively selected, each of whom will work with one Crew cohort for the 2022–2023 academic year in partnership with the Director of Equity and Inclusion Jazlin Coley.

Position Description – Crew faculty will:

• serve as the instructor of record, alongside Director of Equity and Inclusion, for two one-credit Crew courses (pass/fall; no grading), taught in each of fall and spring semesters during the 22-23 academic year;
• Participate in Crew Days (pre-Welcome Week orientation): August 21-23, 2022;
• Provide consistent weekly contact hours (standing and “as needed”) for one EFR Crew cohort (20-25 students);
• Provide occasional communication to Crew Mentors, and otherwise support connection and relationship-building between Crew students and Crew Mentors (mentors trained and assigned by Director of Equity and Inclusion and Associate Provost of Campus Equity and Inclusion).
• **During summer of 2022 a small number of communications to incoming students, as well as limited participation in summer orientation sessions will be ideal (mutually acceptable/feasible engagement will be worked out with Director of Equity and Inclusion).
• This is a one year appointment.

Qualifications – Successful candidates will have:

• served on the Drake faculty for at least three years and currently have an ongoing faculty appointment;
• a prior demonstrated commitment to the success of Drake students who are historically underrepresented, as well as an understanding of Drake’s commitment to DEIJ (diversity, equity, inclusion and justice) and the ways the Crew Scholars Program reflects that commitment;
• an unwavering investment in championing Drake students who both experience various barriers related to systems of inequity and injustice (especially as these correlate with racial/ethnic identities and socioeconomic experiences), but who are also ready, able and eager to thrive and lead as members of this campus community;
• a willingness to learn, grow and collaborate with students, and equity and inclusions-committed Drake staff and faculty (especially affiliated with the Office of Equity and Inclusion), in a spirit of humility, commitment and creativity.

Compensation and support

• Each Crew faculty member will be compensated a total of $5,000 over the course of the academic year (this rate reflects two 1-credit courses, each of which will be taught engaging with an existing curricular plan/schedule, as well as obligations to provide contact hours and mentoring responsibilities essential to the success of Crew Scholars).
• Each faculty member will be directly supported by the Director of Equity and Inclusion who is responsible for the staff leadership of the Crew Scholars Program, as well as by the Associate Provost for Campus Equity and Inclusion under whose supervision/support the Crew Scholars Program resides.
• The Associate Provost will work with Crew Faculty to ensure all necessary documentation and communication is executed to ensure this vital institutional work is visible and counted in faculty member’s unit evaluation/promotion processes.

Application process

• Applications are due by Monday, February 14, 2022.
• Please submit to the Associate Provost for Campus Equity and Inclusion, harvey@drake.edu, the following materials:
  • A statement of interest that
    • describes applicant’s qualifications,
    • articulates applicant’s commitment to the well-being and thriving of historically underrepresented students, understanding of Drake’s approach to DEIJ as an institutional value, any prior experience with the Crew Scholars Program and/or other initiatives pertaining to student success and institutional transformation,
    • and speaks to readiness and ability to incorporate the time and energy required in this role into 22-23 workload.
  • An updated c.v.
  • A brief statement of support from chair of department or appropriate unit leadership indicating support for this overload appointment.
• Interviews will be conducted during late February with the goal of making appointments by early March 2022.

— Jen Harvey, Associate Provost, Campus Equity and Inclusion

In 2009, the Board of Trustees of Drake University voted to create the Ronald Troyer Research Fellowship Endowment for full-time faculty members in recognition of Dr. Troyer’s many contributions to Drake University during his tenure as Provost, 2000–2009.  In creating this fellowship, the Trustees particularly wanted to recognize Provost Troyer’s unwavering commitment to the support of faculty research and development at the highest level.

The Troyer Research Fellow receives a stipend of $5,000 in support of his/her scholarly work.  The funds may be used for a variety of research-related purposes, including support of research assistants, equipment, travel and materials, but may not be used to provide a stipend for the recipient.  The funds must be expended by the end of the fiscal year for which they are awarded.

The Troyer Fellowship is awarded annually on the basis of a competitive application process conducted by the Office of the Provost.  Selection of the Troyer Research Fellow from among the applicants is based on the applicant’s record of scholarly accomplishment and future promise as a scholar. Applicants must be full-time faculty who hold the rank of Associate Professor or Full Professor and are in at least their fourth year of teaching at Drake University; faculty who have had a Troyer Research Fellowship in the past 10 years are ineligible to apply.

Applicants should submit a current curriculum vitae, a letter of application of no more than three pages, a preliminary budget suggesting how the fellowship dollars might be spent, and a one-paragraph abstract written for a non-specialist audience that summarizes the proposed research. The application letter should address the applicant’s record of scholarly accomplishment, future promise, how they will benefit and how the university will benefit if selected as the Troyer Research Fellow.

Please email applications to the Office of the Deputy Provost, via emails to both renee.cramer@drake.edu and  nicki.kimm@drake.edu on or before March 18, 2022. A committee comprised of faculty holding University professorships will review the applications, making a recommendation for the award to the Provost.

— Renée Cramer, Deputy Provost