Dear Senate Faculty,
In light of the recent wildfire devastation, we are writing to remind you that the merit and promotion process recognizes the significant impact on the ability of faculty to perform all aspects of their work, including research, teaching and service, in times of crisis.
Faculty should document such impacts on professional achievements in their self-statements (teaching, research, service, and/or inclusive excellence, as may be relevant/appropriate). When crises occur, faculty are expected to focus more on documenting the effects of the disruptions than the causes. While faculty are not expected to provide personal details about difficult individual circumstances, the impact of these circumstances can be included. Some examples of the types of non-confidential information that might be provided are listed below:
- Changes in teaching workload relative to department or school norms, or teaching overloads undertaken due to impacts on other faculty;
- Additional efforts required for student advising and mentoring beyond the regular expectations (e.g., support provided for emotional or mental health, or economic and social issues related to the crisis);
- Lost opportunities for scholarly and professional recognition both on campus and professionally, including invited lectures, plenary sessions at meetings, etc.;
- Loss of specific scholarly activity or funding opportunities (e.g., performances, fellowships, sabbaticals, field trials, collaborations) due to restricted travel, closed facilities, or lack of access to research subjects;
- Constraints on time to devote to research due to significantly increased caregiving responsibilities or health issues.
Please note that deans and chairs may only reference such impacts if the candidate themselves raise it in their own statements. They may not add such information separately to the file.
The process and advice was first developed to respond to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This reminder was prompted by the recent fires, but they are not the only crises that may be mentioned.
Sincerely,
| Gillian R. Hayes Vice Provost for Academic Personnel Robert A. and Barbara L. Kleist Professor of Informatics | N. Edward Coulson Chair, Council on Academic Personnel Professor of Economics and Public Policy |