Thriving Series

The Thriving Series provides support and shares guidance for the promotion of academic specialists, fixed-term faculty members, and tenure-system faculty members. These workshops highlight the promotion process, including goals, strategies, promotion packets, and forms. Learn more about the Thriving Series below.

Thriving as an Academic Specialist

This annual workshop is designed to guide academic specialists in navigating the academic specialist system at MSU. Workshop objectives are to:

Discuss the roles, appointment types, and promotion system for Academic Specialists at MSU
Expand Academic Specialists’ understanding of MSU’s annual evaluation process
Discuss approaches to documentation and record-keeping, including the use of the Academic Specialist Recommendation Form (form on Progress and Excellence)
Provide an introduction to writing reflective essays

The workshop will also provide a venue for answering your questions. Many specialists find it helpful to attend this program more than once, finding various elements useful at different stages of their careers.

Additional information and future dates will be shared soon.

Thriving as Fixed-term Faculty Member

This annual workshop is designed specifically for Fixed-Term Faculty (including teaching-focused faculty), Health Programs Faculty, and NSCL/FRIB Faculty at MSU. Workshop objectives are to:

Clarify expectations and set development goals for various academic appointment types at MSU
Expand Fixed-Term Faculty Member’s understanding of MSU’s annual process
Review strategies for compiling promotion packets, including reflective essays
Provide a venue for questions and answers

Additional information and future dates will be shared soon.

Thriving in the Tenure System I

This annual workshop is designed to guide assistant professors in navigating the tenure system at MSU. Workshop objectives are to:

Expand faculty members’ understanding of MSU’s reappointment, promotion, and tenure procedures
Discuss approaches to documentation and record-keeping, including use of the Form on Progress and Excellence
Provide an introduction to writing reflective essays
Provide a venue for questions and answers

Additional information and future dates will be shared soon.

Thriving in the Tenure System II

This program is designed for and open to all MSU associate professors in the tenure system. This workshop is designed to:

Clarify the expectations for attaining the rank of Full Professor in the Tenure System
Expand Tenure Faculty Member’s understanding of MSU’s annual process, procedures, and documentation
Inform mid-career decision-making and experiences
Provide a venue for questions and answers

Additional information and future dates will be shared soon.