SU faculty in their academic robes

Center for Faculty Development

We promote the holistic professional formation of all SU faculty through a scholarly and interdisciplinary approach to learning and teaching, research practice, and professional development.

Explore

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Events

See what’s coming up or check out our archive of past events

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Resources

Browse our faculty-focused materials, library, and more

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About us

Learn about the center, our work and our field in higher ed

ResourceSpotlight

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Milestones throughout the term

NEW! A tool to help faculty understand class-related week-by-week priorities

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Student career readiness

NEW! Highlight to students the skills and competencies they're practicing in your courses

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Early feedback

Why it's important for learning and how you might phrase it so students can hear it

Hear from faculty

"Seattle University's Center for Faculty Development provides the ultimate co-learning space where educators and scholars thrive together."

Mid-career tenure-track faculty member, 2023-24 annual survey

Holistic professional formationFor all Seattle University faculty

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Learning and teaching

Workshops, consultations, candid conversations, Ignatian Pedagogy Series, learning communities, classroom observations, panels, mid-term check-ins and more

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Research practice

Faculty "writing" groups, consultations, workshops, learning communities, panels, research reboots, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)

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Professional development

Workshops, consultations, Chairs' Community of Practice, learning communities, affinity groups, NCFDD, New Faculty Institute, Faculty Leader Series, and more

How we work with faculty

Following national ethical guidelines, our work with faculty is:

Faculty come to the Center for Faculty Development because they want to—not because they are under duress. If a colleague "strongly suggests" that someone consult with the Center, that person is under no obligation to do so (by agreement with the Provost's Office). Because all our consultations are confidential, we will not divulge—not even to department chairs, deans, or members of the Provost’s Office—who has or hasn’t worked with us. 

Our role is to support faculty in thinking about the various facets of their work, whether as educators, scholars, colleagues, or leaders. We offer suggestions and ideas. The Center for Faculty Development is completely separate from any summative (judgment-based) evaluation and is never involved in decisions around promotion, tenure, or re-hiring. We don’t write letters of recommendation for promotion files or for Chairs.

Our conversations with faculty remain confidential within the Center. Occasionally Center staff discuss these consultations among themselves to be able to track trends in faculty development issues or to brainstorm good advice or resources to offer faculty. One exception to our policy: By law, we are required to report any harassment or threat of physical harm to oneself or others.

Holistic professional formation Contact us

Center for Faculty Development

Loyola 216

SU faculty in their academic robes