Welcome from the Associate Provost for Faculty

I hope this newsletter finds you surviving and thriving in the midst of the spring semester.  For those of you new to Iowa, I can assure you that this long winter will indeed give way to spring very, very soon.  Only the last remnants of ice remain as we publish this issue, and early spring flowers remind us that living in the Midwest - with its distinct seasons - gives us all the opportunity for new beginnings at least four times each year.

In this issue of the New Faculty Newsletter, we are highlighting the campus and on-line resources available to you through the Instructional Services department.  We are including information about faculty sick leave and campus resources to promote your health and wellness, and community resources.  We also want to draw your attention to the Annual Tenure Workshop being held on Tuesday, April 8th, 2008 at 6:30 p.m.  We hope you will be able to join us for this useful session providing tips for being successful in obtaining tenure and information about related procedures.  For those of you on the clinical track, we will co-host a promotion symposium in the fall.

Best regards and best wishes for a productive spring,

Susan R. Johnson, M.D., M.S.

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Campus Units You Want to Know

In each issue, campus resources will be featured, including how they can support new faculty members’ success on campus and in the community.  Featured in this issue:  University of Iowa Instructional Services and the University of Iowa Press.

Instructional Services (IS) is a unit within Information Technology Services (ITS) dedicated to supporting instructors and instructional support staff and their adoption of technology.  IS staff members represent a wide range of experience and education, and are available to work with faculty one-on-one and in small groups.  Among other services, IS staff assist faculty in learning how to effectively use Iowa Courses Online (ICON, the University’s course management system), help faculty learn to use digital media tools, or simply assist with pedagogy and incorporating technology in the classroom.

Important links:

• Training:  IS offers numerous training opportunities to UI faculty, including one-on-one consultation and topic-specific campus-wide workshops.  For current offerings, check the ITS Training website.   NExTT ("New Experiences with Teaching Technology") is a particularly popular series of workshops designed specifically for new instructors and instructional support staff.  The sessions are held twice annually (January and July/August).  Many of the sessions include training on the UI course management system, ICON.  On-line registration is available on the NExTT website.
  
  
• Instructional Design Team:  The Instructional Design Team (IDT) seeks to enhance teaching and learning at The University of Iowa through the promotion of a systematic approach to the design and implementation of technology solutions in the learning environment.  Activities include offering group sessions on pedagogical technology issues, forming and leading special teams to explore and gauge interest in emerging technologies, and forming partnerships with academic units to incorporate instructional design principles into their courses.  The IDT also provides grant-writing and publication support for faculty researching instructionally innovative uses of technology.
  
  
• Digital Media Solutions:  The Digital Media Solutions workgroup brings together the unique knowledge, skills, techniques, tools, and technology to facilitate the use of digital media in instruction by working with faculty in the creation, organization, and delivery of digital media, as well as by sharing knowledge of the newest technology trends and applications at peer institutions. 
  
  
• Student Instructional Technology Assistants (SITA): The SITA program exists to support faculty, graduate students, and staff using instructional technology at The University of Iowa.  Through a proposal process, departments or individual instructors may apply to receive assistance from the SITA Program.   The SITA program draws on available resources within Instructional Services.
  
  
• Learning Spaces Technology Team:  The Learning Spaces Technology (LST) team manages technology in the University’s general assignment classrooms and Instructional Technology Centers (ITCs) across campus.  LST answers on-the-spot questions about classroom technology via its hotline: 5-1976.

The University of Iowa Press:  The University of Iowa Press, established in 1969, is located in the Kuhl House, 119 West Park Road. The UI Press publishes books that fill the needs of scholars and students throughout the world, poetry and short fiction, and works of creative nonfiction.  As the only university press in the state, it is also dedicated to preserving the literature, history, culture, wildlife, and natural areas of the Midwest.

Support for new faculty:  Editors at the University of Iowa Press (Joe Parsons, Acquiring Editor; Charlotte Wright, Managing Editor; and Holly Carver, Director) are pleased to advise new University of Iowa faculty about the world of university press publishing, from the initial query letter to the final contract.  For more information, call 319-335-2000, e-mail uipress@uiowa.edu, or visit their website.

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Featured UI Policy

Highlighting specific University policies of potential interest to new faculty.  For a general overview of both University and college-specific policies, please see the links on the sidebar at the top left of the newsletter.  For additional information, please see your collegiate representative or email your question to the Provost Office (newfaculty@uiowa.edu) for assistance in locating the appropriate resource. 

Sick Leave Policy for Academic Year Faculty

Introduction:  Although we hope that you will not have need to use your sick leave benefits, we know the likelihood is that you will – to care for yourself or a family member.  The following information may be of use in understanding your rights and responsibilities regarding this benefit. The information can also be found online in the Faculty Handbook.

For the purpose of determining payment of sick leave benefits, faculty members are considered to be "on duty" five days per week, eight hours a day, even though their classes may be scheduled on more or fewer than five days per week.  The University understands that faculty members do not punch a 9-to-5 time clock, but rather work in a flexible and highly varied employment environment. In order to accommodate this flexibility and at the same time apply the policy with some uniformity to faculty with very different work portfolios, the following guidelines have been established:

1. Absences should be reported if they involve missing a class, a faculty or committee meeting, or any other University-based obligation, even if rescheduled or covered by someone else.
2. Absences of less than half a day that do not involve missing a class or a faculty or committee meeting do not need to be reported.
3. Additional guidelines apply for family care giving leave, funeral leave, and sick leave because of a medically-related disability.   Please consult the Faculty Handbook for further guidance in those situations.
   

Reporting Sick Leave Usage:  All academic-year faculty members must submit their sick leave usage online monthly.  Fiscal-year faculty and all University staff have been using this online system for some time now, but the process became available for academic-year faculty in 2006. 

Faculty can complete their monthly Faculty Online Time Records by logging in to the UI Human Resources Self Service/FUS Web Applications portal.  In the center panel of the Self Service “My Information” page, there is a heading labeled “Employee Time Records.”  To record your monthly leave, click Employee Time Records and locate the particular month.  Even if you have no sick leave to report, an Employee Time Record must be submitted. 

As you manage your way through the stressors and accomplishments of the spring semester, we encourage you and your family to also take advantage of the UI programs and services designed to support your health and wellness.  For more information about what’s available, see the on-line Employee Health and Wellness Resource Guide, published by the UI Wellness division, a partnership of Human Resources, the University Employee Health Clinic, and the Division of Recreational Services.

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New Faculty FAQs

Featuring frequently asked questions by new faculty about the University and the local community. All faculty are encouraged to submit a question. No question is too mundane, and none too challenging. If we don’t know the answer, we will find someone who does: newfaculty@uiowa.edu

FAQ: I am teaching four sections of the same course. Can I just post the materials on ICON once in the semester instead of four times? 

Yes. Upon request, the ICON Administration Team can “map” your courses into one. This is usually done more easily at the beginning of the semester and will allow all of your students from all sections to log in to the same course. The grade book, however, will be separated by sections.  You can also limit each TA's access to the section he/she teaches.  (Response prepared by Annette Beck, Instructional Technology Consultant.  For more information, contact ITS - Instructional Services.)

FAQ: Can I re-use the same ICON course site next semester that I am using this semester?

No, but you can easily copy the components of an earlier course into your new course. For instructions, see the Online Help section Importing Content / Components from Another ICON Course.

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Upcoming Campus-Wide Events Promoting Faculty Success

The following events may hold particular interest to new faculty joining the campus community. To submit an event for an upcoming newsletter, please send detailed information to newfaculty@uiowa.edu. Additional University Events can be found on the “UI This Week” web page, and on the Office of the Provost Events and Deadlines page.

Annual Tenure Workshop: Tuesday, April 8th, 6:30 p.m.

The University of Iowa Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), the Faculty Senate, and the Office of the Provost are sponsoring the annual Tenure Workshop to be held on Tuesday, April 8, in the Galagan Auditorium of the Dental Science Building.  A panel of speakers will give those in attendance advice on how to be successful in obtaining tenure and will discuss applicable procedures. The workshop is free and no registration is required.
 
Speakers include:

• Susan Johnson, Associate Provost for Faculty
• David Baldus, Professor of Law
• Lois Cox, University Ombudsperson
• Marc Mills, General Counsel
• Raúl Curto, Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Jed Hand, Associate Dean, College of Dentistry

Informal conversation and refreshments will begin at 6:30 p.m., and the formal program will begin at 7:00 p.m.   Please direct questions to Samir Bishara at samir-bishara@uiowa.edu.

18th Annual Multicultural Graduation & Recognition Banquet:  Thursday, May 15, 2008, 6:30 p.m.

Please join in the 18th Annual Multicultural Graduation & Recognition Banquet being held on Thursday, May 15, 2008 in the Iowa Memorial Union Second Floor Ballroom. The doors will open at 6:15 p.m. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by a formal program starting at 7:00 p.m.

The Multicultural Graduation and Recognition Banquet (MGRB) was established in 1990 by Men’s Athletics, the Graduate College, and Special Support Services.  In years past the event has attracted the attention of graduating students, faculty/staff, and community leaders from all cultural backgrounds.  The event is held yearly on the Thursday preceding the traditional University of Iowa graduation. The Banquet is designed for each UI college to recognize publicly U.S. minority students receiving professional, graduate, and undergraduate degrees.  The banquet also provides a forum for recognition of student leaders.  In addition, students confer an award on a faculty or staff member who has worked tirelessly to enhance diversity in all aspects of campus life.  

Cost for the event is $15.00.  If you are interested in attending, please contact Maria Newton, Office of Student Life, 145 Iowa Memorial Union, 335-3059. If you have any questions about this event, contact Charity Cooper or Motier Haskins (MGRB Co-Chairs) in the Center for Diversity and Enrichment, 24 Phillips Hall, 335-3555. Reservation deadline is 4:00 p.m. on April 30, 2007. For more information, see the MGRB web site.

Celebration of Excellence and Achievement Among Women, Wednesday, April 9th, 3:30 p.m.

"Celebration of Excellence and Achievement Among Women,” the University’s annual tribute to the accomplishments of all women at the UI, will be held Wednesday, April 9, 3:30-5:30 p.m. in the IMU Richey Ballroom. A reception begins at 3:30 p.m., followed by the awards program at 4:00 p.m. The program is free and open to the public. 

The Celebration first began when the University community gathered in 1982 to award the Jane A. Weiss Memorial Scholarship.  This annual event has expanded in scope, recognizing outstanding scholarship, research, service, leadership and activism among undergraduate, graduate, staff, and faculty women at The University of Iowa.  The celebration now also includes the awarding of the Distinguished Achievement Award, the Jean Y. Jew Women’s Rights Award, the Adele Kimm Scholarship, the Ada Johnson/Otilia Maria Fernandez Women’s Studies Scholarship, the Margaret P. Benson Memorial Scholarship and the Wynonna G. Hubbard Scholarship. 

Free child care is available from the Women's Resource and Action Center.  Limited slots available.  Please call 335-1486 to arrange.

For more information see the Celebration web site.

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Academic Career Development Resources

Featuring national resources that support faculty development in teaching, research, and service. A different resource will be highlighted in each newsletter.

“The 7 Things You Should Know About….” Series, EDUCAUSE’s Learning Initiative.  Provides faculty members with insight to emerging technologies and their uses. For more information, see the EDUCAUSE web site. 

Campus Technology e-magazine. This publication offers extensive information on academic technology trends; offers practical ideas and examples regarding the integrations of technology in the classroom.  For more information, see the magazine's web site.

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Community Resources

Featuring cultural and recreational resources in Iowa City and surrounding communities. In this edition, learn about:

Iowa City/Coralville Bus Transportation:

Whether it’s an effort to decrease our carbon footprints, a convenient way to travel to/from campus, or an effort to save money, the Iowa City and Coralville Transit program offers a reliable form of transportation and a special “UI Faculty/Staff Annual Discounted Fare.” 

UI Faculty/Staff Annual Discounted Fare:  Discounted bus passes are available for 50% time or greater University employees who are also not University students (students are eligible for different discount programs).   Passes are available starting every January 1, and are good for one year of unlimited rides.  They are paid with a pre-tax payroll deduction at a rate of $23 per month or, if you do not have a University Parking Permit, the University subsidizes the pass to a reduced rate of $10 per month.  The discounted bus passes can be purchased at the UI Parking Office or online. Several buses are also equipped with bike racks for people who’d like to ride one way to work, but ride home. 

See the Iowa City bus route and schedule (includes a “trip maker” function through which you can enter your starting and ending points, and an online service will map a bus route for you!) or the Coralville bus route and schedule.

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