Faculty Development, Grants, Programs & Awards
Whether you are early in your teaching career or a seasoned educator, the Office of Faculty Development—working in partnership with the Teaching and Learning team—offers a comprehensive suite of services, resources, and events to support your success.
We provide faculty, part-time instructors, and graduate teaching assistants with workshops, events, learning communities, and personalized consultations designed to help you succeed.
Connect with Us
We invite you to engage with the Office of Faculty Development and the Teaching and Learning team in a variety of ways:
- Participate in professional development programs
- Attend events or join learning communities
- Apply for Instructional Development Grants (available to full- and part-time faculty)
- Share your expertise through faculty spotlights
- Apply for and nominate colleagues for awards
- Access the extensive Teaching and Learning library of resources and support materials
- Take advantage of institutional memberships available to WMU instructor
- Explore consultations and support services, including professional consultations, guidance on tenure and promotion portfolios, teaching observations, and assistance with instructional design, technology, and accessibility
The Office of Faculty Development and the Teaching and Learning team are here to help. Explore the links below to find programs tailored to your role, discover funding opportunities, and access valuable teaching and learning resources—both within WMU and through our external partnerships.
Faculty
Tenure and Promotion Information
As you work towards tenure and promotion, there are two resources that you should regularly consult: your department's policy statement and the WMU-AAUP Agreement. Every semester, the WMU-AAUP holds a tenure and promotion workshop, but you can also set up a confidential professional consultation with us where you can work with an experienced faculty member to plan your teaching and research agendas. New faculty members are invited to join our Early Career Faculty Learning Community (ECFLC) that is offered every year. Members decide upon topics that interest them related to professional development and meet once per month to engage in activities and socialize. In the fall, invitations to sign up for the ECFLC are sent to all faculty members who are in the first four years of their appointment.
Instructional Development Project and Travel Grants
Grants for instructional development will be awarded by the Office of Faculty Development to support efforts of Board appointed, bargaining unit faculty at Western Michigan University to improve student learning through instructional and curricular redesign and innovation. Funding is provided for in Article 40.4 of the Western/WMU-AAUP Agreement 2021-2026.
Part-time/Professional Instructors
The Office of Faculty Development (OFD) and the Teaching and Learning team are here to support all instructors at WMU, including you as a part-time or professional instructor. Visit the Part-Time/Professional Instructors program page to explore commonly requested resources, and don't hesitate to reach out to the Office of Faculty Development with any questions.
Graduate Students
Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) serve in a role related to teaching; some are instructors of record (meaning they are the ones primarily responsible for a course); some are instructors of lab sections, and some assist the instructor in some support capacity (such as grading or holding discussion sessions). Hiring, orientation, and primary professional development support for graduate students are provided by the Graduate College and through the respective home departments.
The Office of Faculty Development and the Teaching and Learning team provide resources to support GTAs in their roles as instructors at Western Michigan University.
