Initiatives

The Provost has introduced new Faculty Initiatives encouraging participation, ideas and volunteers within the Dickinson community. Current Initiatives are below. 

Call for applicants to hold The Neil B. Weissman Chair in the Liberal Arts

Named in honor of Dickinson’s accomplished former Provost and Dean of the College, Professor Neil B. Weissman, the chair is designated for a faculty member who exemplifies a commitment to the liberal arts, and who wishes to dedicate time to do scholarly and creative work to advance their contributions to their field(s), in support of the College liberal arts mission.  In keeping with the legacy of the professor and leader for whom the chair is named, the results of such projects are best imagined as fruits of intellectual curiosity, contributing to the future-forward development of new ideas and paradigms.

Endowed through the generosity of two donors, the Weissman Chair is a competitive award, designated as a renewable but term-limited appointment, held for 5-years.  The endowed chair brings the distinction of the name to the recipient, as well a $2,000 annual research stipend meant to further their scholarly and creative projects.  The Weissman Chair will also receive one course reassignment per 5-year term, to be taken in consultation with departmental colleagues, and in a way that supports the culmination of their research or curricular project.

I invite colleagues at the rank of associate or full professor to apply, or to nominate a peer, via email to cramerre@dickinson.edu with the subject heading: Weissman Chair.  Full applications should consist of a cv, and a letter of interest detailing the proposed project, how the pursuit of that project might contribute to course development and improvement, and how the project contributes to the liberal arts at Dickinson College.  The letter should also indicate a timeline for project completion, and the way that the research stipend will support the work.   

A selection committee made up of a sub-set of FPC and academic affairs staff will review these materials and consult with the Dean of the College in the awarding of the Weissman Chair.   Applications are due February 1st. The recipient of the Chair will be announced during the April faculty meeting, and will serve in the appointment from academic year 26/27 – academic year 30/31, though they may begin using the named chair designation immediately after appointment.

The faculty member appointed to this endowed chair will be responsible for providing a brief report at the mid-point of their appointment, portions of which will be shared with the donors who endowed the fund.  The Weissman Chair is renewable by singular re-application for a second term; at the close of the second term, if granted, an open call for applications will be made to the Dickinson faculty.

Alternatives to Canceling Class

When life happens, you don’t cancel class, call in a partner. Whether you have advance notice due to a conference presentation or an unexpected personal matter arises, there are colleagues on campus eager to engage with your students in meaningful ways. Campus partners are offering pre-designed workshops on a range of topics. Simply select a workshop and once submitted, the request will be sent to the appropriate facilitator, who will follow up via email to confirm details and coordinate the session. 

Alternatives to Canceling Class (ACC) provides flexible, content-rich, and customizable options for faculty in all disciplines and course levels to use when they’re away from class—throughout the academic year in partnership with centers, offices, or initiatives across Dickinson College.  Explore the options HERE!

Dish with the Dean

This is an invitation to gather 2 – 5 of your colleagues for concerted and purposeful conversation with me.  Maybe you’re a junior faculty member who wants to bring members of your incoming cohort together to talk about what you’ve noticed about the college so far; maybe you’re a department that wants to think out loud with me about ways to reshape your curriculum; maybe you’re a mentoring cohort and you just want to hear another perspective on service and leadership at the college; maybe you’re a staff member in academic affairs who wants to know more about areas of the college you don’t routinely see, and so you find your peers in those areas and invite them along.  Or, maybe you want to talk about shared governance, or a common research project, or an idea you have.  If this describes you, and you have some colleagues who want to join in, please sign up below on a first-come-first-scheduled basis.  

The only requirements are: use this link ( Dish with the Dean.xlsx)  to sign up with a complete group of between 3 and 6 people (you + 2 – 5 more), and let me know the topic/question/theme for our time together.  I’ll provide the location in advance, refreshments the day of;  I’ll welcome the chance to connect.

Hartman House Hosts

A collaborative initiative with the VP of OEI and Chief Diversity Officer, Tony Boston, to provide a midday space for faculty and staff to gather informally.  I’ve asked members of my team, including department and program chairs, to consider ‘hosting’ times each week in Hartman House.  Regardless of who is hosting, we simply want faculty and staff to feel free to use this as a space to have informal conversation, to grade, to eat a packed lunch – to sit on the front porch or out back in the sun, and to connect with colleagues you don’t usually see – Hartman House will be open for this use every weekday M-F, from 10 – 2 pm. Sign up here to host this year.