At the recent Interfolio Summit, book lovers convened for a fun and informal gathering where we discussed what books we’re currently reading. And inevitably, the conversation expanded to include our favorite adaptations, requests for recommendations in new-to-us genres, and sidebars with spoiler-rich conversations.  

Attending a conference can be overwhelming, both in the amount of information and amount of networking, so my colleague Kara Szamborski and I decided to add a low-stakes opportunity to connect with fellow readers. 

Building Connections Over Books 

Sixteen Interfolio clients and staff gathered to geek out on books. To continue the conversations, we have compiled a list of recommendations for you to enjoy. You can view all the books on Storygraph and easily add them to your own TBR (to-be-read) list. 

Recommendations 

Non-fiction 

Global leader and diversity expert Sonia Aranza, our keynote speaker, recommended two books, Awareness: The Perils and Opportunities of Reality by Anthony de Mello and When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön, which complemented her theme of centering oneself amongst the chaos of change. 

During our book club gathering, attendees also mentioned navigating change on their campus and what resources they were finding useful. Two classics that came up were Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler and Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain. 

And for those interested in history, might we recommend Wine and War: The French, the Nazis, and the Battle for France’s Greatest Treasure by Don and Petie Kladstrup for your next book gathering? Think of the pairing options!  

Fiction 

The recommendations were coming fast and furiously, so here are a few that were mentioned.  

Interested to dip your toe into fantasy? The lush environment of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab or Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus might be good starting points. 

If you love reading the latest buzzy read, we recommend the thriller First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch is also a good choice, with the new Apple+ tv adaptation now out. 

To feel all the feels, Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter by Hazel Gaynor was strongly recommended. And a perennial favorite, pick up Midnight Library by Matt Haig; but be forewarned, it will make you eternally wonder about all of the sliding door moments of your life. 

Our genre-bending group also wanted to try out comic books and graphic novels. The Wicked + The Divine by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie is great for music and mythology fans, and The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson is an un-put-downable young adult mystery inspired by Agatha Christie’s works.  

Full List 

  • Awareness: The Perils and Opportunities of Reality by Anthony de Mello 
  • When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chödrön 
  • Wine and War: The French, the Nazis, and the Battle for France’s Greatest Treasure by Don and Petie Kladstrup 
  • Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler 
  • Dark Matter by Blake Crouch 
  • First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston 
  • Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter by Hazel Gaynor 
  • The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab 
  • The Midnight Library by Matt Haig 
  • The Wicked + The Divine by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie 
  • The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson  

Time to Dive In 

Have additional books to add to the list or follow-up questions for recommendations? Please feel free to reach out on LinkedIn


Author Bio

Christine is a tech marketing leader with twenty years of experience growing revenue for B2B and B2C brands within EdTech, education, and the nonprofit sector. As VP of Product Marketing at Interfolio, she creates content and product marketing strategies that drive revenue and accelerate conversion throughout the funnel. She partners closely with sales and product leadership on GTM planning and execution, and she frequently collaborates with executive leaders at client universities to amplify their stories of innovation. Outside of work, Christine can often be found reading literary fiction, seeking out the newest bakery, or planning her next travel adventure. Connect on LinkedIn. 

At this year’s Interfolio Summit, faculty affairs professionals came together in Denver, Colorado for three days of learning, sharing, and networking. From upcoming innovations to best practices from institutions driving success and an energizing keynote from Sonia Aranza, Summit 2024 was brimming with opportunities to learn and grow.    

Throughout the event, Interfolio partner institutions shared their challenges and their successes, offering greater insight into the latest happenings in faculty affairs. Here are the top takeaways from Summit 2024: 

Community Connections Are Crucial 

It’s an incredibly tough time in academia. The past few years have been a rollercoaster, and there seem to be new crises arising each week that need to be resolved quickly. Networking is key for higher education professionals to share their ideas and challenges—building a sense of community with those who are also in the trenches helps build knowledge, form partnerships, and drive success.    

That’s why events like Summit are so important. These opportunities for networking allow faculty affairs professionals to connect with peers, share experiences, and instigate change—which is exactly what happened when Dr. Patricia Williams Dockery, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs at Morgan State University, and Dr. Karen L. Anderson, Associate Provost for Academic Resources & Faculty Development at Yale University, struck up a conversation at last year’s Summit in Washington, DC. 

Their conversation led to an initiative between Yale and eight historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs): Claflin University, Hampton University, Jackson State University, Morehouse College, Morgan State University, North Carolina A&T State University, and Tuskegee University. The Alliance for Scholarship, Collaboration, Engagement, Networking and Development (ASCEND) Initiative launched a $10M commitment to initiate research and teaching collaborations between HBCUs and predominately white institutions (PWIs).

“It was in DC last year at the Interfolio Summit that the seeds of this partnership started germinating,” shared Dr. Williams Dockery. “I was giving a presentation, had some conversations with Karen during lunch, and then we spoke further about previous projects that Morgan and Yale had done.” From there, the project grew, spreading even further to include additional HBCU institutions. “Had Karen and I not been at the Summit last year, this may not have become a reality,” she added. “Summit isn’t just about us learning how amazing the tools are—it’s also an opportunity to share best practices, make really meaningful relationships, and build networks to support the work we do as faculty affairs leaders.” 

Change, Change, Change!  

Hiring and retaining both faculty and staff was top of mind at this year’s event. And we heard our attendees loud and clear: The impact of personnel change on campus is significant, whether it is new leadership or a long-time staff member with deep institutional knowledge leaving. But just how tough is it to find—and hold onto—the right people? 

During this year’s Summit, we were joined by the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC) for a session highlighting the results from their 2024 Job Seeker Survey. This annual survey aims to understand the experiences of both current and prospective higher ed employees and identify effective strategies for colleges and universities looking to hire and retain these essential campus constituents. 

The survey revealed that an alarming 39% of faculty are actively seeking a new job, including 44% of faculty who have 10+ years of experience. And they aren’t just exploring opportunities in higher education—47% are looking at roles across many industries, including higher education, while 9% are looking to pivot from the industry entirely. 

How can institutions keep existing faculty engaged in their roles while also attracting new talent? Job seekers place high importance on the ability to advance their careers internally, having shared values as their institution, and the need for flexible work options.

Growing Desire for More (and Better) Data 

Data was a very hot topic this year! The common theme was that faculty affairs professionals require clean, accurate data to do their jobs well. There’s no shortage of uses when it comes to faculty data—reporting, CVs, evaluations, and even workload equity. How can institutions ensure they’re capturing everything they need?  

During a deep dive into data from the IT Department at UVA’s McIntire School of Commerce, attendees learned how the institution created a multi-step process to extract data from Interfolio Faculty Activity Reporting (FAR) using an API, which is then stored, transformed, and integrated with numerous other systems. This collaborative effort between the faculty affairs and IT teams helps the institution analyze data in robust ways.   

Boise State University and Texas A&M University joined forces to discuss how they use data within FAR to power faculty CVs, institutional reporting, accreditation, and more. Since beginning its FAR rollout in the summer of 2022, Texas A&M has led more than 20 training sessions to ensure success, and 85% of the institution’s faculty have utilized the system. Meanwhile, Boise State created a “Why are we doing this?” fact sheet for faculty, helping them better understand the value of using the system.   

Interfolio’s Product team members also presented on this topic, sharing best practices and case studies from institutional partners who have utilized Interfolio Lifecycle Management to achieve better data governance. In addition, the team announced the launch of Interfolio Faculty Web Profiles, which gives institutions the power to highlight faculty accomplishments using data from FAR.

Continued Engagement Is Key

Many clients shared how implementing Interfolio represents an important transformation—but this takes thoughtful effort and requires faculty buy-in to ensure success. Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) joined us at Summit to share how the institution successfully engaged faculty to implement Interfolio. 

The institution took a proactive approach to buy-in, focusing on these five strategies to help cultivate collaboration and engagement:  

  1. Effective communication 
  1. Continuous participation 
  1. Intentional language 
  1. Comprehensive training 
  1. Transparency 

This approach included involving faculty from start to finish, helping to build a positive relationship between faculty and the technology. They were consulted for their insights and perspectives—and given ongoing opportunities to provide input. Communications sent to faculty featured positive, supportive language, demonstrating the institution’s openness to improvement. In addition, faculty were provided with comprehensive training, one-on-one assistance, and easily accessible guides for additional support. And by prioritizing openness and transparency with regular meetings, timely emails, and meaningful communications, faculty were constantly kept in the loop throughout the implementation process.   

“It was important to us that the faculty were part of our team—they were part of the process from the beginning to the end,” shared Andi Clemons, Director of Academic Affairs, Administration, and Budget at FGCU. “We wanted to create an environment of support,” she added. “You want them to feel comfortable, you want them to feel supported. And it does take a little bit of extra work, but it’s so worth it because they’re going to feel better about the results and the change if they feel like they’ve got support.” 

Interfolio can also help with these efforts: We offer a consultative approach to help our partner institutions replicate best practices on their campus and involve the right stakeholders at the right time. Our monthly client newsletter details the latest innovations, upcoming webinars, and office hours for ongoing support and optimization. As Sonia Aranza shared during her moving keynote, “You can go fast alone, but we can go further together.” We are here to support you every step of the way. 

We hope Summit was a valuable experience for everyone who attended, and we look forward to hosting again next year. If you missed this year’s event and want to learn more about the topics covered, be sure to reach out to your Account Manager or Customer Success Manager. Hope to see you in 2025! 

Interfolio’s Dossier began in 1999, and back then, our delivery structure of sending materials to an opportunity was pretty straightforward. We originally only processed deliveries via USPS, FedEx, fax, and a few by email. Our main clients were faculty members or those applying to faculty roles. We continue to serve scholars seeking tenure-track faculty positions, but our online products now serve people in a much wider range of situations, including medical school applicants, graduate students, social workers, surgeons, and even several football coaches.  

At the core, our mission has stayed the same: Putting our users first by providing them with consistent tools for their careers. To a significant degree, Dossier Deliver exists to deliver materials to jobs, grants, fellowships, medical school programs, grad school, etc. 

Here, we explore the various types of deliveries, including the intricacies of each type. 

Email Delivery 

What is it? Use this when you want Interfolio to send your materials directly to an email address. 

Sometimes, a search will want materials to be sent to a specific individual instead of a group email address. For example, “You can send your materials/application to me at firstname.lastname@school.edu.”   

Other times, a search wants those materials to be sent to an HR or department address. For example, “Apply to this position by emailing your LORs & CV to hr@school.edu.” 

Either way, when creating your delivery through your Dossier account, you’ll need to provide us with the name of the recipient and the correct email address. 

Issues With Your Delivery? 

  • Was your delivery canceled? If so, reach out to us, and we’ll be happy to explain why that happened. 
  • If we are not able to verify the email address, you can forward us proof of a conversation with that individual that explains they are expecting materials from you. 
  • Or you can provide us with a URL that includes the email address where those materials need to be sent. You can do this during the delivery creation process. 
  • If you have received confirmation from us that your delivery was sent but your delivery recipient has not received the email, the first step is for the delivery recipient to check their spam folder. If it’s not there, reach out to us and let us know. We’ll be able to resend the delivery to help ensure it gets to the intended recipient without any problems. 

Tips & Tricks 

  • You can include as many documents as you want in an email delivery. So, if you’re looking to send many documents that are hundreds of pages long, we encourage using the email delivery option.  
  • You can “order” the materials in your email delivery, meaning you have the ability to arrange them in a sequence of your choosing. This allows them to be read in a certain order by the intended receiver. You can do this during the delivery creation process. 

Mail Delivery 

What is it? Use this when you want Interfolio to mail physical copies of your materials to a destination. Please note that different institutions have different requirements. 

Issues With Your Delivery? 

  • Was your delivery canceled? If so, reach out to us, and we’ll be happy to explain why that happened. 
  • If we were not able to verify the address, you can forward us proof of a conversation with that individual that explains they are expecting materials from you. 
  • Or you can provide us with a URL that includes the address where those materials need to be sent. 

Tips & Tricks 

  • There are a number of shipping methods to choose from. Included in your Dossier Deliver subscription is the “USPS First Class” option—there is no additional cost to you for this shipping option. All other options have an additional cost associated with them. This is a good reason to stay on top of deadlines so you can avoid rush delivery and the additional cost. 
  • If you want tracking for your mail delivery, sending FedEx is the only option. FedEx deliveries have an additional cost. 
  • You can “order” the materials in your mail delivery, meaning you have the ability to arrange them in a sequence of your choosing. This allows them to be read in a certain order by the intended receiver. You can do this during the delivery creation process. 
  • Please note that we are unable to deliver to P.O. Boxes. 

Confidential Letter Upload (CLU) 

What is it? The trickiest of the bunch! Use this when you want Interfolio to upload your confidential letters of recommendation into another online application system. This option is most commonly used by medical school applicants.  

This type of delivery takes one of two forms: either the external system provides you with a link to pass along to your letter writers or the external system asks you for your letter writers’ email addresses. 

When the external system provides you with a link to pass along to your letter writers:
In this situation, you simply follow the Confidential Letter Upload instructions when creating a new delivery in your account. You paste in the upload link and indicate which letter you’d like us to upload, and we go and upload it there. Simple!   

When the external system asks you for your letter writer’s email address:
In this situation, Interfolio can substitute for your letter writer. (Except sometimes, unfortunately, when we can’t. See below for exceptions.) 

Suppose you are applying to Demo University and have been asked to provide them with the email addresses of three letter writers. Normally, the school would reach out to your letter writers via those email addresses, asking them to upload a letter of recommendation. If you have letters stored in your Interfolio Dossier account, Interfolio can often stand in for your letter writer and upload letters on their behalf. 

In order for Interfolio to process these deliveries, we automatically generate a unique email address associated with each letter of recommendation you have in your Dossier account. When the external online application system asks for your letter writer’s email address, you can substitute the unique Interfolio email address associated with that writer’s letter. Once you submit that request, you’re all done—we’ll take care of the rest. 

Issues With Your Delivery? 

  • We may have to cancel a delivery due to required questions within the application that we do not know the answers to. Unfortunately, if we run into questions that must be answered on behalf of your letter writer to upload the letter, we cannot legally do this. Some possible personal questions that prevent us from processing the delivery include: 
    • Rank the applicant among other students in recent years 
    • How long have you known the applicant? 
    • How well do you know the applicant? 
  • We also cannot complete a delivery when a user is prompted to upload the letter of recommendation themselves. In these situations, users will provide us with their login information to upload the letter. We cannot accept that information from the user—it’s a liability for us to have that information. 
  • If confidential letter uploads are ever canceled, we suggest you reach out to the institution directly and explain why. They can often provide you with an email address to send materials directly, then they can upload the letters to your application. (See email delivery above!) 

Tips & Tricks 

  • Make sure you are submitting the document email address found in your Dossier account when the application asks for your letter writer’s email address and be sure to submit that request. Going through the CLU delivery process via the Delivery page on your account alone does not create the requests—you must make sure you are entering in that information and submitting it on the application website. 
  • Haven’t received confirmation that we’ve received the request? Give it a little time. We do receive requests instantly. Unfortunately, we have no control over when the application sends the request to the document email address you entered. If you think it’s been an appropriate amount of time since you submitted that request and you still haven’t received confirmation that we’re working on the delivery, reach out to us, and we’ll double-check to see if we’ve received the request or not. 
  • Need to submit your application before you’ve received the letter in your account? Contact us and we can give you the unique email address to enter your application. 
  • Our one to three-day turnaround time is once we receive the request, not once you submit the request on the application. Sometimes there is a delay from when you submit the application/request and when we receive it. 

Running up against a deadline? As always, we can expedite most delivery types for you. Just send an email to help@interfolio.com with your delivery number letting us know you need it expedited, and we will get to work on that ASAP.   

In 2023, we processed 218,719 Dossier Deliveries for our users. Trust Interfolio with yours.   

Interfolio’s Dossier enables scholars to collect, curate, polish and send out their materials at all stages throughout their academic professional path. Learn more about Dossier here

In the last decade, higher education student bodies have become more diverse, but the faculty at most institutions increasingly do not reflect the diversity of the students they teach. Colleges and universities have recognized this imbalance, and many have committed to hiring and retaining a more diverse faculty body. While there have been gains in recent years, a new report from the Government Accountability Office found that some groups—Black and Hispanic professors in particular—are still underrepresented at higher education institutions. 

Many colleges and universities are doubling down on their efforts, and for good reason. They recognize that improving minority representation in academia is about more than hitting a quota—it’s about creating a supportive campus climate, ensuring student success, and recruiting and retaining talented faculty. 

Ultimately, it’s about making the institution more inclusive, effective, and attractive to the highest quality professors and researchers. 

What Is Faculty Diversity? 

Faculty diversity means more than just racial, ethnic, and gender diversity. A diverse faculty should also represent a range of abilities, social statuses, sexual orientations and gender identities, religions, viewpoints, and scholarly interests.  

The impact of representation in higher education cannot be overstated. For example, if a student with a hearing disability encounters a professor with a similar disability, they may start to see a future for themselves in academia. A new path has appeared for them—and now they are more likely to pursue graduate school and research opportunities. 

The Importance of Faculty Diversity in Higher Education 

Having a diverse faculty benefits students, the institution as a whole, the larger research community, and the faculty members themselves.  

When your faculty members come from a variety of backgrounds and have varied interests, your institution can offer a greater range of programs and research opportunities. Faculty with unique perspectives can also broaden classroom discussions and introduce students to new ideas. 

Improved Student Engagement and Retention 

Achieving faculty diversity enhances underrepresented students’ educational experiences. Minority faculty can provide much-needed support and opportunity for growth and development to students from similar groups. For example, Black students may feel more comfortable talking about their challenges to faculty members with whom they have shared experiences.  

A more supportive and inclusive educational experience results in improved academic performance, and we’ve seen time and time again that increased faculty diversity leads to better graduation rates for students from underrepresented groups. In fact, performance gaps between white and minority students—e.g., dropout rates—fall significantly for minority students in classes taught by minority faculty members, with long-term positive effects on retention and degree completion. 

Enhanced Learning Environments and Campus Climate 

Today’s students are looking more closely at faculty diversity and representation when choosing which institution to attend. When you have a diverse faculty body, you attract more students from underrepresented groups to your institution, which itself has a host of positive effects.  

For example, students’ learning outcomes improve when they informally interact with other students from different racial groups. In particular, these students show improved intellectual engagement, self-motivation, and civic and cultural engagement. Students’ critical thinking, problem solving, and writing skills also improve from interacting with students from different backgrounds than their own. 

Increased Opportunity and Better Preparation for the Real World 

The skills students develop in interacting with a diverse faculty and student body also prepare them to successfully interact with the people they will encounter in the real world. 

Students graduate into a multicultural world, where the majority of work settings will involve interacting with people of different races, faiths, abilities, and viewpoints. To succeed in these settings, students must recognize the value of different experiences and know how to communicate in a way that is sensitive to these differences.  

Students exposed to diversity during their time in higher education are also more engaged citizens as adults and, in general, better prepared for all facets of adult life

How to Close the Diversity Gap 

It’s easy to understand why colleges and universities are eager to increase faculty diversity—it’s good for students, faculty, and the institution itself.  

Nevertheless, many institutions have struggled to make significant progress. Improving diversity in higher education requires addressing multiple challenges, including shortcomings in recruitment and promotion practices as well as pipeline problems (that is, an insufficient number of new Ph.D. graduates from underrepresented groups).  

Here are a few steps that institutions can take to improve their recruitment process and long-term faculty retention: 

Recognize and guard against unconscious bias: One threat to increasing faculty diversity is unconscious bias, or social stereotypes about certain groups of people that individuals form outside their own conscious awareness. To combat this threat, institutions should examine policies and practices for any potential discriminatory effects. Hiring committees, in particular, should be aware of unconscious bias and take action to combat it.  

Focus on education: Consider providing all of your employees with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training. Your training program can include multiple levels, including materials that establish a baseline of knowledge and programs that enable faculty to deepen their understanding of DEI issues.  

Create community groups and support systems: Encourage the creation of groups, such as Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), that give employees a sense of community and a support network to either fall back on when facing challenges or celebrate with following professional successes. 

Rethink hiring practices: In addition to targeted training and education on DEI issues, an essential step to increase faculty diversity is to improve your hiring practices. For example, institutions can circumvent affinity bias by auditing applicant pools against earned doctorate survey data from the National Science Foundation.  

Promote Diversity in Higher Education With Interfolio 

While improving your hiring practices is one important part of increasing faculty diversity, progress also depends on examining your academic review policies and processes. 

Is your university doing all the right things to appropriately influence faculty applicant pool diversity? 

Universities that hire faculty through Interfolio gain a new level of applicant pool data, equitable committee work, and consistency that enables them to reach diverse academic hiring outcomes. 

You can learn more here about how we can help your institution reach its diversity goals—and enjoy the many benefits that come from faculty diversity.

Antione D. Tomlin, PhD headshot

Antione D. Tomlin, PhD, PCC

Associate Professor and Director of Academic Literacies Tutoring Center

Anne Arundel Community College

Tamisha J. Ponder, PhD, ERYT

Tamisha J. Ponder, PhD, ERYT

Adjunct Professor and Founder/CEO

Anne Arundel Community College, Sankofa Health & Wellness

Depending on the time of the academic year, faculty may neglect effective self-care and wellness practices because we feel the need to “push through” or “just get it done.” While this approach isn’t always the safest, many faculty may admit that it’s how things have always been, and they plan to rest when it’s “less busy.” We know we are guilty of this mindset sometimes. 

As we bring the academic year to an end, we encourage faculty to do a self-assessment and evaluate how they spent their emotional, mental, and physical energy over the past year. Consider what you need to do to rest, reset, and re-energize. This post offers tips for faculty—but they can also be useful for administrators, staff, and students—on how to be more intentional about adopting effective self-care practices at the end of an academic year.

Tip 1: Cultivate I.R.B. (Intention, Rest, and Boundaries)

Imagine enjoying a morning cup of coffee before tending to your notifications and emails. Envision the sun on your skin and wind on your eyelashes before a reminder alerts you. Cultivating IRB means to set an intention before the world requests of you. With a good night’s rest and morning intentionality, early morning mindfulness can seem less like a fairytale and more like a non-negotiable. 

Begin your mornings with the intention of self-preservation before your to-do lists define your day. This may require you to get up earlier or reevaluate the appropriation of your time, but afterward, it will make sense. Nobody said it was easy, but we all agree that it is worth it. 

Tip 2: Prioritize Play 

Somewhere along the way, adulthood kicked in and life began to life—and responsibilities overshadowed a type of innocence and carefree status that can only be recognized by your younger self. I often ask my folks, who were you before the world told you who you were? What activities did you do before said life event? 

This is where play comes into the picture. What does it feel like to laugh without judgment? Get messy without fear of cleaning up. Excitement without boundaries. The concept of “play” might confuse you; however, I ask you to not think so hard about it. If you played outside as a kid, lace up your sneakers and explore the great outdoors. If you meddled with arts and crafts in your younger days, take a visit to your local craft store and fill up your cart! The nostalgic remix of your then and now can be a full-circle experience that you didn’t know you needed.

Tip 3: Summer Reset

The academic year can bring many joys, challenges, pains, and growth to faculty. While we love what we do, the challenges can sometimes become overwhelming. Incorporating self-care strategies and techniques throughout the academic year is crucial, and summer should definitely be a time to reset. 

Personally, we use summer as an opportunity to recharge. We strive to only say yes to essential work tasks and embrace activities that bring play and pleasure. We are not suggesting that colleagues spend all their money on relaxation but rather emphasizing the importance of intentional self-care practices during the summer. Without this intentionality, you risk continuing down a path toward exhaustion and burnout. 

We suggest you approach summer with clear plans for what you want to accomplish, both professionally and personally. Create a to-do list that outlines your strategic and intentional Summer Reset plans. As your semester and contract come to an end, set aside time to thoughtfully add activities and experiences to your schedule that align with your reset goals.

Tip 4: Create/Join an Accountability Group

Just as we have writing, working, and exercising accountability groups and partners, we must also create spaces that hold us accountable for self-care. Find others with similar self-care or wellness goals and establish a collaborative community to achieve these goals together. Decide on the objectives of your formal or informal group, how you will hold each other accountable, and how you will celebrate both shared and individual successes. 

Having a self-care and wellness accountability space will motivate you to continue on your journey. Many tasks, accomplishments, and achievements require a village for support. Find, build, and cultivate your village as you strive to be the best version of yourself.


Authors Bios:

Antione D. Tomlin, PhD, PCC, is a tenured Associate Professor and Director of Academic Literacies Tutoring Center at Anne Arundel Community College. Dr. Tomlin is also an ICF Certified Life Coach. Feel free to reach out at www.drantionetomlin.com or on X (Twitter) @Tomlinantione.

Tamisha J. Ponder, PhD, ERYT is an adjunct professor at Anne Arundel Community College and founder/CEO of Sankofa Health & Wellness, an integrative wellness company. Dr. Ponder leads an accredited and registered yoga teacher training program and mindfulness courses. Feel free to reach out at www.tamishajponder.com or on X (Twitter) @TJackPonder.


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Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of Interfolio.

Inside Higher Ed and Hanover Research recently released the 2024 Survey of College and University Chief Academic Officers. The findings, which dive into responses from 331 provosts from across the country, highlight how academic leaders are feeling about a variety of topics at this point in time. Here’s a glimpse at what provosts shared about what they’re currently experiencing. 

Faculty and Staff Retention Challenges 

Turnover and retention are proving to be a challenge for the majority of academic leaders, with 35% of provosts seeing faculty turnover rates that are higher than usual. Adding to the challenge, 30% of provosts report retirement rates that are higher than usual.  

In addition, 60% of provosts say that recruiting faculty is more challenging now than it was prior to the pandemic. In an effort to combat this issue, 39% say their institution is doing more now than it was before the pandemic to retain and engage faculty members. And about three-quarters of provosts (74%) noted that their institution surveys faculty, staff, and administrators to assess their job satisfaction. 

Academic Leaders’ Thoughts on Tenure  

The overwhelming majority (83%) of provosts feel that tenure is important to the overall health of their institution, with 50% deeming the practice to be very or extremely important. When it comes to viability, 62% of provosts believe that tenure is very or extremely viable within their institution.  

However, provosts are notably split when it comes to the idea of supporting long-term faculty contracts over the existing tenure system we see in higher education today. Overall, 54% of provosts favor making the change to contracts while 46% oppose the idea. Digging into the demographics, there are striking differences seen when considering the type of institution, the age of the respondent, and the region where the respondent lives.  

For example, provosts at private doctoral and master’s institutions are especially likely to favor long-term contracts (67%), while provosts at public doctoral institutions are the least likely to favor the idea over the current tenure system (41%). Contracts are also more highly favored by provosts aged 40–49 (60%) and 50–59 (57%) than they are by provosts aged 60–69 (46%). Provosts in the Northeast region are also more likely to favor long-term contracts (62%) than their counterparts in the South (45%).   

Teaching Versus Research: What’s More Important? 

When it comes to the role of faculty, provosts have differing views about the importance of teaching and research when it comes to their institution versus higher education as a whole. In fact, 80% of provosts feel that teaching is more important than research at their own institution. Just 15% say they believe teaching and research are equally important at their institution, while the remaining 5% say research is more important.  

In contrast, 44% of provosts say teaching and research are equally important across higher education as a whole—not just at their own institution. Upon taking a closer look at the demographics, those at public doctoral and private master’s or doctoral institutions are more likely to say that research matters as much as teaching.  

A Closer Look at Provost Job Satisfaction 

Overall, the vast majority of provosts surveyed (87%) agree or strongly agree that they are glad they pursued administrative work in higher education, with relative consistency across demographics. Gay and lesbian respondents are somewhat less likely (78%) to agree that they’re glad they pursued this work than their heterosexual counterparts (87%), and respondents aged 60–69 are somewhat more likely (94%) to agree than those who are 50–59 and 40–49 (82% for both groups).  

While it’s encouraging to see how many provosts are glad they pursued the role, these individuals have a tough road ahead. In particular, issues with retention, recruitment, workloads, and equity will require extra consideration in the coming years as academic leaders continue to face heightened pressures in these areas. Do you have the tools you need to address these challenges? 

Access the full report now to learn more about these findings from Inside Higher Ed and Hanover Research.  

Applying for academic jobs and programs involves aggregating a variety of materials. Since 1999, millions of scholars have entrusted Interfolio with their career aspirations, using Interfolio’s Dossier to:

  • Navigate stressful application processes
  • Request, store, and send accurate and confidential letters
  • Collect, curate, and prepare materials
  • Send materials or collections for feedback and mentorship

The Interfolio team has hosted and fine-tuned these interactions and processes. This helps alleviate stress and facilitate preparation for our users so they can focus on the outcome of their efforts: getting to their next career milestone. 

Here, we break down the five central benefits of an online scholar-focused dossier—and speculate about what a global network of digital academic portfolios could mean for networking and knowledge sharing.

Benefits of an Online Academic Dossier:

  1. An online dossier makes it possible to manage multiple confidential letters of recommendation for multiple applications. Surely this is the best-known purpose of an online academic dossier—and it’s a game-changer. Instead of asking letter writers over and over to submit letters to dozens of destinations, you can just ask each of them to submit one unaddressed letter (or several variants) to your dossier service. By making it easier for letter writers, you can maintain a stronger relationship with them—and you don’t have to constantly check in on whether or not a writer has completed their letter.
  2. It facilitates the sharing of materials for feedback in a relatively seamless way. The ability to send a digital copy of your CV or a collection of materials at the push of a button to anyone, anywhere, is an incredibly beneficial capability of online dossiers. Simply upload and then send mentors, advisors, or even a peer a copy of your application packet and receive their thoughts and feedback on how to put your best foot forward. And all the feedback is captured so you can easily accept and translate it—or pass on certain thoughts and ideas.
  3. It enables a scholar to apply to a large number of opportunities—and to apply on short notice. For a scholar who maintains an academic dossier online, the actual sending of application materials is simpler and quicker, with the ability to submit an application packet with a few clicks from anywhere. The time available to invest in the most substantive, meaningful aspects of your career management—to revise statements, research opportunities, learn about peers’ work, and attend events—can be severely constrained by the labor it takes to get all of your applications out the door.
  4. It gives scholars a place to store the most up-to-date versions of their own materials. If you use an online dossier service, you have a dedicated space for your career materials that is accessible from anywhere. Is an academic dossier service the only way to store your documents online? Of course not. But you gain the added benefit of a dedicated venue in which to organize your work, so you’ll know exactly where to go to find what you need.
  5. It gives scholars a consolidated historical record of their career steps. A dossier service makes for a more informed applicant. When you organize your job search, grant applications, or even a medical school portfolio online in this way, you can rely on a single place to reference any past attempts. It’ll help you remember which opportunities you applied for at which times, which materials were sent to which destinations, to whom you addressed a packet at a particular institution (and at what address), and similar details. The dossier service stores this information for you, making it easy to reference as needed.

Academics are highly qualified applicants in a very tight market—with limited time. With Interfolio’s Dossier, you can get a head start. By shortening the path from point A to point B, it affords individual scholars greater freedom to represent their contributions and character, and to make connections with the right collaborators. Plus, Dossier gives you access to an extensive database of academic positions, fellowships, and grants, so you can handle the entire process in one convenient location. 

Interfolio’s Dossier enables scholars to collect, curate, polish, and submit their materials at all stages throughout their academic professional path.


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Advance With Confidence.

Applying for academic programs or positions requires many artifacts. Put your best foot forward with Interfolio.

Start building your dossier for free today.

Antione D. Tomlin, PhD headshot

Antione D. Tomlin, PhD, PCC

Associate Professor and Director of Academic Literacies Tutoring Center

Anne Arundel Community College

Kenneth Gilliard, M.S

Kenneth Gilliard, MS

Student Success and Retention Advisor, Student Achievement and Success Program

Anne Arundel Community College

As Black male community college educators, we find it fitting, as we approach the midpoint of the semester, to share some tips and strategies for supporting Black male students. While these insights originate from our experiences as both Black male students and educators in higher education, we firmly believe they can be valuable and applicable to anyone supporting Black male students, whether in K-12 or higher education settings. 

Far too often, Black male students lack the necessary support to thrive academically, prompting us to offer practical tips that educators can readily incorporate into their practices. However, we acknowledge that these tips serve as just a starting point. We urge our colleagues to continuously seek out additional resources and support systems to aid Black male students, recognizing that there are no quick fixes or one-size-fits-all solutions to addressing mindset shifts and providing equitable opportunities for their success. 

Moreover, let us be clear: It is not Black male students who need to change, but rather us, the educators, who must evolve our thinking and approaches to cultivate safer environments that promote connection, belonging, and achievement. Therefore, in our efforts to expand opportunities, we must understand that this is not a concern for Black male students to do something differently; it is an issue that requires collective action and reflection among educators.

Gilliard Tip 1: Create Supportive Spaces, Communities, and Resources—and Address Systemic Barriers

Take a deeper approach and get to know the why and not just the who in that moment. In the perspective of an archaic education system that was not built with the Black male or any minority student in mind, it is important to view the holistic student. Recognize and address the systemic barriers and challenges that disproportionately impact Black male students, such as financial insecurity, lack of access to academic support services, and experiences of racism and discrimination. 

One of the great marvels of life is that no one experiences the same thing the same way as the next, as our lives are a culmination of our experiences, factors, and attributes not limited to mental, physical, spiritual, intellectual, social, occupational, financial, environmental, and mental. In doing so, we must also understand and interrupt our own unconscious bias that we all possess to help meet students where they are while challenging them to rise to their potential. Provide targeted resources and interventions to address these barriers, including financial aid and scholarship opportunities, academic advising and tutoring services, culturally responsive counseling and mental health support, and initiatives to promote equity and inclusion on campus. Additionally, advocate for policies and practices that dismantle systemic inequities and create a more supportive and inclusive campus environment for all students, regardless of race or background. 

By proactively addressing these challenges and providing tailored support, staff can help empower Black male students to thrive academically and achieve their goals. Establish safe and supportive spaces on campus where Black male students can connect with one another, share experiences, and find a sense of belonging. This could include affinity groups, student organizations, or dedicated spaces within existing campus resource centers. Encourage faculty and staff to actively engage with these students, listen to their concerns, and provide additional support as needed. By fostering a sense of community and belonging, you can help empower Black male students to succeed academically and thrive personally.

Gilliard Tip 2: Provide Mentorship and Guidance

Offer mentorship programs specifically tailored to the needs of Black male students. Assign students mentors who can offer academic, social, and career guidance, as well as provide support and encouragement. These mentors should understand the unique challenges and experiences that Black male students may face and be able to offer culturally relevant advice and assistance. 

Additionally, provide opportunities for peer mentoring, where successful Black male students can serve as role models and mentors for their peers. Pairing students with faculty, staff, or peer mentors who share similar backgrounds or experiences can provide invaluable guidance, encouragement, and support. These mentorship relationships can help students navigate academic challenges, set goals, access resources, and develop essential skills for success—both inside and outside the classroom. Additionally, fostering a sense of community through student organizations, support groups, and networking events can create spaces where Black male students feel understood, empowered, and connected to their peers and mentors.

Tomlin Tip 1: Be Real, Authentic, and You!

As a faculty member, what I’ve learned is that the Black male students I encounter are seeking genuine connection, relationship, and guidance. It does not serve me to be anyone except who I am. I pride myself on being authentic in all situations, circumstances, and environments. This realization has been particularly meaningful in my work with and support of Black male students. 

As a Black, gay male, I openly embrace all aspects of my identity with my students, especially my Black male students. I recognize that all of my identities contribute to who I am, and it’s the authenticity with which I present myself that my Black male students appreciate most. Therefore, I encourage my colleagues who are supporting Black male students to show up genuinely and authentically—while also holding themselves accountable for mistakes. As a human, I acknowledge that I don’t always get it right, and I often make mistakes in supporting my Black male students. However, I lean into modeling self-awareness and accountability to create spaces of safety, connection, and belonging for my students. 

To my colleagues, I encourage you to ask for help when needed, to be yourselves, and to remember that Black male students are the narrators of their own stories. They should be allowed the space to be as genuine and authentic as we strive to be with them. This simple tip can go a long way, as Black male students have a keen sense of detecting inauthenticity. Once they perceive someone as inauthentic, it’s challenging to regain their trust. Sometimes, you may only have one opportunity to connect with a Black male student, so it’s crucial to be mindful of every interaction and make that one attempt count.

Tomlin Tip 2: Show Up, Even When It’s Hard

In my experience as both a Black male student and a Black male educator, I’ve observed that many people tend to dismiss Black male students if they don’t excel academically or conform to a certain appearance associated with intelligence. We need to eradicate the biases, stereotypes, and stigmas attached to the perception that Black men don’t care enough or try hard enough to pursue education. 

Although it’s disheartening that I still need to address this in 2024, I’ve encountered colleagues seeking support because they struggle to assist their Black male students effectively. While I’m willing to help colleagues develop strategies for supporting their Black male students, I take issue with colleagues who make assumptions about why their Black male students are struggling, having sudden class absences, lack of communication, or poor performance on assignments. Many Black male students are accustomed to being judged, and educators’ perceived lack of motivation to help them succeed only reinforces these negative perceptions and experiences. 

Therefore, colleagues, when faced with challenges in supporting your Black male students, start by asking them what they need. While they may not always have a clear answer—or a concise way to articulate it—providing them with a space to share their experiences and obstacles can help dispel any assumptions we might inadvertently make based on preconceived notions. This approach isn’t difficult, but it’s often overlooked. So, the next time you’re supporting a Black male student, consider asking open-ended questions about how you can assist and give yourself the space to listen. Remember the importance of waiting, and if you find yourself talking too much or making assumptions, WAIT and ask yourself, “Why Am I Talking?” Sometimes, offering a listening ear is the most valuable form of support.


Authors Bios:

Antione D. Tomlin, PhD, PCC, is a tenured Associate Professor and Director of Academic Literacies Tutoring Center at Anne Arundel Community College. Dr. Tomlin is also an ICF Certified Life Coach. Feel free to reach out at www.drantionetomlin.com or on X (Twitter) @Tomlinantione.

Kenneth Gilliard, MS, is a Student Success and Retention Advisor with the Student Achievement and Success Program at Anne Arundel Community College. Kenneth is also the President and CEO of his company, Gilliard and Co. LLC – Event Planner and Travel Agent.


Build Your Dossier With Interfolio.
Advance With Confidence.

Applying for academic programs or positions requires many artifacts. Put your best foot forward with Interfolio.

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Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of Interfolio.

Between their teaching, service, and research efforts coupled with evaluations for tenure and review, faculty have a lot on their plate—and a lot to prove. It can be tough to capture and showcase the data to fully demonstrate faculty impact, and that burden often falls on faculty themselves. The University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNT HSC) found a way to harness that data with Interfolio in order to illuminate faculty excellence, streamline RPT processes, and showcase strategic plan achievements. 

Connecting the Faculty Data Dots 

With six schools specializing in patient-centered education, research, and health care, UNT HSC had a need for a centralized faculty activity reporting system that could provide a clear picture of the institution’s 300 faculty members. “We had data coming from all different places, and it was kind of up to the departments and chairs to collect the data for things like annual review or for the faculty member when came to promotion and tenure,” shared Nancy Staples, Academic & Business Manager in the Office of the Provost at UNT HSC. She also noted that the institution was working with a homegrown system for reviews that was difficult to work with, and files for promotion and tenure were being mailed on flash drives.  

“We had internal tracking on spreadsheets, and PeopleSoft has their rank and service time, but it didn’t have a full picture of any faculty members. It was very spread out,” said Staples. The institution sought a solution that could provide this complete snapshot of its faculty members in one location and made the decision to implement Interfolio Faculty Activity Reporting (FAR) and Interfolio Review, Promotion & Tenure (RPT) to help streamline faculty processes.  

Saving Faculty and Administrators Time 

UNT HSC collects and activates data in FAR, which is used in tandem with the Interfolio Data Service. Using APIs, basic HR data is brought into the system from PeopleSoft, teaching data comes in from the registrar’s office, and additional feeds come in from the grants office. “With the Data Service, it pulls in more scholarly activity,” said Staples. These activities are already appropriately formatted, creating a much easier process for the institution’s faculty to simply click and accept to add activities to their profile. “Before, they had to go in and format it—it was a lot of tedious work,” she added.  

Maintaining accurate faculty data in a centralized location is also beneficial for reviews, as the vita is pulled directly from FAR into RPT. “Before the faculty member submits their case, they go in and review it to make sure that their activity reporting is correct,” noted Staples, “so what they put into their annual review is their truth.” In addition, the institution has templates for the promotion and tenure cases accessible through Interfolio’s Dossier. “Even five years out from a promotion, they can go and start building the case in Dossier,” said Staples. “And then when they are ready to go up, we just create their case, and they slide the information over from Dossier directly into their P&T case. I’ve seen a P&T case created and submitted within four days—they have all the information right there already set up.” 

Showcasing Faculty Impact With Web Profiles 

When it comes to showcasing faculty accomplishments, UNT HSC sets the bar high. “We have public-facing profiles that are fed from Faculty Activity Reporting,” noted Staples. “It’s an automatic feed—every night, it uploads to the profile, and they can go in at any time and look at it.” These profiles include a faculty member’s accomplishments, research, and academic details. As updates are made in FAR, these changes are reflected on their web profiles. “We allow it to be as much or as little as they want to publish.” 

Interfolio Faculty Web Profiles is a new addition to our leading Faculty Information System, allowing academic leaders to activate existing data to benefit both their scholars and their institution. Integrating with FAR and the Interfolio Data Service, our web profiles solution is the easiest way to highlight the holistic impact of your scholars across their service, teaching, and research accomplishments. Automatically search, ingest, and deduplicate 280 million records and conference proceedings published in over 60,000 sources to create faculty profiles quickly and seamlessly. Faculty regain valuable working hours, enabling them to spend time on higher-impact activities. 

Watch the on-demand webinar to hear more about how UNT HSC activates data to illuminate faculty impact. If you’d like to find out how Interfolio Web Profiles can help increase the public visibility of your scholars, contact us today for a demo.

A diverse faculty body brings a range of experiences and backgrounds to their roles as educators and researchers; they represent multiple races, ethnicities, genders, ages, sexual orientations, and abilities, and they exhibit unique scholarly interests, viewpoints, and teaching and learning styles. 

Faculty diversity has been shown to positively affect student outcomes, including increasing retention and graduation rates. To best serve student needs, an institution’s faculty should reflect the student population, from race and gender to sexual orientation. But according to data from the American Council on Education (ACE), over one-third of higher education students are Black, Latinx, or Native American—and only 11% of faculty reflect those populations. As of 2018, roughly 76% of faculty at postsecondary institutions were white. 

As student bodies become more diverse, many colleges and universities recognize the importance of improving faculty diversity and have put robust plans in place around diversity, equity, and inclusion—but how many are realizing their goals? 

The Benefits of a Diverse Faculty 

Research shows that faculty diversity in higher education supports the success of students from underrepresented groups as well as all students’ intercultural competence.  

The positive effects of a diverse faculty are clear: 

  • In institutions where a majority of faculty are white, students of color may see Black and Latinx professors as role models or mentors, increasing their sense of belonging. 
  • Female students report feeling like they receive more help and support from female faculty. 
  • Black students in STEM courses taught by Black instructors are more likely to stick with STEM after their first year. 
  • Faculty diversity can also lead to a greater variety of scholarship and research, expanding societal knowledge and understanding. 

While the benefits are apparent, institutions are still struggling with recruiting, hiring, and retaining diverse faculty members. 

How to Increase Faculty Diversity in Higher Education 

ACE points to three areas of focus for institutions seeking to improve faculty diversity: 1) attractiveness of faculty positions; 2) hiring, tenure, and promotion processes; and 3) departmental and campus climates for faculty of color. 

To meet these objectives, it is key that institutions ensure campus-wide commitment to diversity efforts, improve hiring practices, and support the success of faculty from underrepresented groups. 

Ensuring Campus-Wide Commitment to Faculty Diversity 

While making faculty diversity a priority is an essential first step, in order to effect lasting change, higher education administrators and department chairs should weave their institution’s commitment to faculty diversity into strategic plans and mission statements, as well as institutional policies. 

For example, institutional policies relating to faculty workloads and faculty review, promotion, and tenure need to be reexamined in light of how they impact faculty diversity. Institutions may need to adjust these policies to better support the retention of underrepresented groups and promote equitable faculty workloads.   

To keep diversity goals top of mind, administrators should also remind community members of their institution’s diversity goals by reaffirming them during campus talks and meetings—and by making them part of any long-term strategy discussion.  

Another essential part of realizing this commitment to faculty diversity is making specific changes to hiring practices. 

Five Hiring Practices to Increase Faculty Diversity 

Faculty affairs administrators and departments can actualize their institution’s faculty diversity goals by taking five important steps in faculty hiring:  

1. Set department-based goals for diversity and inclusion 

The first step each department should take is to discuss long-term goals related to faculty diversity and inclusion in hiring. This involves assessing past successes and failures to inform practices going forward and determining ways that faculty recruitment and selection processes can be more inclusive. 

For example, for business schools that lack faculty from underrepresented groups, departments might discuss dropping the requirement of a Ph.D. for tenure-track candidates and instead consider candidates based on their business experience or possession of an MBA. 

2. Elect an inclusive search committee 

Gather search committees for open positions that include faculty from underrepresented groups that you hope to reach. If you struggle to find those members within your department, reach out to other departments to achieve an inclusive search committee. 

3. Develop a broad recruitment plan 

The hiring manager and search committee for any open position should develop a plan focused on attracting a large and diverse pool of applicants. This should include identifying resources that ensure the wide distribution of the position announcement.  

Search committees can’t simply place an ad and sit back; they must actively seek out diverse candidates by tapping into professional networks and industry organizations to increase their reach. Committee members should also seek out specific organizations, websites, and publications that specialize in recruiting diverse faculty members. 

UC Davis’s ADVANCE initiative, which seeks to increase the number of women in STEM careers, recommends that hiring committees take advantage of industry listservs, email groups, and registries. UNC Charlotte’s similar ADVANCE program also offers a list of resources for finding underrepresented faculty candidates. 

4. Create an inclusive job listing 

The job advertisement should clearly indicate your institution’s commitment to equity and diversity. Research shows that this practice is more likely to result in the hiring of a candidate from an underrepresented group. 

In addition, define the position in the broadest possible terms consistent with the department’s needs. Try not to rely on overly narrow experience requirements and instead indicate your openness to non-traditional career experiences and pathways. For example, if you are hiring a professor of public policy, you might note in the posting that you are open to candidates with extensive public policy experience and that you do not require a master’s degree or Ph.D. 

Ensure job announcements reach a broad audience by including outlets such as minority-serving publications, listservs, bulletin boards, and blogs. For example, you will likely want to post on the DiversityTrio job boards, which receive high traffic from faculty candidates from diverse backgrounds. 

5. Monitor the recruitment plan 

Once the hiring plan has been implemented, it’s critical that you monitor the diversity of the candidate pool while the submission window is open, not after. Committees should be able to monitor applicant data in real time so they can increase efforts to attract candidates from underrepresented groups and ensure the institution’s diversity goals stay on track.  

Supporting Faculty Members From Underrepresented Groups 

To attract and retain a diverse faculty, an institution must provide an appealing, supportive, and beneficial environment for scholars from underrepresented groups.  

Look at your institutional policies relating to faculty workloads and promotion; in many instances, the distribution of labor may not be equal for women and faculty members of color. Invisible labor often doesn’t lead to promotion or tenure, and it can cause faculty to burn out and leave the institution entirely. It’s essential to take note of these inequities and create an inclusive culture with practices that support faculty members from underrepresented groups. Detailed faculty data reporting can make it easier to spot these inequities and track each professor’s workload and path to promotion or tenure. 

Another way to support faculty is by creating mentorship programs dedicated to underrepresented groups or specific departments. For example, Black faculty in predominantly white schools may feel disconnected—both from each other and the institution as a whole. An institution can better encourage the success of its Black faculty by establishing communities where they feel welcome and valued. 

Your institution may also want to pursue discussions and relationships with local and national minority organizations and other associations that focus on strategies for supporting faculty members from underrepresented groups. These organizations could include the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education, the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity, and the Association on Higher Education and Disability.  

Digital Tools to Help You Deliver on Faculty Diversity 

The Interfolio Faculty Information System can support your efforts to increase faculty diversity at every stage of the hiring process and beyond. 

Trying to recruit a diverse pool of candidates? Faculty Search enables you to assess your applications during the submission window and intervene if the pool is not diverse enough using real-time, self-reported, anonymous demographic survey responses from 100% of applicants. 

In addition, if your search committee has devised specific evaluation criteria, such as whether candidates offer real-world experience, Faculty Search enables you to make that custom criteria part of your digital workflow. 

As you hire more faculty members from underrepresented groups, Interfolio’s Review, Promotion & Tenure software can help you support them using a documented review process that increases consistency and transparency. In addition, Interfolio’s Faculty Activity Reporting module makes it easy for faculty to document activities relating to student support, service, and diversity. 

Need Additional Help? 

Download Interfolio’s Best Practices Checklist: Achieving Diversity Across the Academic Lifecycle to see whether you’ve adopted the best strategies for recruiting and retaining diverse faculty candidates.