The Faculty Collaborative
The Faculty Collaborative brings together a cohort of faculty at a particular phase in their careers to share best practices, offer mentoring support, and tackle challenges together.
Spring 2026 - Faculty Vitality at the Mid-Career Stage
Applications for this cohort will be accepted through December 1, 2025 at 11:59pm. Application decisions will be sent by December 15, 2025.
The KU Office of Faculty Affairs is excited to launch The Faculty Collaborative: Faculty Vitality at the Mid-Career Stage, a faculty development initiative. The program will consist of four sessions throughout the spring semester, bringing faculty together to focus on topics specifically related to faculty experiences and development at mid-career. Topics include: promoting faculty thriving through self-reflection and assessment of goals and action planning, strengthening supportive mentor networks, fostering effective work-life integration amidst expanding roles and responsibilities, and tackling the unique challenges of mid-career by building a community of faculty at a similar career stage. The program is designed around a cohort model, and all full time faculty and academic staff with a minimum of 6 years of experience (at KU or total) are invited to apply for this opportunity.
Program Sessions and Engagement: The program will consist of four 90-minute, in-person collaborative sessions during the spring semester. The program is designed for participant engagement with all four sessions. Each session will build from the content and discussion of the previous session and will focus on building a supportive cohort network. Session topics include:
- Surveying your Career & Discovering What's Next
- Setting Goals that Work for You
- Promoting Wellbeing and Work-Life Integration
- Identifying Supportive Mentor Networks
Program Dates: The cohort will meet on four Thursdays across the spring semester from 3:30-5:00pm each time. The dates include:
- February 5, 2026
- March 5, 2026
- April 2, 2026
- April 23, 2026
Eligibility: Full-time mid-career faculty and academic staff at the University of Kansas who have a minimum of 6 years as a full-time faculty member at KU or at other institutions.
Application Process: Interested faculty/academic staff should complete an application at this link. In the online application, applicants are asked to complete an information form and upload a letter of interest and a current cv. The letter of interest should include the following:
- Your name and a brief summary of your position and career experience
- Why you are interested in participating in the program
- 2-3 specific goals you would hope to accomplish through your participation in the program
Deadline to Apply: Monday December 1, 2025, by 11:59pm. Application decisions will be sent by December 15, 2025.
Facilitator: This initiative will be facilitated by Dr. Michael Amlung, Program Fellow in the Office of Faculty Affairs and Associate Professor of Applied Behavioral Science, with co-facilitation by faculty from various disciplines across the university.
Questions? Contact the Office of Faculty Affairs (facultyaffairs@ku.edu) or reach out to Associate Vice Provost Mary Banwart (mbanwart@ku.edu).
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