Faculty at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have the responsibility to continuously search for new knowledge and transmit that knowledge through teaching and outreach. In order to maintain the high level of academic excellence required to fulfill these responsibilities, many faculty find it beneficial to periodically update and strengthen their professional skills.
Nebraska’s Faculty Development Fellowship program enables faculty to focus on their own professional development for a dedicated period of time, thereby enhancing their value to the university.
While most faculty focus their efforts on their research programs through study, research, and writing during a Faculty Development Fellowship, also known as Faculty Development Leave, others choose to focus on teaching-related professional work such as curriculum development or improvements in instructional practice. The typical expectation is that faculty on FDF will be released from normal teaching, service, and administrative assignments. In most cases, a temporary reapportionment of duties will be appropriate for the duration of the Faculty Development Fellowship period.
Faculty members are encouraged to consult as early as possible in the planning process with their department chair or dean, as appropriate, regarding timing and activities for their Faculty Development Fellowship. The Vice Chancellor's Office for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources will process applications for faculty within IANR. The Executive Vice Chancellor's Office will process applications for all other faculty.
Faculty Development Fellowship Policies
Faculty Development Fellowships are governed by the Board of Regents bylaws regarding Academic Leaves of Absence, Section 3.4.3.1 and the Board of Regents policies regarding Faculty Development Fellowships, Section 4.2.3. In particular:
- Faculty who have held full-time appointments within the University of Nebraska for six years or more at the rank of assistant, associate, or full professor are eligible for a Faculty Development Fellowship.
- Faculty are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity throughout their careers; six full years of service must elapse between each Faculty Development Fellowship.
- Faculty Development Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis: each year there is one Faculty Development Fellowship available for every 10 eligible faculty members.
- A Faculty Development Fellowship provides 100% of regular pay for one-half of the normal annual appointment period, or 50% of regular pay for the full normal annual appointment period. The university will continue to make its full contribution to the various employee benefit programs in which the individual is enrolled.
- A faculty member's pay during the Faculty Development Fellowship period can be supplemented with external funding up to the faculty member's normal full-time compensation.
- It is required that the faculty member spend at least one year in the employment of the university after completing the Faculty Development Fellowship or reimburse the university for the full amount of the Faculty Development Fellowship, including benefits.
- A Faculty Development Fellowship cannot be used for the purpose of pursuing an advanced degree.
- If, after an application for Faculty Development Fellowship is approved, it becomes apparent that the specific proposal for the fellowship cannot be implemented, the Faculty Development Fellowship may be continued on the basis of an alternative proposal, or deferred, or withdrawn, upon mutual agreement by the faculty member, the department chair, the dean, and the vice chancellor.
- During the Faculty Development Fellowship period, the faculty member's full FTE still resides at the university and so all normal university policies and procedures apply (e.g., Conflict of Interest and Conflict of Commitment (COI-COC), travel policies, etc.).
- Within 30 days of returning to normal academic duties, the faculty member is required to file a written report on the activities of the Faculty Development Fellowship. This brief report should include: a comparison of the actual activities to those outlined in the proposal, relationship of the activities to the faculty member’s professional growth within their discipline, and the ways in which the experience gained during the Faculty Development Fellowship period will improve their performance as a faculty member at the university. The faculty member should submit this report to their unit administrator, who will forward it to the dean, who will forward it to the Vice Chancellor’s Office.
How to Apply
Applications will be processed by the IANR Vice Chancellor's Office or Faculty Affairs in the Executive Vice Chancellor’s Office as they are received. However, to enable appropriate planning both for the faculty member requesting the Faculty Development Fellowship and for the university, it is recommended that applications are received in the Vice Chancellor's Office by:
- March 1 for fall semester and academic year FDF
- September 1 for spring semester FDF
Faculty should check with their Dean's Office, as some colleges and departments have additional deadlines.
Required Documents for Faculty Development Fellowship
Consult with your chair or your dean about the appropriate time to apply for a Faculty Development Fellowship and any unit-specific information that may apply. All applications for Faculty Development Fellowships must contain:
- A completed Application for Faculty Development Fellowship Form (Download the PDF and read the instructions before completing; note that signatures will be collected via DocuSign.)
- A full description of the Faculty Development Fellowship project of no more than three pages, which should include:
- an updated report on the activities and accomplishments from any previous FDFs or other paid leaves;
- a detailed description of the work to be undertaken during the proposed FDF; and
- an explanation of the benefits of the proposed FDF to the university and to the faculty member.
Faculty Development Fellowship Submission Process
- Faculty members submit the Faculty Development Fellowship application packet to their unit administrator, who will submit to the college Dean's Office.
- The college Dean’s Office will submit the application packet to the Vice Chancellor’s Office. The college Dean's Office will notify the faculty member about the status of the application packet throughout the submission process.
- The Vice Chancellor’s Office will review the application packet to verify eligibility and that all requirements are met. Once the review is complete, the Vice Chancellor’s Office will notify the college Dean’s Office and route the application packet for signatures in DocuSign. All parties will receive notification once the routing has been completed.
- The Vice Chancellor’s Office will secure approvals from the Chancellor's Office and the President’s Office. The Vice Chancellor's Office will notify the college Dean's Office once all approvals are in place.
- The college Dean's Office will notify the faculty member when the FDF has been fully approved and submit the necessary paperwork to the Payroll Office.