Relationships Within the Workplace
BOUNDARIES, CONSENT AND NEPOTISM
Relationships within the workplace can lead to difficulties, especially when one person has power over another. This power imbalance can lead to perceived or real conflicts of interest, favoritism, claims of harassment, and other negative outcomes.
Free Speech and Academic Freedom
UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES
Free speech and academic freedom are both vital to a healthy university and educational system, but it can be easy to confuse the two concepts. This resource was developed to explain how they are similar, how they are different, and how each is protected.
Retiring from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
ELIGIBILITY, PLANNING AND TRANSITIONING
The work that we do as faculty members is an important part of our identity – more so than with any other profession – and deciding when to transition to retirement is a significant life decision that requires preparation encompassing financial, social, and personal factors.
Advising International Students
SUPPORT RESOURCES
Explore ways in which faculty can better support international students with a faculty resource that discusses some of the challenges international students face.
External Professional Development Resources
ARTICLES, WEBINARS, AND WORKSHOPS
External resources to help faculty with their professional development, including the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity, Inside Higher Ed, and the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Faculty Service
MEANINGFUL SERVICE AND WORK BALANCE
Faculty service — one third of the tripartite mission of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln — has an impact. It impacts the institution, the students, our colleagues, and the citizens of Nebraska as well as those around the world.
Teaching Large Classes
TOOLS FOR ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT
Teaching large classes can be challenging. Here are some tips for teaching and managing these classes.
Updated December 2020
Recruiting Diverse Faculty
CONSIDERATIONS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN CREATING DIVERSE AND SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITIES
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln strives for excellence through diversity and inclusion. A diverse faculty supports success among our diverse student body; improves classroom discussions; and provides our students with better preparation for excellence in the global marketplace.
Inclusive Meetings
SHARED LEADERSHIP IS A MUTUAL RESPONSIBILITY
We have all been in meetings where someone monopolizes the discussion, someone is brusque and argumentative, or someone has great ideas but does not speak up. Facilitating and managing inclusive meetings takes skill and practice.
Facilitating Safe and Civil Discourse
BALANCING ACADEMIC FREEDOM WITH SAFE AND CIVIL BEHAVIOR ON OUR CAMPUS
Teaching and learning are our most important academic endeavors, and in a climate where faculty are reporting unprecedented levels of incivility in their classrooms, we must balance academic freedom with safe and civil behavior on our campus.
Updated December 2020
Academic Misconduct
WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT A STUDENT HAS ENGAGED IN ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Despite the hope that all students demonstrate academic integrity, one of the most challenging classroom issues is academic dishonesty. Instructors are often put in the difficult position of trying to figure out what happened and how best to proceed.
Encouraging Academic Integrity
PROMOTING HONESTY IN THE CLASSROOM
If students cheat in their educational experiences, they cheat themselves, but they also diminish our university’s reputation. Academic integrity gives employers and the community confidence in student knowledge and skills. Honest students are honest citizens.
Creating Gender-inclusive Educational Environments
EVERY PERSON AND EVERY INTERACTION MATTERS
Using chosen names and pronouns is an important way to demonstrate awareness and acceptance of all students, particularly transgender and gender diverse students. As a leader in classrooms and labs, faculty have the responsibility and the opportunity to create a more inclusive environment.
External Awards and Recognition
SET AND KEEP YOUR CAREER ON AN AWARD TRAJECTORY
Faculty honorific awards amplify the visibility and recognition of your scholarly activity, increase networking and collaboration opportunities, and enhance the national and international profile of your department, college, and the entire university.
Remote Working
LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC
As we have become adept at using Zoom, Microsoft Teams, WebEx, and other online platforms, these technologies have re-structured our workday, making managing the logistics of remote working tricky. Here are some tips gleaned from a year of remote working to carry forward into the future.
Navigating Difficult Conversations
ENGAGE IN ACTIVE LISTENING AND SHOW THAT YOU CARE
Healthy work and learning environments are created when people are respectful and communicate that they care about each other. However, there are times when people are not respectful, kind, nor considerate and it is during these times that navigating difficult conversations can be tricky.
How to be a Successful Mentee
GET THE GUIDANCE, SUPPORT, ADVOCACY, AND EXPERTISE YOU NEED
Being mentored as a student is very different from being mentored by a colleague, especially when that colleague may vote on your tenure or promotion. We want to forge the best relationship possible.
How to be a Successful Mentor
CREATE A SUCCESSFUL MENTORING RELATIONSHIP
As faculty, we now mentor students, junior peers, and even those who are in equal rank. Being a mentor is a great responsibility. It can take a lot of time and effort on your part to do it well.
Instructional Continuity
PLANNING FOR THE UNEXPECTED
While there are times during inclement weather that it may be unsafe to come to campus, the university aims to continue functioning whenever possible.
Leading and Teaching with Compassion
HELP YOUR STUDENTS FEEL SUPPORTED
Compassion is understood to mean active sympathy or a willingness to bear the pain of others without becoming engulfed or overwhelmed with the pain or suffering.
How to be a Better Negotiator
DO NOT BE AFRAID OF NEGOTIATION
Negotiation is a problem-solving exercise. Before starting, ask yourself: What do I want? What do I think the other party wants? Do I or the other party have any leverage? What are the circumstances surrounding the negotiation?
Managing Your Digital Footprint
IN TODAY’S WORLD, YOUR DIGITAL FOOTPRINT MATTERS
Take time to consider what your digital footprint is currently and what you would like it to be.
Student Mental Health and Resources
TIPS FOR SUPPORTING STUDENTS
Stress, depression, anxiety, alcohol abuse, eating disorders, and other mental health challenges affect at least 1 in 5 college students. Faculty can be an important source of support for UNL students.
Updated April 2021
Resilience
LEARN HOW TO BOUNCE BACK FROM ADVERSITY
Resilient people seem to roll with the punches and recover quickly from setbacks and disappointments. We are living in turbulent times and the stress associated with our jobs often leaves us feeling less than resilient.
Supporting Colleagues Through Grief and Loss
TIPS ON HELPING COPE WITH LOSS
Knowing how to help ourselves, as well as our faculty and staff colleagues, cope with loss is essential to creating a caring and inclusive university environment.
Preventing Workplace Bullying
TAKING A STRONG POSITION AGAINST WORKPLACE BULLYING
"Bullying" is characterized as negative, unwelcome behavior that is repeated and/or severe enough that a reasonable person would find it marked by intolerance, hostility, harassment, and/or intimidation.