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Faculty Excellence Advocate

Derrick Fox is the College of Music Faculty Excellence Advocate (FEA). This position is funded through the University’s ADAPP-ADVANCE initiative (Advancing Diversity through the Alignment of Policy and Practices). The initiative is designed “to help improve MSU’s ability to recruit, retain and advance a diverse faculty work force, as well as create a positive and supportive work climate for all.”

The duties of the FEA include, but are not limited to:

  • Meet with dean to review procedures prior to search processes getting underway.
  • Work with dean and search committees to assure that job description/posting reflects objective criteria that are also aligned with screening criteria, selection criteria, and the criteria upon which annual evaluations and tenure and promotion are conducted
  • Meet with chair or entire search committee before start of search to review best practices of a search process.
  • Work with dean to review offer letter to assure salary and other terms and conditions of employment are in alignment with offers made to similarly ranked faculty at time of hire.
  • Coordinate College mentoring program.
  • Meet with new faculty intermittently during pre-tenure years.
  • Check-in with area chairs of new faculty to get their assessment of how new faculty are progressing.
  • Work with dean to verify that annual evaluation criteria for new faculty are consistent with criteria used for job posting/description.
  • Review the formal annual evaluation of new faculty to assure the evaluation is consistent with objective criteria that were outlined at time of hire.
  • Serve as resource for faculty after receipt of evaluation to determine if they have any questions regarding process.
  • Report progress on or any concerns regarding the advancement of women/diverse faculty in the annual review process to the dean.
  • Track the extent to which women and diverse faculty are accessing developmental opportunities within the college and university (ADAPP workshops, faculty development workshops, grant workshops, etc) and outside the college and university (discipline based conferences, external fellowship opportunities, etc.)
  • Explore with women/diverse faculty ways to enhance their opportunities and reduce barriers for leadership within the college/discipline.
  • Assess and report annually on progress or concerns to the dean.
  • Review MSU Work Environment Survey data and “inventory” findings with dean to help develop an understanding of how the work environment is perceived with the College.
  • Work with the dean to identify College strategies for promoting a positive work environment across all units within the College.
  • Talk to all faculty who are leaving the College voluntarily (e.g. resign or retire) to determine why they are leaving, any concerns they might have that contributed to their decision to leaven, and any suggestions for improving the work climate within their unit, the College or the University.
  • Provide an annual FEA report to the dean and provost, addressing: 1) relevant college goals; 2) activities; and 3) progress towards reaching goals to date (outcomes).