UGA Accelerate

Each spring OFA invites academic unit leaders (e.g., deans and associate deans) to identify newly recruited faculty for wrap-around mentoring that draws on the expertise of senior faculty. Nominations are accepted and approved on a rolling basis year-round as hires are completed. Below are the steps for nomination and committee launch:

1.    Select Eligible Faculty

• As faculty are hired, deans, associate deans and other academic unit heads are encouraged to identify those who are part of the strategic Presidential Hiring Initiatives, those whose work entails significant start-up research investment, or other high-investment or high-priority tenure-track faculty identified by their academic unit leadership as likely to benefit from this type of intensive, structured mentoring.
• As a UGA Accelerate committee entails a significant time commitment from several senior members of an academic unit, careful consideration is encouraged in choosing nominees and forming committees.

2.    Submit Nomination

• Deans, associate deans and other academic unit heads provide the following details via email to OFA ([email protected]):
  • Name and email of nominee
  • Nominee’s school or college
  • Nominee’s primary department and secondary affiliations
  • Name and email of unit head who will select and invite committee convener
  • Brief description of the nominee’s appropriateness for UGA Accelerate. Eligible faculty include those who were part of Presidential Hiring Initiatives, those whose work entails significant start-up research responsibilities, or other tenure-track faculty identified as likely to benefit from intensive, structured mentoring.

3.    Gain Approval

• OFA reviews the nominations according to the criteria, capacity limitations and academic strategic priorities. OFA sends an email of invitation to the nominator to form a UGA Accelerate committee(s) for the listed faculty members.

4.    Identify Convener

• The academic unit leader identifies and invites a faculty member to serve as convener of the committee.
• Once the convener has accepted this role, the academic unit leader sends the name and email to OFA ([email protected]). OFA will then invite the convener to the August convener gathering and supply relevant program information and professional development resources related to faculty mentoring.

5.    Form Committee

• The academic unit leader and convener work together to identify and invite two senior faculty members to complete the UGA Accelerate committee. The recommended committee structure includes the following: new faculty member, department head, senior faculty member with related interests from within the department, senior faculty member with related interests from outside the department, and senior faculty member who moderates the meetings (convener).
• The academic unit leader shares the list of committee members and their emails with OFA ([email protected]).

6.    Garner Support from the Office of Faculty Affairs

• Fall: OFA hosts a convener kickoff lunch each year. In 2025, the event will be held on Wednesday, August 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. OFA will include the event location in the email invitation to the convener. This event helps conveners deepen their understanding of faculty mentoring, design year-round committee meetings and foster connections with fellow conveners.
• Spring: OFA hosts a spring luncheon with the provost, bringing together UGA Accelerate mentees and their committees to share valuable insights across disciplines and gather input on the mentees’ and committees’ experience to ensure continuous improvement of the program.

Deans and Associate/Assistant Deans

• Identify eligible incoming faculty
• Consider strategic resource allocation to ensure appropriate use of convener and senior faculty time
• Submit the finalized list of nominees to OFA

Academic Unit Leader with Primary Supervision of Candidate (e.g., Department Head)

• Partner with school/college leadership to identify potential conveners
• Send email invitations to conveners and explain program
• Work with conveners to identify, communicate and finalize the mentoring committees
• Provide guidance on topics to be covered by committees in their meetings

Convener

• Welcome the mentee before the academic year begins to support a successful transition, research program launch and onboarding
• Work with unit leaders to form committees
• Reach out to committees to communicate UGA Accelerate committee structure and focus
• Schedule mentoring committee meetings via Zoom or in person
  • We recommend using an online tool, such as Doodle, to acquire the group’s availability.
  • Once date and time are confirmed, we suggest utilizing your UGA Outlook calendar to send invites with Zoom links or in-person locations to your committee members.
• Foster relationship building and effective communication with the committee
• Structure meeting agendas to ensure a wide range of topics are addressed to meet the needs of the new faculty member
• Communicate with committee members about the characteristics of effective mentors
• Create a mentoring compact so that the committee can discuss and clarify goals, responsibilities and meeting structures
  • Examples from UGA’s Graduate School can be found here.

The following list includes suggested topics that UGA Accelerate committees may want to cover across the academic year.  Both the new faculty member and committee members should have input on topic selection.

Faculty Responsibilities and Relationships

• Delineation between your previous responsibilities and the role for which you were hired at UGA
• Foundational habits for success
• Understanding the role of teaching and service
• Meeting potential collaborators. Getting to know other people in department/school/college. Finding likeminded persons
• Expectations for success, both written and unwritten, in this department
• Awareness of annual evaluation and promotion and tenure guidelines/criteria
• Faculty meeting schedule and norms/procedures

Research

• Fundamentals of start-up funding for research space, equipment, personnel, etc. Access to start-up funds. Ordering procedures
• Preparations and opportunities for internal and external funding. Key procedures, offices and personnel
• Relevant resources and facilities, such as libraries, archives, photo services and technical support
• Support and preparation for domestic and international field research, visits to archives, conference travel, etc.
• Management of research agenda, including prioritizing projects
• Personnel management and student mentoring:
  • Policies that apply to students (e.g., recruiting, qualifying exams, lab rotations, hours)
  • Deadlines and processes for hiring post-doctoral fellows and lab managers
  • Strategies for cultivating productive and appropriate work culture across research team
• Writing and publication habits and support. Guidance in turning dissertation into publications
• Identification of appropriate journals and presses
• Connecting with the Office of Research and attending its fall orientation

Service

• Defining department and university service in the context of faculty contract. Expectations related to workload, role(s), and time commitments
• Networking for and selecting career-stage-appropriate service opportunities
• Role of professional or other service as relates to promotion/tenure standards

Teaching

• Expectations around course level/difficulty, office hours, student workload, graduate assistant roles and more
• Connecting with Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL)
• Addressing student concerns
• Resources for adapting to new technologies
• Implementing Active Learning approaches
• Familiarity with end-of-course student experience survey questions and mid-semester formative evaluations (through CTL)

Evaluation Processes

• Expectations around annual, third-year and promotion/tenure reviews
• Collecting documentation of teaching, research and service for dossiers
• Populating Elements in advance of annual evaluation cycle. Role of Experts@UGA external-facing faculty profiles

Work/Life Integration

• Policies and resources for work-life balance
• Resources for children, families and dual-career partners
• Disability accommodations
• Time and project management

When do new faculty find out if, and when, they will get an Accelerate committee?

If a UGA Accelerate committee is created, a convener will contact the new faculty member with information about the committee prior to or soon after their arrival at UGA to begin employment. After this contact, the convener will arrange a time to speak to the faculty member about the transition to UGA. The convener will also begin coordinating the scheduling of the first committee meeting. This meeting typically takes place in advance of the mentee’s first month at the university. 

May a new faculty member request an Accelerate committee?

Incoming faculty members may discuss this program and other mentoring options with their academic unit leader.

What benefits do new faculty derive from this program?

The UGA Accelerate committee ensures structured monthly interactions with senior faculty throughout the new faculty member’s first year. This regularity enables new faculty to onboard quickly, leveraging resources like research facilities, administrative support and professional development programs. New faculty can build rapport with their peers and expand their scholarly network. Mentors can provide guidance on managing complex research projects, securing funding, achieving tenure and building a distinguished academic career.

What benefits do academic units derive from this program?

UGA Accelerate has the potential to be transformative for both new faculty members and senior faculty who mentor them. A structured mentoring program may strengthen collaborations, boost grants success and enhance research productivity by connecting faculty with experienced colleagues who provide guidance on university resources, research methodologies, funding opportunities and publication strategies. UGA Accelerate fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and cultivates a dynamic, productive academic culture. Mentoring also accelerates the integration of new faculty into the university community while playing a crucial role in augmenting teaching effectiveness and student success.

What if I have questions about the UGA Accelerate program and committees?

Please contact OFA ([email protected]) with your questions.