September 2023

A Note from the Dean

Dear Colleagues,

Happy New Year!

With September upon us, many of us have been back on campus for a couple of weeks engaging in enrichment activities in Fall Academy. It has become one of my favorite times of year. We get the excitement of meeting our newly hired faculty and staff while contemplating new teaching and curriculum ideas together.

We look forward to a great year of shared experiences and shared governance on campus. The University, Undergraduate, and College Faculty meetings are primary times for dialogue among all faculty in one space, for forging community and sometimes for discussing policy. The meeting dates are below, at 4pm in Stackhouse Theater, Elrod Commons. We have heard a rumor of snacks.

At our first University Faculty meeting on Monday, Sept 11 at 4pm in Stackhouse, we will introduce all the new faculty members in the university. Please join us to celebrate our new colleagues. A reception at Lee House follows the meeting.

We also look forward to seeing you at Convocation on Thursday, Sept 7 at 5:30pm on the lawn in front of Washington Hall. The speaker will be our own Howard Pickett, Associate Professor of Ethics and Poverty Studies. (Hooray, Howard!)

Good luck with the finishing touches on your syllabi and with the dawn of this new academic year.

Best wishes,

Faculty Meeting Dates

University Faculty Meetings

Monday, September 11, 2023, 4:00 p.m.
Monday, November 6, 2023, 4:00 p.m.
Monday, January 22, 2024, 4:00 p.m.
Monday, March 11, 2024, 4:00 p.m.

Undergraduate Faculty Meetings

Monday, October 2, 2023, 4:00 p.m.
Monday, December 4, 2023, 4:00 p.m.
Monday, February 12, 2024, 4:00 p.m.
Monday, April 1, 2024, 4:00 p.m.
Monday, May 6, 2024, 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 28, 2024, 4:00 p.m.

College Faculty Meeting

Monday, October 30, 2023, 4:00 p.m.

All meetings are held in Stackhouse.

Look forward to seeing you there, sometimes there are cupcakes!

ACS Program Offered to Current and Potential Department Heads

The ACS is offering a program that may be of interest to you. There is a monthly virtual training that ACS has built. The registration link and more information can be found here. Registration by September 3 is preferred. Here's a sneak peak of the schedule:

September 6, 2023 (3 – 5pm ET): Who am I as a Leader?
October 5, 2023 (3-4pm ET): Supporting Students as Department Chairs
November 2, 2023 (4-5pm ET): Support for the Chairs

ACS invites you to attend as many of the sessions as you like.

ACS 2023-2024 FOC CONNECT

ACS is delighted to announce the call for applications for mentors and mentees for 2023-2024 FOC CONNECT - A Virtual Multi-Institutional Mentoring Program for Faculty of Color within the Associated Colleges of the South (ACS). This program provides one-on-one mentoring, professional development, and networking opportunities for early-career faculty of color. The program is committed to building relationships and creating an inclusive community.

At the link, you can find information about the program as well as the links for mentor and mentee applications - Here is the link to mentor and mentee applications for FOC CONNECT. The deadline to apply is Friday, September 1 (however delayed applications will be considered). We are inviting mentors and mentees from ACS institutions. Selected mentors will receive training and a stipend.

Reach out to Dr. Maha Zewail-Foote (zewailfm@southwestern.edu), the program director, if you have any questions.

Religious Holiday Policy

Washington and Lee University values diverse religious perspectives and beliefs. Our students celebrate and value a variety of religious traditions. We are committed to supporting our students in observing their religious holidays, while also maintaining their commitment to their academic efforts.

As stipulated in the Faculty Handbook, apart from absences for observance of religious holidays, faculty may set their own attendance policies and have discretion to designate absences for other reasons as "excused" or "unexcused" based upon their professional judgement." (Revised policy approved by the faculty January 7, 2019)

Find the full religious holiday policy here.

Do you work with or know some amazing people at W&L?

Know someone who's accomplishing great things? Take the time to show them your appreciation by submitting their name and info to The Office of Communications and Public Affairs. If selected, the person may be featured in the Employee Accolades portion of The Columns Weekly newsletter. W&L is filled with amazing people, let's tell each other all about them!