Mission
The mission of the Office of Faculty Affairs is to support and empower our community
of faculty to learn, grow, and thrive as teachers, as researchers, scholars and artists,
and as productive members of our community.
Leadership
The office is led by the vice provost of faculty affairs and dean of the faculty.
This vice provost is responsible for all faculty hiring, tenure and promotional processes,
faculty work life policy implementation, and faculty development activities from new
faculty orientations to senior leadership training. Included in the vice provost's
portfolio is the Center for Teaching Excellence which offers numerous programs to
support faculty. Serving as the deputy director (faculty) of the Office of Civil Rights
and Title IX, the vice provost is responsible for the faculty ombuds program as well
as the faculty civility office. The vice provost works closely in an ex officio capacity with major committees of the Faculty Senate. Moreover, the vice provost
chairs the USC Policy Advisory Committee which governs the creation, oversight and
revision of all formal USC Columbia and System policies.
Faculty Programs
New Faculty Onboarding: Before You Arrive
We are excited you are joining the University of South Carolina. In preparation for
your first day, take the following steps to finalize your hiring process and gain
access to important university systems. The information within will help you get off
to a strong start.
Faculty Development Programs
The Office of Faculty Affairs is committed to cultivating institutional structures
for faculty advancement across the career lifespan. In addition to the programs offered
by the Office of the Provost, the Center for Teaching Excellence, and the Division
of Human Resources, the Thomas Cooper Library as well as a number of schools and colleges
have developed a number of excellent programs to foster long term learning and development.
The career development opportunities and support can be used at all stages of a faculty
member’s career, although some are geared more towards early or mid-career development.
Certain programs are relevant for graduate students or postdoctoral scholars. Program
formats vary with some programs offered in-person, in hybrid form, or virtually.
Click on the tiles below to find tables with information about professional development
opportunities.
Faculty Support and Guidance
Civility Advocate
The charge of the FCA is to adjudicate complaints of workplace incivility as dictated
in the Workplace Incivility Policy (ACAF 1.80 [pdf]) in an independent and just manner. Contact the Faculty Civility Advocate (fca@mailbox.sc.edu) for more information.
Faculty Ombuds
The faculty ombuds serves as a confidential, neutral, informal and independent resource
for faculty concerns and conflicts. The Faculty Ombuds is available to listen to concerns, clarify issues, develop options
and provide information. The ombuds advocates for fair and equitably administered
processes and does not advocate on behalf of any individual within the university.
Dealing with Incivility on Social Media
This guide is designed to assist the campus community in responding to situations
in which faculty members are targeted by individuals or groups outside of the university
based on the content of the faculty member’s scholarship, teaching, and/or service.
It addresses potential concerns in such situations and informs the campus about resources
available to assist individual faculty members, departments chairs, and other administrators.