The Faculty Advancement Series offers targeted professional development opportunities designed to help faculty excel at every stage of their careers. Led by campus experts and featuring practical, hands-on guidance, these sessions focus on the skills, strategies, and resources that support academic success at Case Western Reserve University.
All sessions are open to faculty and academic leaders. All events take place in The Allen Memorial Medical Library, The Herrick Room, 1st Floor, from 12:30–1:30 p.m.
Events with a ★ indicate our Success Starter Pack. We recommend you attend all three to kick-off a productive year of research, writing, and publishing.
2026–2027 Schedule
★Strategic Academic Planning: Goal Setting & Setting Priorities
Thursday, September 10, 2026
Learn how to set priorities, allocate time, and align your goals with department and university initiatives for a successful year.
- Every Summer Needs a Plan
- Guided Questions: Every Semester Needs a Plan
- NCFDD Sample Plan
- Every Semester Needs a Plan Handout
- How to Align Your Time With Your Priorities
- Teaching In No Time: How to Prepare from a Stress-Free Semester (Multi-Week Course)
- Mastering Academic Time Management
To see a full library of NCFDD member resources visit members.ncfdd.org/resources
★Building a Sustainable Scholarly Writing Practice
Thursday, October 8, 2026
Note: This session will be held in the Crawford Hall 7th floor conference room.
Share strategies for establishing consistent, productive habits that ensure high-quality output without leading to burnout.
★Open Access Publishing & The Ethics of AI in Peer Review
Thursday, November 12, 2026
Explore open access and how it can increase the reach and impact of your work. Learn about the resources available to support OA publishing, including our OA Publishing Agreements, Scholarly Commons @CWRU, and the Faculty OA Policy.
Navigating Promotion & Tenure: Demystifying the P&T Process
Thursday, December 10, 2026
Break down timelines, expectations, and best practices for navigating the P&T process confidently.
- A Guide to Writing Effective External Review Letters for Tenure and Promotion
- “What I Wished I Would Have Known After Earning Tenure"
- Exposing the Hidden Curriculum: Cultivating Structural and Systemic Change for Mid-Career Faculty Advancement
- How to Be a Strong Sponsor and Advocate for Faculty
- Mentorship: Efficient and Effective Practices
- Creating a Culture of Support for All Faculty
Team Science, Team Writing: Developing Competitive Interdisciplinary Proposals
Thursday, January 14, 2027
This workshop discusses best practices for working effectively in interdisciplinary groups, building a proposal development roadmap, and co-authoring strong, cohesive submissions.
- Framing and Maintaining Your Research Agenda
- Lessons Learned from Two Decades of Publishing with Undergraduates
- Publish Series: How To Effectively And Efficiently Revise And Resubmit Your Manuscript
- Hidden Handbook: How to Revise And Resubmit Your Manuscript
- Hidden Handbook: Promoting Your Publications
- From Project to Publication—The Art of Manuscript Revision (four-week course)
Faculty Wellness: Sustaining Well-Being in Academia
Thursday, February 11, 2027
Learn evidence-based strategies to maintain work-life balance and foster resilience throughout the academic year.
- How to Manage Stress, Rejection & the Haters in Your Midst
- The Art of Saying No
- Hidden Handbook: Rethinking Self-Care
- Hidden Handbook: Productivity Pick-Me-Ups
- Beyond Burnout Part 1: Approaches for Faculty Well-Being
- Navigating Uncertainty in Higher Ed Part 1: Strategies for Faculty
- Navigating Uncertainty in Higher Ed Part 2: Building Resilience
Teaching + Learning Technologies: Digital Accessibility at CWRU
Thursday, March 11, 2027
Learn how to use Case Western Reserve University’s digital tools and strategies to design inclusive course materials that meet legal accessibility standards and support all learners.
Leadership and Service: Faculty Leadership & Academic Governance
Thursday, April 8, 2027
Gain insights into leadership roles, committee work, and how shared governance shapes the university’s direction.
- What I Wished I Would Have Known as an Academic Leader and University Administrator
- Maximizing Your Sabbatical: An Integrated Approach to Purposeful Planning, Reflection, and Re-entry
- The 3 Ps to Plan Your Professional Pivot
- Academic Leadership: When, Why, and How to Step Up
- NCFDD Panel Discussion: What I Wished I Would Have Known: Transitioning to Department Chair
- Academic Leadership: Cultivating Your Mentorship Network
- Week 1: From the Chair's Perspective: Insights on Academic Leadership: It's All About The Relationships
- Week 2: From the Chair's Perspective: Insights on Academic Leadership: You're The Boss And Other Myths About Being Chair
- Week 3: From the Chair's Perspective: Insights on Academic Leadership: Little Fires Everywhere
- Week 4: Q&A From the Chair's Perspective: Insights on Academic Leadership Academic Leadership: When, Why, and How to Step Up
- Navigating Uncertainty in Higher Ed: Approaches for Academic Leaders
Annual Review & Portfolio Building
Thursday, May 13, 2027
Prepare for the annual review process with practical tips for documenting accomplishments and strengthening your portfolio.
Why Participate?
Whether you are just beginning your faculty career or stepping into leadership roles, the Faculty Advancement Series provides resources, networking opportunities, and actionable strategies to help you thrive at CWRU.