FARS Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I go to log in to the Faculty Activity Report System (FARS)?
FARS users can access the system through the GoWMU website. From the main page type "Faculty Activity Reporting System" in the search bar at the top of the page and click on the drop-down option. On the next page click on the 'Access FARS' button and login using your Bronco NetID and password.
Alternatively, you can access FARS through GoWMU's Apps. Look for "Faculty Activity Reporting System (FARS) under 'For faculty and staff'
How do I get rid of "activities require your attention" in FARS?
'Activities require your attention' is asking whether an activity marked as Ongoing is, in fact, still ongoing. If it is still ongoing you can click on the Update button to confirm and clear the message. If the activity has ended, you must then select that option and enter in the term and year the activity ended and then click the Update button to clear the message.
Who has to submit a Professional Activity Report (PAR) through FARS?
All members of the bargaining unit; namely, all Board-appointed ranked faculty. While department chairs, deans, etc. are not required to do so by the WMU/AAUP Agreement, they may be required to do so by their Dean/Provost.
I was on leave (sabbatical, administrative, etc.) last year, do I need to submit a PAR through FARS?
Yes, please add the relevant activities to the "Course Release, Buy-Out, Professional Leave, and Sabbatical" section of the FARS.
This is my first year at WMU. Do I need to submit a PAR through FARS?
Yes, report on what you did for the time period prior to coming to WMU. The exception is any courses taught at your previous institution.
What is required for me to fill out to submit my PAR through FARS?
- In the Profile section, degree information is required of all faculty. Professional Licensures & Certifications are required of those faculty for whom it is relevant. Awards and Honors are recommended for your achievements to be recognized.
- In the Activities section, all activities that began, ended, or were ongoing during the designated period.
My name is incorrect in my Profile and I am unable to edit it. How do I update this information?
The "Personal Information" profile section is populated with the corresponding information from Human Resource's PeopleSoft information system annually in September. If the information is still incorrect in late September/Early October, you need to contact HR to update your official records.
How do I submit my PAR through FARS?
At the top of the PAR submission page are three buttons. Click on the one called Submit For Review to submit your PAR.
What will be done with the information that is reported?
Information collected through FARS will be used to apply for accreditation, for program review, for faculty tenure/promotion, and for other reporting purposes.
Who has access to the WMU FARS system?
Faculty will have access to the system and can update and use their data at any time during the year. Chairs will have access to the PAR data for their departments and deans will have access to their college's PAR data. Other access (some broad and some narrow) will be available to Institutional Research, OVPR, Institutional Effectiveness, HIGE, and University Relations (i.e., publication and creative activity).
Are the forms of data for the PARS being mandated by the administration?
In compliance with the WMU AAUP Agreement, the form of data collected is governed by the deans of the respective academic colleges. While the forms of data are similar overall, each dean has overseen the format of the PAR data being collected and adapted the material specific to the needs of their college (i.e., addition of clinical information for colleges with clinical outreach programs).
Where do I report a problem with my FARS account?
To report a problem, please send an email to wmu-fars@wmich.edu. A staff member from the Office of Institutional Research will respond to your request shortly.
Where should I enter X activity into FARS?
Your department chair or dean can also help you figure out where a particular activity belongs in the FARS, but here is a summary
- Courses: Credit granting course data are automatically uploaded. Please review your courses
and assign course attributes/classifications to each. Attaching syllabi is optional. - Course Development Activities: Add information about new courses developed or if significant revisions were made to an existing course
- Thesis/Dissertation/Equivalent Special Project Committees: Add information here if you chaired or were a member on a thesis/dissertation committee.
- Non-Credit Research or Mentoring: Add information if you mentored or performed non-credit research with an individual or group of students.
- Student Supervision: Add information if you supervised a teaching/research assistant or if you supervised clinical students, practicum students, or interns.
- Student Advising: Add information if you advised students about their program.
- Professional Recognition: Add information about your publications in a journal, book, review, etc...; presentations of a paper, poster, panel, etc…; or creative scholarships you received
- Other Professional Recognition: Add information about any press citations; invention
disclosure/patents; guest teaching; invitations to speak; residencies; adjudications; etc… - Funded Research and Creative Scholarship: Add information about any funded research or
creative scholarships you were awarded. Includes internal and external grants/fellowships - Institutional Services/Committees: Add information about any committees you serve(d) on.
- Professional Services: Add information about activities that are a service to your profession. Including serving as a program coordinator, working on retention and recruitment efforts, curriculum review/program planning, community outreach, co-curricular activities, etc…
- Professional Development: Add information about any professional development activities you participated in or led.
- Any Other Contribution: Add a description if you made a contribution that does not fit into
any of the other categories. - Course Release, Buy-Out, and Professional Leave: Add information about course releases, buy-outs, or professional leave you have been approved to take for any reason.