Office of Faculty Development
Whether you are early in your teaching career or a seasoned educator, the Office of Faculty Development, in partnership with the Teaching and Learning team, offers a comprehensive suite of services, resources, and events to support your success. We invite you to:
- Participate in professional development programs
- Attend events or join learning communities
- Apply for Instructional Development Grants
- Apply for and nominate colleagues for awards
- Access the extensive Teaching and Learning library of resources and support materials
- Take advantage of institutional memberships available
- Explore consultations and support services, including professional consultations, guidance on tenure and promotion portfolios, teaching observations, and assistance with instructional design, technology, and accessibility
Faculty
Tenure and Promotion Information
As you work towards tenure and promotion, there are two resources that you should regularly consult: your department's policy statement and the WMU-AAUP Agreement. Every semester, the WMU-AAUP holds a tenure and promotion workshop, but you can also set up a confidential professional consultation with us where you can work with an experienced faculty member to plan your teaching and research agendas. New faculty members are invited to join our Early Career Faculty Learning Community (ECFLC) that is offered every year. Members decide upon topics that interest them related to professional development and meet once per month to engage in activities and socialize. In the fall, invitations to sign up for the ECFLC are sent to all faculty members who are in the first four years of their appointment.
Instructional Development Project and Travel Grants
Grants for instructional development will be awarded by the Office of Faculty Development to support efforts of Board appointed, bargaining unit faculty at Western Michigan University to improve student learning through instructional and curricular redesign and innovation. Funding is provided for in Article 40.4 of the Western/WMU-AAUP Agreement 2021-2026.
Professional Instructors
The Office of Faculty Development (OFD) and the Teaching and Learning team are here to support all instructors at WMU, including you as a part-time or professional instructor. Visit the Professional Instructors program page to explore commonly requested resources, and don't hesitate to reach out to the Office of Faculty Development with any questions.
Graduate Students
Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) serve in a role related to teaching; some are instructors of record (meaning they are the ones primarily responsible for a course); some are instructors of lab sections, and some assist the instructor in some support capacity (such as grading or holding discussion sessions). Hiring, orientation, and primary professional development support for graduate students are provided by the Graduate College and through the respective home departments.
The Office of Faculty Development and the Teaching and Learning team provide resources to support GTAs in their roles as instructors at Western Michigan University.
OFD Updates
Faculty Spotlight September 2025
Yufeng Hu
Dr. Yufeng Hu discovered that redesigning his Prestressed Concrete Design course around a single Michigan bridge project completely transformed how his graduate students approached structural engineering. By shifting from traditional lectures to hands-on design work that mirrors real industry practices, Hu found that students became more engaged and developed deeper technical understanding. The key was breaking down complex engineering challenges in just the right way.
Announcing the 2025 OFD Faculty Advancement Award winners
Ten Western Michigan University faculty members were recently selected as recipients of the Faculty Advancement Award for Fall 2025. Participants are engaging in a month-long learning community featuring workshops and collaborative discussions focused on building sustainable research funding strategies and exploring an array of funding sources. Coordinated by the Office of Faculty Development.
- Christopher Dobmeier, Assistant Professor, Communication & Director of Internships
- Emily Dreissen, Assistant Professor, Biology
- Henning Schröder, Faculty Specialist II, Music
- Kefas Lamak, Faculty Specialist I, World Religions & Cultures
- Matthew P. Ison, Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership
- Michael Harnar, Assistant Professor & Director of the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Evaluation program
- Rodrigo Aranda, Assistant Professor, Economics
- Shannon McMorrow, Associate Professor, Public Health
- Vanessa Hills, Faculty Specialist I, Educational Leadership, Research and Technology
- Xiaoman Wang, Assistant Professor, Educational Technology