Pilot Programs

These pilot programs, led by committees with faculty representatives, carefully scrutinize existing programs ad/or recommend new ones to ensure that TCU continues to be a premier institution of higher education now and for the future.

These are PILOT PROGRAMS. Your input is welcome as we test processes and solve challenges for final implementation. Provide feedback or send questions to AApilotprograms@tcu.edu.

 

ADVISING

A new academic advising software platform with predictive analysis is being piloted campus-wide. This integrated platform will help students make informed decisions and provide faculty and professional advisors with a cohesive means to deliver student support.

2023: Across colleges and schools, Academic Advising began utilizing the scheduling system and notetaking feature in Stellic during the spring semester. Pathway planning for select programs will have a soft launch in the summer, in anticipation of a full-scale launch during the 2023-2024 academic year.
2022: A committee from Academic Advising, the Registrar’s Office, Information Technology, advisors and faculty researched several platforms and chose Stellic, founded by two Carnegie Mellon University alumni in honor of their professor and mentor.

 

FACULTY HIRING CHECKLIST

The eight-step Faculty Hiring Checklist facilitates efforts by hiring managers and search committees to attract and hire the best, most diverse faculty consistent with TCU’s high standards of inclusive excellence. The checklist encompasses the entire hiring process, step by step, from beginning to end, including committee selection, recruitment, job postings, interviews, hiring, onboarding, and submitting required documents via PageUp and a designated TCU Box folder.

2022 Harris College piloted the initial university checklist in spring. Status reports were presented to Faculty Senate, and hiring managers were consulted to refine.
2021: The university-wide Faculty Hiring Checklist was implemented and posted on the Provost’s website under Faculty Resources for easy access
2020: A committee created by the Provost worked to refine the checklist, with status reports provided to Chairs Council and Provost Council.
2019: Provost’s Office consulted with the Office of Equity and Inclusion and College Diversity Advocates to draft a university-level hiring checklist.
2018: AddRan College created and piloted a hiring guide.

 

FACULTY WORKLOAD EQUITY MODEL

To ensure that TCU has and is implementing a clear Faculty Workload Equity Model and policies for SACSCOC reaffirmation, all TCU Deans, led by Associate Provost of Faculty Affairs Francyne Huckaby, are partnering to develop a university-level, adaptable Faculty Workload Equity Model to be used as a guideline for colleges and schools to develop their individual Faculty Workload Equity Policies.

2022-23: The model is in the pilot test phase (2022-23 academic year) with TCU Nursing, Environmental Studies, Teaching and Learning Sciences, Educational Leadership & Higher Education, and Counseling, Societal Change and Inquiry.
2022: Deans reviewed and defined the model throughout spring and summer of 2022, vetting with associate deans and department chairs, to finalize the model in Fall 2022 and vet with a broader audience.
2021: Faculty Senate Executive Committee reviewed the preliminary model and presented their recommendations.

 

PROMOTION & TENURE POLICIES REVIEW

A committee of faculty and members of the Provost’s Office are reviewing the Promotion and Tenure Policies; i.e. process, timeline)e, and faculty appeal process. the committee will make recommendations to improve the efficacy and clarity of these processes.

2023: Deliver a comprehensive calendar or flowchart with relevant action steps drawn from all current documentation. Create a website with robust FAQs.
2022: Review questions about the denial process, FAC committee decisions, and the meaning of “tenured faculty.”
2021: The committee began evaluating criteria for promotion and tenure for consistency across the university. The committee defined eligibility,

 

STUDENT PROGRESSION AD HOC COMMITTEE

In April 2022, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs convened a Student Progression Ad Hoc Committee to identify possibilities for facilitating the academic progression of all students and particularly transfer students by considering and making proposals that would remove barriers for our students, thereby better advancing their academic progression to degree completion at TCU. The Academic Affairs ad hoc committee was chaired by the vice provost for student success and included the dean of admission, dean of graduate studies, core director, two college deans, 2022 faculty senate chair and three additional senate representatives chosen by the senate chair. This committee submitted three proposals to the Faculty Senate, which were reviewed by a senate ad hoc committee.

April 2023: Proposals voted on by Faculty Senate.
January 2023: Faculty Senate formed ad hoc committee to review and submit the three proposals for vote among all faculty.
December 2022: Proposals submitted to Faculty Senate.
August 2022: AA ad hoc committee confirms three proposals.
April 2022: Academic Affairs ad hoc committee convenes and meets throughout summer 2022.