Programs and Initiatives
TCU has evolved and advanced over 150 years to stay essential to our environment, community, culture and student body. The Provost leads innovative directives to restructure outdated programs and implement new ones to maintain TCU as a premier institution of higher education. These academic programs strengthen our academic profile and reputation, prepare graduates for today’s world, and ensure responsible stewardship of student tuition and donor gifts
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE FUNDS
To bolster scholarship following the pandemic, in addition to TCU’s committed funds to research and teaching support, the Provost asked each school and college to detail existing opportunities or provide new ones, called Academic Excellence Funds, to support research and teaching.
2022: Academic Excellence Funds were announced and a complete list was posted to Provost’s website under Faculty Resources for easy access to the consolidated list.
2021: Deans submitted existing funds and provided plans for new funds.
ADVISING
Stellic, a new academic advising software platform with predictive analysis, helps students make informed decisions and provides faculty and professional advisors with a cohesive means to deliver student support.
2023-24: The full-scale implementation of the Stellic platform is taking place throughout the 2023-2024 academic year, to be complete by August 1, 2024.
Summer 2023: Pathway planning for select programs had a soft launch in the summer.
Spring 2023: Across colleges and schools, Academic Advising began utilizing the scheduling system and notetaking feature in Stellic during the spring semester.
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.
DEI SCHOLAR FELLOWSHIP
The DEI Scholar Fellowship recruits emerging scholars from a range of disciplines who are well-prepared to use diversity as a resource for enriching students’ education. DEI Scholar Fellows receive a competitive annual salary and benefits, and additional support for research and professional development. The appointment is for up to two years with a focus on research and publishing. Colleges must submit an application by June 1 prior to the year in which the college will initiate the interview and hiring process.
2023-2025: Provost awards each college/school one DEI Scholar Fellowship, for a total of three per year, renewable for one additional year.
2021: Fellowship was established and posted to Provost’s website under Inclusive Excellence.
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 2022. Status reports were presented to Faculty Senate and hiring managers were consulted to refine. The checklist was implemented university-wide in Fall 2022.
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.
FLEXIBLE WORK ARRANGEMENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Provost Dahlberg commissioned a staff committee, co-chaired by Mike Scott and Courtney Hendrix, to look into options for a flexible work arrangement for Academic Affairs STAFF (excluding faculty) that supports TCU’s Strategic Plan, Vision in Action: Lead On, specifically Goal 4, Strengthen the Workforce; Goal 1, Strengthen Academic Profile & Reputation, and Goal 3, Strengthen the TCU Experience & Campus Culture.
October 2022: The Academic Affairs Flexible Work Arrangement pilot program commences.
September 2002: Provost Dahlberg announced a Pilot Program for a 4/1 Model Flexible Work Arrangement for Academic Affairs staff.
August 2022: Based on recommendations from the committee and deans, one of the recommendations was chosen.
June 2022: The recommendations were reviewed by the deans.
April 2022: Provost’s staff committee made three recommendations for a flexible work arrangement for Academic Affairs employees.
SHARED-COST HIRING INITIATIVE
Provost Dahlberg instituted a Shared Cost Hiring Initiative to provide up to 50% funding with a cap of $50,000 for newly hired tenured or tenure-track faculty who meet TCU’s established objectives of transforming faculty diversity at TCU. increasing the number of meritorious teacher-scholars across all disciplines from underrepresented faculty. The goal of the Shared-Cost Hiring Initiative is to foster an inclusive university community, achieve greater diversity in our professorial ranks, and expand the number of teacher-scholars engaged in innovative cutting-edge research. Faculty hiring managers who wish to access the funds should contact their dean.
2023: Eight positions have been hired toward the goal of 19 by 2025.
2021: The initiative began and will continue through 2025.