The Faculty in Residence (FIR) program is designed to involve interested faculty more intentionally and actively in the life of Binghamton's distinctive residential colleges or communities. Since these residential colleges were established in the 1960s, faculty involvement in the University's residential areas has been a central part of bringing living and learning together. Currently these efforts are led by a Faculty Master in each area; the Faculty in Residence program provides a new opportunity for additional faculty to get involved and to increase the level of students’ engagement with faculty in the residential environment.
Faculty in Residence will not actually live in a residence hall, but rather will be "in residence" in the sense that they affiliate with one of the residential communities and contribute to it in significant ways. They will hold office hours in the residential community, have meals with the students, and cultivate opportunities for informal education. Faculty in Residence will be expected to participate in their residential community’s regular activities, including mentoring, student governance, RA events, staff in-services, and academic advising, as well as contributing to that residential community’s signature themes and programs.
Faculty in Residence for a given residential community will work closely with the Faculty Master and the professional staff of that community in developing a written plan of engagement for the period of the position. Different residential communities may establish different periods of engagement, ranging from one month to one semester. If at all possible, participants are encouraged to find a way to contribute to the college's “Signature Theme.”
Faculty in Residence can meet the program's expectations in a variety of ways, but in all cases they should think in terms of two types of activities: the first type of activity might be termed "academic and intellectual," the second might be termed "experiential and participatory." That is to say, Faculty in Residence will bring their academic expertise and their intellectual and/or avocational interests into the community. Second, they will get involved in the life of the community, attending various events and mingling with the residents outside the classroom.
Some examples of activities that could involve your academic and intellectual interests/expertise:
- teach a one- or two-credit mini-course in the area of your interest, targeted for a broad, general audience
- give a talk/presentation (or series of talks) appropriate for a general audience of students on your research interests and activities
- organize one or more field trips or off-campus activities relevant to your interests/expertise, for students of your community
- organize a colloquium series in your discipline for students who live in your community
Experiential and participatory activities could include:
- attend area government meetings and speak at one
- become a Fellow of the area and attend all Fellows events during your time "in residence"
- attend at least one RA in-service and speak briefly
- participate in RA training during the week before classes begin
- attend RA programs of interest
- have lunches and/or dinners with students in the dining hall of your community
- invite majors in your discipline who live in your community to your home, for a meal and conversation
- attend some staff meetings in your area and share your reflections on your experience as Faculty in Residence
- "exit interview" with the Faculty Master and the Assistant Director of your area
About the Program
- Mission: to provide Binghamton's faculty with meaningful, extended involvement in the University's residential colleges.
- Objectives:
- to engage faculty in academic initiatives in Binghamton's residential colleges
- to introduce faculty to the residential life program and the ways in which faculty can play an important role in the residential colleges
- to support the efforts of the Faculty Masters in bringing living and learning together
- Program length: flexible, from one month to one semester
- Program location: flexible, in one of the University's residential colleges (College-in-the-Woods, Dickinson, Hinman, Mountainview, Newing)
- Eligibility: all faculty with full-time appointments
- Participation stipend: varies according to length of program involvement ($750 - $3000)
- Faculty in Residence appointments will be made on a rolling basis each semester, with preference for appointments to be made in March and April for either semester in the following academic year. Information sessions will be held to provide more information as needed.
- Interested faculty should contact Donald Loewen, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education to indicate their interest and learn more.
