College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Faculty & Staff

Faculty Excellence Advocates (FEAs) serve as improvement agents for recruitment and hiring, development and support for all faculty and academic staff. FEAs promote transparency, objectivity, equity and inclusion, alignment, consistency and best practices regarding policies and procedures.

The FEA is a resource for all faculty in the College of Agriculture, and Natural Resources (CANR), which includes academic staff, fixed-term faculty and tenure-stream faculty.

Background

FEA position was established at MSU through the University’s ADAPP-ADVANCE initiative (Advancing Diversity through the Alignment of Policy and Practices) in the Provost's Office. The initiative is administered in partnership with the Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs and Faculty and Academic Staff Development through the FEA appointments in each college across the university with key leadership, education and advocacy duties.

Primary Responsibilities of the CANR FEA

Key areas for the CANR FEA are supporting improvements to annual review; reappointment, promotion, and tenure; mentoring and creating/sustaining a positive work environment.

To promote faculty and academic staff success, the CANR FEA:

• Helps create a positive work environment.
• Provides information, resources, and support on reappointment, promotion/tenure, annual review, mentoring, and career success.
• Provides a safe space to share experiences and support individuals through listening, brainstorming for solutions, and providing guidance, connections, and resources.
• Listens to faculty concerns, gathers and organizes information and documentation, and shares their perspectives with college leadership, while maintaining confidentiality.
• Identifies and gathers data on inequities or barriers to success that exist across the college. Based on information learned, the FEA works with CANR Deans, Directors, and unit leaders to chart and implement changes to college and unit policies, procedures and practices.

Confidentiality

All conversations are confidential.  Following meetings or discussions, the FEA will suggest a plan of action but will not proceed without the permission of the faculty member.  Exceptions to this policy are the cases that involve violation of MSU’s Relationship Violence, Sexual Misconduct and Stalking policy, as the FEA is a MANDATORY REPORTER.

Resources

Faculty and academic staff can access a range of college- and university-level resources to support mentoring, career development, evaluation, and advancement.

• CANR Faculty Mentoring Resources
  CANR resources and guidance supporting faculty mentoring within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
• Search Committee Training
  Michigan State University Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs provides training and resources related to faculty recruitment, evaluation, and appointment processes.
• Faculty Guide for Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure Review
  University guidance on the reappointment, promotion, and tenure process, including policies, timelines, review expectations, and documentation.
• MSU Guidelines for Graduate Student Mentoring and Advising
  University guidelines and resources supporting effective faculty-graduate student advising and mentoring relationships.
• Annual Performance Review Resources
  Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs guidance on effective annual reviews, including clarifying expectations, providing constructive feedback, recognizing contributions, and supporting faculty development.