A Guide to the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement

The Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement (OVPFA) aims to nurture and promote a vibrant climate of inclusive excellence through creative collaboration with University partners. OVPFA’s primary focus is on fostering faculty development and community-building initiatives that will allow current and future faculty to thrive. 

Our vision is for Columbia to be the go-to place for the world’s greatest scholars. We imagine a University community that embodies inclusive excellence, where all faculty feel welcome and supported. We hope to foster a climate where faculty can confidently focus on their scholarship and teaching, and where there is growing space for collaboration and innovation across disciplines. We cannot achieve this without realizing our core values of inclusion and excellence.

We are committed to the well-being and success of all community members. Columbia complies with all applicable civil rights laws and does not engage in illegal preferences or discrimination.

Key Responsibilities

Inclusive Faculty Pathways

The Inclusive Faculty Pathways initiative seeks to enhance pathways to the professoriate. The Columbia University Pathways Programs group consists of colleagues who lead pathways efforts across the University and collaborate on programming.

Faculty Advancement

The OVPFA is committed to providing the tools necessary for our faculty to thrive throughout their careers. We work with the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and organize the Office of the Provost Faculty Orientation to introduce new faculty to central offices that support their success. We also host the Faculty Development program for full-time faculty, which covers topics such as mentoring, networking, and tenure process.

The OVPFA collaborates with units to support programming that showcases scholarship from leading experts across disciplines. Many of these initiatives foster dialogue and engagement within the academic community and are led by our faculty.

History and Leadership

The Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement has evolved significantly over the past two decades, reflecting Columbia’s deepening commitment to faculty recruitment, development, and institutional excellence. Established in 2004 under Jean Howard, then George Delacorte Professor in the Humanities, the office initially focused on strengthening faculty recruitment and addressing work-life needs, leading to the creation of the Office of Work/Life and the development of the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC). 

Under the subsequent leadership of Geraldine Downey, Professor of Psychology, the office expanded its efforts across the University and launched new programs to support faculty career pathways. In 2010, the office was renamed the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Planning under Professor Andrew Davidson, and by 2012 Columbia had allocated $30 million for University-wide faculty recruitment initiatives. 

In fall 2012, the Provost's Advisory Council for Faculty Advancement was formed, consisting of a group of senior faculty from across the University who played a vital role in shaping the direction of Faculty Advancement initiatives. The Council’s work has been instrumental in the development of the Best Practices Guides.

When Professor Dennis A. Mitchell assumed leadership in 2014, the office broadened its scope to include faculty development and climate initiatives. In 2019, the office was renamed the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement to emphasize faculty development, mentorship, and communications, and it also incorporated the Office of Work/Life. In 2021, the Inclusive Faculty Pathways portfolio was launched under Associate Provost Adina Berrios Brooks to strengthen University-wide pathways for faculty success. Together, these efforts illustrate Columbia’s sustained investment in creating structures and programs that support faculty excellence and advancement across all schools and disciplines.

 

Resources

Best Practices Guides

Office of the Provost LGBTQ+ Resource Guide  (2021)

Guides to Best Practices in:

 

Key Contacts