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Next STEPS

What We Do

Next STEPS has launched a number of activities to strengthen the success and diversity of scholars in the Eberly College of Science (ECoS).

Our Offerings

Faculty Hiring Workshop

Who is eligible to participate: Eberly faculty and staff who participate in faculty search processes

In this workshop, you will engage with best practices for equity, inclusivity, and excellence as it relates to the tenure-track faculty hiring process. Attendees learn about biases in academia and practice strategies for mitigating bias during faculty searches. These workshops provide relevant background knowledge, opportunities for brainstorming and discussion, and actionable steps for building a diverse and talented faculty pool and recruiting from it.

View Workshop Materials. Note: You must have a Penn State login to access materials.

 

Promotion and Tenure Workshop

Who is eligible to participate: Eberly faculty who serve on promotion and tenure committees

This workshop provides an overview of how bias can influence one's career trajectories and evaluations. Attendees learn to consider the role of bias in the tenure and promotion process and are empowered to develop strategies to mitigate it, examining data from Penn State and relevant studies.

View Workshop Materials. Note: You must have a Penn State login to access materials.

 

Graduate Admissions Workshop

Who is eligible to participate: Eberly faculty, staff, and administrators who participate in graduate selection and recruitment activities

In this workshop, you will learn about best practices and considerations for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the graduate admissions process and graduate education. Attendees will learn to examine the larger impact of graduate education and how to define their admission practices and procedures around program alignment, disciplinary identity, and community and networking support to result in equitable admission success.

View Workshop Materials. Note: You must have a Penn State login to access materials.

 

Launch Program

Who is eligible to participate: New tenure-track assistant professors

The Launch initiative connects new tenure-track assistant professors in ECoS with a customized group of senior colleagues known as their “Launch Committee” with whom they will meet for one hour, monthly within their first year. During this time, they will cover topics of interest to the new faculty member, which may include teaching, research, service, and/or settling into State College.

View Program Materials. Note: You must have a Penn State login to access materials.

 

Supporting Material

View our collection of workshop materials including handouts, slide decks, and other supporting material related to our hiring, promotion and tenure, and graduate admissions workshops.

Note: You must have a Penn State login to access materials.

 

View Workshop Materials

Next STEPS Faculty Publications

Faculty involved with the Next STEPS program contribute to the literature on diversity in scholarship.