The CFE supports faculty research, scholarship, and creative projects through both grants and sponsored programs support as well as through professional development programs and services. Grants and Sponsored Programs support is currently offered through the Office of Sponsored Programs, in partnership with and with support from CFE. CFE’s professional development programs focus on a wide array of topics that support faculty in meeting their scholarship goals, such as building an interdisciplinary research community, celebrating scholarship, writing productivity, project management, mentoring students through research collaborations, and writing successful grant proposals.
Key Programs
- Writing Retreat
The Center for Faculty Excellence, with the support of the Provost’s office, organizes a private writing retreat each year for Simmons’ faculty members. Support for a variety of types of writing can support the development of disciplinary expertise, encourage research and publication on teaching effectiveness, create more flexibility for teaching innovation, and foster positive relationships among faculty across disciplinary lines.
How It Works
Held each May, the writing retreat is an opportunity to carve out time to jump-start summer scholarship. Participants have plenty of dedicated, quiet, distraction-free time for individual writing.
CFE staff members are on-site for individual manuscript reviews and writing coaching. CFE also provides specialized support for those working on the scholarship of teaching during the retreat.
All writing projects are welcome: participants can develop a work-in-progress, revise a conference presentation for publication, incorporate feedback before submitting an article to a refereed journal, polish a grant application, or perhaps revisit a rejected manuscript.
Cedar Hills Retreat Center
The faculty writing retreat is a three day, two night residential writing retreat held at a private retreat center with plenty of indoor and outdoor space to work. Cedar Hills Retreat Center is just north of Plymouth, MA, and about 45 minutes south of Boston.
Features of the property include:
- Wireless Internet access
- Fully-equipped kitchen
- Walking trail leading to a private beach
- Single beds in shared rooms; linens and towels provided
- Dining space for communal meals
The retreat is open to full-time and part-time faculty from all disciplines. There is no cost to attend. Lodging, meals, and supplies will be provided.
- Faculty Excellence in Scholarship Series
This program consists of seminars centered around faculty-to-faculty advice on research and scholarship featuring a variety of faculty panelists in various career stages and disciplines at Simmons.
- Proposal House
In partnership with the Office of Sponsored Programs and Dean Marie desJardins, CFE helps plan and facilitate this program. Although Proposal House is normally held off-campus to provide a retreat-like atmosphere, it was transitioned to a virtual format with more flexibility for participants in choosing which sessions to participate in. Proposal House sessions include Writing an Effective Proposal, Post-Award Grant Management Panel Discussion, “Friendly Shark Tanks,” 1:1 mentoring with experts, and more.
- Structured Writing Groups
Currently under development. CFE is hoping to launch this program in summer 2022.
- Individual Research Consultations
Currently under development. CFE is hoping to launch this service in fall 2022.
- Support for Faculty of Color
Simmons University is a founding member of the North Star Collective, a series of new initiatives to support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) faculty through the New England Board of Higher Education. CFE and OCIE collaborate to support this program.
- Support for Grants and Sponsored Programs
Please view the Sponsored Programs Support in CFE Website for more information.