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Faculty engagement has been widely discussed as a challenge to success in higher educational institutions across a variety of contexts and types. Institutions have struggled to retain faculty amid widespread challenges that were exacerbated by the COV1D-19 pandemic. Morale, safety, and flexibility were among the range of barriers expressed. This article provides an overview and introduction to faculty reengagement initiatives through faculty development programs, offering a crossinstitutional perspective from several thought leaders in this area. Moreover, the authors also provide a brief introduction to the special section focused on faculty reengagement.
Introduction
As the global COVID-19 pandemic transitions into an endemic, there are a lot of questions about what the faculty work experience will be like, not just in fall 2022, but in the years to come. A wave of recent articles have painted a fairly bleak picture of faculty life. McClure & Fryar (2022) began the year observing how many faculty around the country had been increasingly disengaged from their institutions, noting that many "used to feel strong ties to their institution, but they have since felt so undervalued that they're cutting back." Musgrave (2022) lamented changes in the student-faculty relationships, noting how many faculty have felt emotionally drained by their classroom experiences. Dolezal (2022) and Gewin (2022) each recognized how discontent has led faculty to leave academia in higher numbers than ever before. McClure (2022), however, does not blame the pandemic entirely for the mess. Rather, he suggests that signs of increased faculty discontent have been growing for years; the pandemic merely exposed "poor working conditions" that have been festering in higher education for two decades. So, what can we do to reverse these trends? What opportunities do faculty developers have to help ameliorate these conditions? How can colleges work to reengage faculty, foster stronger connections and working relationships between them and their students? This issue attempts to address concerns related to faculty disengagement and answer the above questions, providing unique insights from various programs.
Cross-Institutional Perspectives on Faculty (Re)Engagement
Marken (2021) explained that, "Faculty expertise and pedagogical approach are important factors in determining the quality of the student experience, but faculty employee engagement is also critical for ensuring a high-quality student experience" (n.p.). Importantly, Marken noted that engaged faculty are "emotionally...