School of Dance tech crew table during performance (Photo: Benjamin Sandberg)
CFA Workshops & Training Sessions
Faculty RPT Workshops
Pre-tenure RPT Workshop
(offered every Fall, Date/Time: October TBD)
(Note: It is recommended that all pre-tenure faculty attend this workshop at least once prior to their first formal review. A separate workshop for those preparing for formal reviews is offered in the Spring.)
The goal of this workshop is to demystify the RPT process and help you prepare for your future RPT reviews. We will discuss the review processes/workflow, your responsibilities in the process, and how to prepare materials for your file. We will also share some tips for writing personal statements and crafting effective CVs. Please email Sean Carter if you have any questions.
RPT Formal Review Workshop
(offered every Spring, Date/Time: March TBD)
(Note: It is recommended that all pre-tenure faculty preparing for a formal review attend this workshop.)
The goal of this workshop is to help you prepare for your upcoming formal RPT reviews. We will discuss the materials you are responsible for preparing, focusing specifically on the personal statement and CV. Faculty members are invited to share materials for feedback. Please email Sean Carter if you have any questions or if you'd like the Zoom information for the workshop.
Career-line Faculty Workshops
Career-line Formal Review Workshop
(offered every Fall, Date/Time: October TBD)
(Note: It is recommended that all Career-line faculty attend this workshop at least once prior to their first formal review.)
The goal of this workshop is to demystify the Career-line faculty review process and help you prepare for your formal review. We will discuss the review processes/workflow, your responsibilities in the process, and how to prepare materials for your file. We will also share some tips for writing personal statements and crafting effective CVs. Please email Sean Carter if you have any questions.
RPT Training for Chairs & Admins: August 31, 2023; 2-4pm
This session outlines the administrative responsibilities of the Department/School during the Retention, Promotion, and Tenure (RPT) process. All Department Chairs/School Directors, Departmental Admins, and Departmental RPT Committee Chairs are expected to attend this session.
Zoom information will be sent via Umail.
CAV Training for Chairs & Admins: September 18, 2023; 2-4pm
This session outlines the administrative responsibilities of the Department/School during the Career-line, Adjunct, and Visiting faculty review process. All Department Chairs/School Directors, Departmental Admins, and Departmental FAC Chairs are expected to attend this session.
Zoom information will be sent via Umail.
FAR Workshops: January MWF TBD, 11-noon & January TTh TBD, 1-2pm
The Faculty Activity Report (FAR) is an online faculty activity data collection and reporting application. Each faculty member is expected to update their information in FAR annually. The deadline for FAR reporting is February 15, 2024. Please email if you have any questions.
JEDI Sessions
A prominent part of our college’s strategic plan includes protecting and enhancing our most prized resource - our human capital - with objectives, initiatives, and actions particularly centered on addressing issues of diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice. The College of Fine Arts has formed a JEDICommittee (Justice, Equity, Diversity + Inclusion) that includes members from all five academic units and the Dean's Office. For more information, click here.
For Faculty
Faculty Absence Policy
- CFA Absence Policy (for all faculty members in the College of Fine Arts)
Faculty Fundamental enewsletter
This is the monthly enewsletter for CFA Faculty. If you would like to be added to this distribution list, email Velma Rippstein.
Faculty Guide to Advising
The Faculty Guide to Advising contains information and resources provided by CFA Advising.
Faculty Handbook
The Dean's Office has created a Faculty Handbook to assist faculty in the College of Fine Arts. It is filled with faculty resources, student resources, grading policies, information about the college, and many other helpful resources to help you be successful as a faculty member at the University of Utah.
Faculty Handbook
Faculty Review Processes
- CFA Policy Statements
- CFA Career-line, Adjunct, and Visiting Faculty Policy - Appointment, Review, Reappointment & Promotion (approved for implementation in July 2019)
- CFA Tenured Faculty Review Policy (approved for implementation in January 2020)
- Department of Art & Art History RPT Policy(approved for implementation in July 2014)
- Department of Art & Art History RPT Policy (approved for implementation in July 2023)
- School of Dance RPT Policy (approved for implementation in July 2017)
- Department of Film & Media Arts RPT Policy (approved for implementation in July 2017)
- School of Music RPT Policy (approved November 2008)
- School of Music RPT Policy (approved for implementation July 2022)
- Department of Theatre RPT Policy (approved for implementation in July 2018)
- Department of Theatre RPT Policy (approved for implementation July 2022)
Faculty Sabbaticals
A sabbatical is a research leave for tenure-line faculty members lasting either one or two semesters. The purpose of a sabbatical leave is to increase the scholarship and professional development of members of the faculty and thereby enhance their capacity for continued research, teaching, and service. Leave of this type from academic duties is a privilege granted to afford the faculty member the opportunity for intensive study, investigation and research.
For Sabbatical Requests:
- Please submit your request to your Chair/Director. The Chair/Director must submit requests for faculty Sabbatical leaves (including the Chair/Director letters of support and ranking) to the Dean by November TBD. In addition, the Chair/Director should consider all the grant and leave applications that their faculty are submitting each cycle/year – both inside and outside the College/University – in order to determine whether Department/School responsibilities will be adequately covered if all the applications are successful.
- Please read all information carefully on the downloadable forms. You will turn in the completed application form and all supporting documentation to your Department Chair/Director by their internal deadline. The Sabbatical Compensation Confirmation Form should be sent to the Office for Faculty once your sabbatical has been awarded, and is due to them by May 31st.
Request Forms for 2023-24 Sabbaticals:
For more information about the rules governing sabbatical leaves please see sections 4 & 9 of University Policy 6-314. Under this policy, faculty members whose last sabbatical leave was in academic year 2016-17 are presumably eligible for another sabbatical. Note that other leaves taken since that year may be taken into consideration in recommending individuals for sabbatical leave. In addition, if an untenured faculty member meets the criteria of six completed years of service and is recommended for sabbatical, approval will be contingent upon the faculty member being tenured at the time the sabbatical begins.
For questions about the application process please contact the CFA Dean's Office.
Faculty Search Manual
This new Faculty Search Manual is intended as a resource for Department Chairs/School Directors, Admins, Search Committee Chairs, and Search Committee Members. It is an effort to provide information that will support the college in developing inclusive, fair, and successful search processes aimed at recruiting and hiring excellent candidates. We hope you will find it useful as you navigate the faculty search process. To download a copy of the CFA Faculty Search Manual, please click here.
U-CV (Formally FAR)
The University of Utah announced that it will be moving from Faculty Activity Reporting (FAR) to a new platform (U-CV). In the meantime, please continue using the FAR system. You can access it here. If you have any questions please contact Associate Dean Rawlings at .
For Staff
Dean's direct reports Absence Request form
Absence Request Form
Staff Performance Evaluations
The College of Fine Arts is committed to creating an environment in which staff can flourish and grow. Performance reviews provide an opportunity, at least once a year, for staff members to have a personal conversation with their supervisor about their contribution in the workplace and to get feedback and coaching about their job performance.
STAFF PERFORMANCE REVIEW PROCESS--To be completed by employee and their immediate supervisor:
Phase One occurs at the start of the performance review period and consists of the staff member initiating a “Performance Plan” in UUPM. Each staff member will be asked to establish various goals that they will work on throughout the year.
Once goals have been set and the supervisor has approved the Performance Plan in UUPM, the staff member will work towards their goals during the year.
Phase Two is the evaluation part of the review process. The employee will provide additional information in their performance plan (such as their accomplishments for the year). Both the staff member and their supervisor will select a rating for each goal/accomplishment using a 3-point scale (Exceeds Expectations, Meets Expectations, or Does Not Meet Expectations). The supervisor will provide any additional written comments in UUPM, and the staff member and the supervisor will meet to discuss both the staff member’s performance and the supervisor’s comments.
This will conclude the Performance Review process for the year, and a new Performance Plan will need to be created in UUPM for the next year.
Timeline for CFA Staff Performance Reviews (2023-2024):
- Phase One: Creation of Performance Plan in UUPM: (Fall TBD - TBD)
- Supervisor will provide job description for Staff Member
- Staff Member will create Performance Plan and set Goals
- Supervisor will approve Performance Plan
- Goals should be submitted by employee and approved by supervisor by TBD
- Work Towards Accomplishing Goals: Start of Review Period to End of Review Period
- Phase Two: Performance Review: (Spring TBD - TBD)
- Staff Member will evaluate how they have accomplished their Goals and fill out additional information (such as their accomplishments for the year)
- Supervisor will evaluate the Staff Member’s performance
- Supervisor and Staff Member will meet to discuss performance
All Performance Reviews should be completed by TBD.
Staff Professional Development
Professional Development Fund
The College of Fine Arts offers limited support for staff members (.75 FTE or higher) to request funds for professional development training or relevant University courses. Designed to mirror/complement the "Dean's Travel Funds", this Professional Development Fund is a way that staff members throughout the College can be supported in their goals of receiving advanced training.
The total amount of funding available for Staff Professional Development is $5,000 and will be disbursed on a first-come basis. The College will provide a 1-to-1 match for the Department/School contribution, up to the eligible dollar amount (Max: $500 from Department/School + $500 from CFA / 1 allowance per year) and both the Staff member and the Department Chair/Director/Supervisor need to complete the form.
Download the Staff Professional Development Request Form
Training Opportunities
The CFA has also purchased licenses for an online training resource called lynda.com. Lynda.com is an online library full of thousands of tutorials on topics ranging from Filemaker Pro and Excel to Photoshop, InDesign. We are truly excited to be able to offer this access to the members of the College of Fine Arts and hope it provides you with a valuable tool to stay up to date on all the tools for your job.
There are five areas in the College who share a license. Please contact your area administrator listed below for access to your own lynda.com.
- Art and Film: Amy Walchli, TBD
- Dance and Theatre: TBD
- Music: Michelle Addison, TBD
- Dean's Office, Marketing + Communications, and Development: Sean Carter
- IT: Chris Roberts.
More training info and opportunities will be posted here as they arise, so please check back often.
Staff Excellence Awards
Visit this page for past awardees and nomination information.