Office of Professional Development and Faculty Affairs

The Office of Professional Development and Faculty Affairs (PDFA) strives to meet the needs of all faculty: new recruit, junior, mid-career, senior and emeritus. Our office handles academic promotion and application for tenure, and we help faculty members achieve success and professional goals through excellence in teaching, research, scholarship and leadership. Our office reports to the Office of Academic Affairs, which oversees all three schools: Medicine, Nursing and Health Professions and is overseen by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, who is the chief academic officer for the medical center.

Faculty Affairs

Faculty Affairs concerns administrative aspects of faculty membership, including academic promotion and application for tenure. Faculty Affairs policies and procedures are governed by the regulations of the university and medical school. Faculty members should be familiar with the University of Kansas Handbook for Faculty and Unclassified Staff, the system of Faculty Governance and the By Laws of the Faculty of the School of Medicine.

Hard copies of the official handbook are available in Dykes Library, the office of the Executive Vice Chancellor, the Office of Legal Counsel and the Office of Academic Affairs.

Faculty Affairs handles:

• Annual Assessment of Faculty Members
• Changing Academic Tracks
• Faculty Governance
• Faculty Ranks, Tracks
• Honors and Awards
• Promotion and Tenure
• Sabbatical Leave

Professional Development

Our mission is to develop and retain faculty members who are successful and satisfied with their careers. Professional Development assists faculty members in achieving professional goals in the rapidly changing health care and scientific environment. We help faculty achieve excellence in teaching, research, scholarship and leadership.

Information for new faculty members:

• Annual new faculty welcome event
• New faculty onboarding instructions

Resources for all faculty members:

• Faculty mentoring program
• Faculty Leadership Academy (FLA)
• Faculty Development Series -- called PDFA Training
• Professionalism Initiative
• Resource Directory for Educators
• The Writing Consult Center
• Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS) organization

At any time you are welcome to contact me or the staff of the SOM Office of Professional Development and Faculty Affairs (PDFA).

Robert M. Klein, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Professional Development and Faculty Affairs (PDFA)
Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology
School of Medicine
1023 Wescoe Pavilion
University of Kansas Medical Center
rklein@kumc.edu
913-588-5071