- December 17, 2025
- By Maryland Today Staff
The University of Maryland has launched two initiatives to provide guidance on executing faculty reviews during periods of disruption and coordinated assistance when faculty encounter challenging situations in the course of their work.
In a letter to faculty on Tuesday, Senior Vice President and Provost Jennifer King Rice said the new efforts reflect a broader institutional commitment to faculty well-being and success amid a changing higher education landscape.
The first initiative introduces new guidance for faculty evaluation and promotion processes during times of disruption to a faculty member’s work, from shifts in federal funding and regulations to supply chain issues and travel restrictions. Developed by the Office of Faculty Affairs in partnership with associate deans for faculty affairs and ADVANCE, the guidance is intended to help ensure that units and review committees more fully consider how such disruptions may affect a faculty member’s portfolio and future trajectory.
“Meaningful faculty reviews depend on understanding both a faculty member’s accomplishments and their future potential,” said Rice. “It’s important that these circumstances are appropriately acknowledged and considered during evaluations.”
The second initiative establishes a Faculty Support Team to provide holistic assistance to faculty facing complex or concerning situations that fall outside the scope of established procedures and protocols that are led by the Behavioral and Threat Assessment (BETA) Team and the University of Maryland Police Department. While those two groups remain the primary resources for reviewing and assessing threats to the safety and well-being of campus, the new support team expands the range of available support.
The team will help develop support strategies, coordinate institutional resources, make referrals when appropriate, and provide ongoing follow-up to ensure continuity of care and communication.
Rice emphasized the importance of engaging faculty across campus to guide the university’s efforts.
“I hope these new processes and opportunities enhance your success and well-being as a valued member of our UMD faculty,” she wrote. “As a university, we remain deeply committed to investing in people, and are truly grateful for the passion and excellence you bring each day as we move fearlessly forward.”