Faculty Success by Watermark
Watermark: Faculty Success
In Spring 2021, two working groups were established for faculty evaluations and the adoption of a scholarly database. The Office of the Provost established a working group of Department Chairs to explore the Faculty Annual Evaluations process. Research & Economic Development established a working group to explore the adoption of a Scholarly Works Digital Database. As each working group completed activities, collaboration across groups and areas expanded to leverage resources, the capacity of effort, and broader campus engagement of stakeholders. The outcomes of these activities and subsequent collaboration resulted in the roll-out to campus in Fall of 2023 of Watermark, the new database for reporting faculty annual activities. A timeline of the groups' efforts and next steps can be viewed below. Phase 1 implementation took place in Fall 2023 with Phase 2 beginning in Spring 2023 and continuing into Summer 2025 with the deployment of all faculty review processes in Watermark.
- Phase 2: 2024-2025
Phase 2 Timeline & Planning Information
Key Time Frames
Phase 2 Implementation- All Faculty Review Processes moved to within Watermark
- Spring 2024- begin communication and workshop sessions with faculty who plan on going up for Tenure/Promotion in Fall 2024.
- Summer 2024-work alongside TP candidates to continue data entry, screen revisions from 2023 evaluation cycle feedback, finalize and review faculty review processes and workflows.
- Fall 2024-Workshop sessions and continued support for TP candidates. Provide campus-wide assistance through attending department meetings, individual appointments, and workshops. Launch TP reviews within Watermark for Fall 2024 faculty candidates. Assist in SACSCOC efforts with faculty data entry for the past 5 years. Communicate about expectations of data entry and reporting for the upcoming faculty annual evaluation cycle.
- Spring 2025 - Faculty Annual Evaluations for calendar year 2024 will take place within Watermark.
- Summer 2025 - Review phase 2 implementation activities. Revise where need and establish phase 3 activities.
- Phase 1: 2023
Phase 1 Timeline & Planning Information
Key Time Frames
Phase 1 Implementation- Faculty Annual Activities Reporting and Annual Review
- June through December 2023 - Information and Help sessions will be available for all available faculty members.
- August-September 30 - Review Getting Started with Watermark Tutorial
- September-October 2023 - Goal-setting workshops and webinars for all faculty in coordination with the Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning (CITL) and Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence (CAFÉ). Faculty can begin to submit proposed goals for the upcoming 2024 calendar year. These goals are inputted into the Goal Planning Screen within Watermark.
- September-December 2023- Faculty input essential activities within Watermark, outlined in the Getting Started with Watermark Tutorial for the 2023 calendar year.
- January 15, 2024- Full adoption/integration of Watermark for faculty activities annual reporting and annual evaluation. Completion of Annual Goals & Planning Screen. Faculty will submit the 2023 Annual Report to their chairs for annual evaluations.
- 2024- Full adoption of the system for annual evaluation, tenure, and promotion.
Watermark Faculty Annual Activities Data Entry
Available Resource Support for Faculty, Departments, and Colleges
- Provide one-on-one and small group help sessions over the summer, where applicable, and during the fall 2023 semester.
- Schedule help support and demos during standing faculty, department, or college meetings.
- Provide intensive help session availability at the beginning, mid-term, and end of the fall 2023 semester.
- Additional support can be arranged through your department chair.
