Northeastern University College of Science Strategic Plan 2023-2028

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CO NNECTION S FUTURE TO THE A Strategic Plan for the Northeastern University College of Science 2023–2028

“As Dean, I’m often asked about my Goals for the Northeastern University College of Science. Now that we have written this Strategic Plan, I’m thrilled to answer that these are OUR Goals, not only mine, but goals across College of Science members. Together, our goals make a powerful statement, that we will realize for a stellar future.”

DEAN HAZEL SIVE, P h D

Building the Good Power of Science

The Northeastern University College of Science embraces the “Good Power of Science” to forge excellence in research and education, with key contributions to our Northeastern Global University. We will innovate in highimpact, cross-disciplinary, fundamental, and translational research toward solving crucial global challenges, for a healthy, equitable, and sustainable future. We will implement empowering Science education at every level, for everyone, everywhere. Through creative, research-linked, hands-in learning, College of Science students will emerge as confident, entrepreneurial, ethical problem-solvers who love to learn, with flexible skills for a vast set of careers. Essential for promoting excellence in all spheres, we will expand our diverse, inclusive, collaborative community, where each person is valued and belongs.

From the springboard of present innovations, we envision the exciting, important next phase of the College of Science as a weave of six THREADS, each with multiple GOALS, connecting across the College, other Northeastern Colleges, and our Global University. Every part of our plan supports the university Academic Plan and the highimpact projection of Northeastern University.

COS: Threads to the Future

BUILD A DIVERSE COLLEGE WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS

• Recruit a Brilliant and Diverse College of Science Community

• Cultivate a Culture of Respect and Inclusion for Every College of Science Member

• Promote a Strong, Supported, Collaborative College of Science Community

EMPOWER EDUCATION ACROSS LEARNING COMMUNITIES

• Implement Powerful, Consistent, Experiential Science Education at Every Level, for Everyone, Everywhere

• Devise Top-Quality MS Programs That Educate with Crucial Skills

• Increase Undergraduate Research Opportunities

• Cultivate an Entrepreneurial Ethos

• Open Science to Everyone!

SHIFT THE PHD PARADIGM

• Recruit a Diverse, Inclusive PhD Community

• Build Support and Skills Through the Cross-College Connected Science Community PhD

• Build Flexible, Cross-Disciplinary Combined PhD Programs

• Promote PhD Trainee Success Through Clear Expectations, Robust Mentoring, and Strong, Equitable Support

• Incorporate Campus Network Sites and Global Partners into COS PhD Training

CONNECT SOLUTIONS TO CRUCIAL RESEARCH CHALLENGES

• Develop Strategic Areas in Fundamental and Applied Research

• Build Unique Research in the Network and with Global Partners

• Promote Research Funding and Award Success

• Build a Leading Science Postdoctoral Training Program

• Build a Landscape of Entrepreneurship and Innovation

PROMOTE A SUCCESSFUL FACULTY

• Build a Supportive, Collaborative Faculty Community

• Invest in Brilliant and Diverse Faculty to Meet Research Goals and Teaching Needs

• Mentor Faculty for Success Across Every Position and Level

• Promote Transparency in Faculty Expectations and Obligations

CONSTRUCT A FRAMEWORK FOR GROWTH

• Increase and Diversify Revenue Streams

• Invest in a Diverse, Talented, Supported Staff

• Develop an Effective, Equitable Workplace Community Across the Global Network

• Innovate in Space and Facilities to Support World-Class Education and Research

• Organize Effective Communications That Share Information and Celebrate Accomplishments

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Good Power of Science, for the Good of Everyone

Every medicine, every vaccine, every food, every energy source, every understanding of the environment, cells, disease, the mind, matter, and the cosmos, is driven by Science research. The “Good Power of Science” is immeasurable, and its unlimited potential to promote a bright future is unequivocal. From fundamental understanding to translational outcomes, Science drives unparalleled innovation.

Creative, empowering Science education builds the next generation of professionals poised to contribute to research, medicine, and almost every other top career. These are the Science graduates who will build a healthy, equitable, and sustainable future.

The word “Science” derives from Latin scientia meaning “knowledge,” knowledge that defines a powerful set of disciplines. The disciplines in our Northeastern University College of Science (COS) are living and evolving, and flow unbounded across our departments of Biology, Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Marine and Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. This fluid movement of knowledge and expertise connects deeply with almost every discipline outside Science, converging on high-impact solutions to challenges of society and our planet.

At every level, society needs Science!

A Weave of Connections, Community, and Collaboration

From the springboard of present innovations, and an outstanding College of Science, this Strategic Plan envisions the future of the College through six connected THREADS, each with multiple exciting and feasible GOALS. Our Goals spread through crucial day-to-day operations, educational innovations, and research initiatives with enormous impact. Together, these form a rich weave across the College, across other Northeastern Colleges, and across our Global University Network.

A successful future for the College of Science is integral to Northeastern University success, and every part of our plan supports and intertwines with Pillars of “Northeastern Experience Unleashed,” the university academic plan.

The THREADS of this plan carry our vision and intentions for the future of Science at Northeastern University. We will build a diverse college where everyone belongs; empower education across learning communities; shift the PhD paradigm; connect solutions to crucial research challenges; promote a successful faculty; and construct a framework for growth.

Intrinsic to our future is the continued commitment to build an inclusive, representative College in accord with the overall commitment of Northeastern University. We will carry forward the future of Science through a supportive, respectful, and collaborative Community, for the well-being of our members and the means to stunning success.

Connecting to the Future

Our Plan, CO NNECTION S to the Future , was built through contributions from many hundreds of College of Science Community members and other colleagues and friends. We used an Idea Bank, Community Meetings, Town Halls, and Focus Groups to gather ideas and feedback. Much of the valuable input is incorporated into the Plan, and more will be used in next steps. My most sincere thanks to everyone involved.

The Plan can be considered as lying 5,000 feet above ground, high enough for an inspiring perspective and low enough to see where we are going. Our work is not done, for we make the commitment to implement every Goal on the ground. And we emphasize that our Plan is living, and will evolve to incorporate unexpected, useful, and interesting ideas.

It is truly exciting to make CONNECTIONS to the Future of Science and to contribute to the brilliant future of Northeastern University!

Warm regards to every reader,

2

Northeastern University College of Science Threads

The Northeastern University College of Science embraces the “Good Power of Science” to forge excellence in research and education, with key contributions to our Northeastern Global University. We will innovate in highimpact, cross-disciplinary, fundamental, and translational research toward solving crucial global challenges, for a healthy, equitable, and sustainable future. We will implement empowering Science education at every level, for everyone, everywhere. Through creative, research-linked, hands-in learning, College of Science students will emerge as confident, entrepreneurial, ethical problem-solvers who love to learn, with flexible skills for a vast set of careers. Essential for promoting excellence in all spheres, we will expand our diverse, inclusive, collaborative community, where each person is valued and belongs.

3 Northeastern University Academic Plan Pillars ERASE BOUNDARIES 2 THE POWER OF EXPERIENCE MAXIMIZED 3 CREATE NEW CURRENTS FOR DISCOVERY 4 DEEPEN OUR IMMERSION IN THE WORLD 5 BUILD ON THE POWER OF DIVERSITY 1 Northeastern University College of Science Vision Statement
BUILD A DIVERSE COLLEGE WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D CONNECT SOLUTIONS TO CRUCIAL RESEARCH CHALLENGES FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D EMPOWER EDUCATION ACROSS LEARNING COMMUNITIES EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D SHIFT THE PHD PARADIGM DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D PROMOTE A SUCCESSFUL FACULTY DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION P h D CONSTRUCT A FRAMEWORK FOR GROWTH

Build a Diverse College Where Everyone Belongs

RECRUIT A BRILLIANT AND DIVERSE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE COMMUNITY

RATIONALE:

The “Good Power of Science” will be fully elicited by a College of Science whose outstanding membership reflects the diversity of society. Coordinated efforts to recruit this membership must address forces that work against it, including those that perpetuate bias and exclusion.

GOALS:

• Develop new pathways to recruit undergraduate students from marginalized groups in science tracks through programs like Explore and Foundation Year

• Increase recruitment of graduate students from underrepresented groups through research opportunities, partnerships, scholarships, and career-focused PhD training

• Increase recruitment of a brilliant and diverse faculty, through our Search Equity Guidelines and Process, while building on our early-career INVEST hiring program

• Increase recruitment of outstanding staff from marginalized groups by hiring for potential and through implementation of our Search Equity Guidelines and Process

• Enhance representation in faculty and staff leadership positions through leadership training opportunities and equity guidelines for leadership selection

SNAPSHOTS OF THE FUTURE

• Equity in Hiring Guidelines and Process for all positions

• Lifelong mentoring

• Equity Action Fund to support community-led initiatives

COS CONNECTIONS:

DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D
ACADEMIC PLAN PILLARS: 1
4 DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D

CULTIVATE A CULTURE OF RESPECT AND INCLUSION FOR EVERY COLLEGE OF SCIENCE MEMBER

RATIONALE:

A culture of respect and inclusion builds a positive, productive work environment, where each person is valued, where exclusionary interactions are addressed, and where equitable support strategies are in place.

GOALS:

• Address discrimination and harassment through increased awareness of relevant policies, reporting mechanisms, and resources

• Empower COS Community members to disrupt academic bullying through expanded recognition of adverse behaviors, clear reporting options, and accountability

• Fund initiatives developed by COS students, faculty, and staff that contribute to a culture of respect and inclusion

PROMOTE A STRONG, SUPPORTED, COLLABORATIVE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE COMMUNITY

RATIONALE:

A successful College of Science is one where there is a strong Community, where a network of collaborations and connections makes everyone feel they belong, are supported, and empowered to contribute most vitally.

GOALS:

• Infuse Community Values and Guidelines across the college so that faculty, staff, and students work together inclusively and collaboratively

• Promote an inclusive undergraduate community through mentoring, tutoring, scholarships, awards, equitable opportunities, clubs, and affinity groups

• Promote strong graduate communities through shared learning, training expectations, scholarships, awards, and equitable opportunities

• Promote a vibrant, career-focused postdoctoral community through mentoring, skills development, teaching, and work experience opportunities

• Promote a collaborative, supported staff community through mentoring, networking, and opportunities for upskilling and career progression

• Promote a collaborative and supported community of all faculty through sharing, mentoring, and equitable opportunities, with transparency in obligations and merit criteria

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CONNECTIONS: ACADEMIC PLAN PILLARS:
DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D
COS
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COS CONNECTIONS: ACADEMIC PLAN PILLARS:
DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION P h D DEI GROWTH FACULTY
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“Tomorrow belongs to those of us who conceive of it as belonging to everyone; who lend the best of ourselves to it, and with joy.”
AUDRE LORDE , WRITER, EDUCATOR, AND ACTIVIST

Empower Education Across Learning Communities

IMPLEMENT POWERFUL, CONSISTENT, EXPERIENTIAL SCIENCE EDUCATION AT EVERY LEVEL, FOR EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE

RATIONALE:

Every student receiving a College of Science degree should emerge as a confident, entrepreneurial, creative problem-solver—one who loves to learn and has an ethical and respectful mindset.

GOALS:

• Promote common learning outcomes for COS undergraduates by developing rubrics for measuring these outcomes as part of program assessment processes

• Devise common learning goals for MS and PhD trainees to develop consistent and empowering outcomes of COS training

• Offer consistent, highest-quality science education across the global network, with exciting offerings based on local opportunities

HOPE ZAMORA , BS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE,

CONNECTIONS:

COS DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION P h D DEI GROWTH FACULTY

DEVISE TOP-QUALITY MS PROGRAMS THAT EDUCATE WITH CRUCIAL SKILLS

COS CONNECTIONS:

Educational programs leading to the MS degree are an integral part of the College of Science mission and commitment. Educating with skills to meet expertise needed in multiple areas of science and industry benefits students from every background, across the network and throughout the world.

GOALS:

• Develop shared learning goals for all MS students to empower every learner with the key skills of a science education, including co-op work experience

• Identify and steward new Professional MS programs that focus on experiential learning in areas of industry demand and student interest

• Broaden Professional MS programs taught across the network with consistency, high quality of teaching, and equitable opportunities at all sites

• Develop online “MS degrees from Anywhere” with access to underserved populations, including local hands-in experience

• Develop a supported and diverse community of MS students across the network, with consistent academic and advising services, as well as participation in graduate activities

PLAN PILLARS: 1/2/3/5

DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D DEI GROWTH FACULTY 6

• Develop mechanisms to share and reward teaching innovations and challenges ACADEMIC PLAN PILLARS: 3
RATIONALE:
ACADEMIC
“Now that my time at Northeastern is coming to a close, I am comforted by the knowledge that my experiences here have provided me with the skills and confidence to navigate the professional sphere.”
’23

SNAPSHOTS OF THE FUTURE

• Undergraduates participate in “open lab meetings”

• Summer science commercialization

• Multidisciplinary topic courses for non-science students

• MS training integrated into COS educational mission

• Lifelong learning for everyone!

INCREASE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

RATIONALE:

Undergraduate students want to be immersed in the exciting discoveries being made in the College of Science, while experiencing research as part of a future career. For every student, research cultivates a problem-solving mindset and can help students step along the pathway toward a PhD.

GOALS:

• Expand research-for-credit and research experience, including research-focused co-ops, into degree programs

• Increase undergraduate research space by using instructional labs and virtual/ augmented reality, and enabling research outside of the traditional laboratory setting

• Support tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty to incorporate undergraduates into research

• Develop funding mechanisms and provide highest visibility for undergraduate researchers

• Monitor and assess undergraduate research activity

CULTIVATE AN ENTREPRENEURIAL ETHOS

RATIONALE:

Entrepreneurship includes skills that promote confidence through being enterprising and opportunistic, while embracing failure and a growth mindset. Hands-on opportunities develop resilient skills and an understanding of the ways that discoveries may lead to knowledge, products, processes, or policies that find application in the larger world.

GOALS:

• Expand the baseline for COS student innovation by offering opportunities that teach everyone to be an entrepreneur

• Define the COS Connects to Innovation program to connect undergraduate entrepreneurs and COS faculty mentors

• Develop innovative, credit-bearing curricular offerings in science commercialization

OPEN SCIENCE TO EVERYONE!

RATIONALE:

Engaging in the wonder and usefulness of science benefits everyone—be they members of the public with no science background, K-12 students, non-science majors, or science professionals.

GOALS:

• Develop and expand the Bridge to Science programs that help K-12 students discover that science is fun and useful, and provide credentialed opportunities

• Develop cross-disciplinary “Connections in Science” courses to attract undergraduates from non-STEM backgrounds

• Develop a COS lifelong learning strategy for alumni, professionals, and the public that provides scientific training and credentials, increasing access through online approaches

COS CONNECTIONS:

ACADEMIC PLAN PILLARS: 3/4

COS CONNECTIONS:

ACADEMIC PLAN PILLARS: 3/4

COS CONNECTIONS:

PLAN PILLARS: 1/3/5

DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D
DEI
EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D
GROWTH FACULTY
DEI
FACULTY DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION P h D DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION P h D DEI GROWTH FACULTY 7
ACADEMIC
GROWTH

Shift the PhD Paradigm

RECRUIT A DIVERSE, INCLUSIVE PHD COMMUNITY

RATIONALE:

The highest-impact research will be performed with a diverse group of talented PhD trainees who are (1) representative of society, (2) recruited with equitable opportunities, and (3) bring varied backgrounds, experiences, and interest to answer key fundamental and translational research questions. These students will form a cadre of important PhD graduates.

GOALS:

• Leverage the career power of the Connected Science Community PhD to attract a diverse cohort of students

• Open a PhD track for undergraduates through a multi-year summer research program geared to understanding how research can build their futures

• Develop partnerships that will assist in recruitment, including workshops, seminars, experience, and other opportunities

COS CONNECTIONS:

ACADEMIC PLAN PILLARS: 1/2/3

BUILD SUPPORT AND SKILLS THROUGH THE CROSS-COLLEGE CONNECTED SCIENCE COMMUNITY PHD

RATIONALE:

PhD training should empower every student to succeed in research or another top career. The College-wide Connected Science Community PhD program will develop a collaborative, supported community that is uniquely equipped with core skills, career skills, and cross-disciplinary research acumen.

GOALS:

• Build shared learning and training expectations for PhD students across COS that provide strong outcomes to every student

• Develop a credentialed curriculum for the Connected Science Community PhD

• Promote inclusiveness, support, and belonging across the Community, through mentoring, sharing, cross-disciplinary research, and the elimination of bullying

• Build PhD work experience opportunities

COS CONNECTIONS:

ACADEMIC PLAN PILLARS: 1/2/3/4

DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D
DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D 8
“We are proud to be developing the Connected Science Community PhD! This unique cross-College program builds a strong, collaborative Community that empowers candidates with flexible skills for a future in research or a vast array of additional careers.”
ASSOCIATE DEAN CARLA MATTOS, P h D

BUILD FLEXIBLE, CROSS-DISCIPLINARY COMBINED PHD PROGRAMS

RATIONALE:

Since high-impact research frequently extends across disciplines, many of our new faculty are cross-disciplinary. Combined PhD programs allow for flexible training, attract a new set of students, and promote success of cross-disciplinary research programs.

GOALS:

• Define best practices for flexible PhD training across COS departments

• Develop and implement Combined PhD programs across COS and other Northeastern Colleges

• Develop the Team PhD mechanism

SNAPSHOTS OF THE FUTURE

• Connected Science Community PhD

• Multi-year summer research opportunities

• Combined PhD programs cross disciplines!

COS CONNECTIONS:

PLAN PILLARS: 2/4

PROMOTE PHD TRAINEE SUCCESS THROUGH CLEAR EXPECTATIONS, ROBUST MENTORING, AND STRONG, EQUITABLE SUPPORT

RATIONALE:

PhD candidates thrive in a training environment that combines clear expectations with consistent and supportive mentoring within the research group and in other formats.

GOALS:

• Define best practices for PhD training across COS departments

• Develop consistent expectations and mentoring strategies for all PhD students, including those from industry

• Provide faculty with training and expectations to be effective graduate student advisors and mentors

• Promote mechanisms for equitable and fair treatment of PhD students, including peer-to-peer and Connected Community support, and advisor/advisee agreements

• Build an evaluation process to assess recruitment, inclusiveness, and impact of revised PhD training

INCORPORATE CAMPUS NETWORK SITES AND GLOBAL PARTNERS INTO COS PHD TRAINING

RATIONALE:

Northeastern Global Network sites allow locally unique research opportunities with regional or global relevance to be leveraged through PhD training, while connections with global partners can promote access to innovative research through PhD training.

GOALS:

• Create connections between COS PhD programs with network site opportunities

• Build opportunities for global PhD student experiences, as well as joint- or dualdegree programs

• Explore a “PhD from Anywhere” mechanism

ACADEMIC
DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION
COS CONNECTIONS: ACADEMIC PLAN PILLARS: 1/3 DEI GROWTH FACULTY DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION P h D DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION
COS CONNECTIONS: ACADEMIC PLAN PILLARS: 1/2/
DEI GROWTH FACULTY DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION P h D DEI GROWTH FACULTY 9
5

Connect Solutions to Crucial Research Challenges

DEVELOP STRATEGIC AREAS IN FUNDAMENTAL AND APPLIED RESEARCH

RATIONALE:

The highest-impact scientific research comes from addressing both fundamental questions and those with applied outcomes, particularly those emerging from disciplinary expertise, powered by convergence across disciplines.

GOALS:

• Promote evolution of disciplines across departments to break barriers, identify new disciplines, and advance the most exciting cross-disciplinary areas

• Develop Research Consortia across the university—that is, faculty groupings with shared interests, who can work together for funding and convergent outcomes

• Define and promote the highest-impact fundamental and translational research topics through faculty hires and funding mechanisms

• Extend industry connections through joint faculty appointments and collaborative research

SNAPSHOTS OF THE FUTURE

• Quantum Materials and Sensors Institute

• Center for Plant-Human Interface

• Metabolism and mental health

• Environmental genomics

• Antimicrobial discovery

• Healthy aging

• Sustainable Energy

• Mathematical modeling

• Biophysics and mechanobiology

• Meeting the plastics challenge

• Climate change solutions

COS CONNECTIONS:

ACADEMIC PLAN PILLARS: 4/5

BUILD UNIQUE RESEARCH IN THE NETWORK AND WITH GLOBAL PARTNERS

RATIONALE:

The Northeastern Global University and other global partners offer an unprecedented opportunity to expand scientific research by leveraging local opportunities and addressing global challenges.

GOALS:

• Develop strategies for connections with network sites, with a focus on research areas, existing faculty, and a visiting faculty program

• Develop partnerships for joint research programs with selected institutions in the United States and internationally

• Encourage faculty to develop a global research vision, establish collaborations, and pursue joint funding opportunities

COS CONNECTIONS:

ACADEMIC PLAN PILLARS: 4/5

DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D
DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION P h D DEI GROWTH FACULTY 10

PROMOTE RESEARCH FUNDING AND AWARD SUCCESS

RATIONALE:

Expanded and novel funding sources are the cornerstones of productive research, enabling new and cross-disciplinary research areas, while enhancing faculty success, student recruitment, and Northeastern impact.

GOALS:

• Diversify funding sources to include new opportunities and partners

• Support faculty for success in funding applications, including collaborative proposals, early career awards, meetings, workshops, and mentoring

• Expand Grants Administration as needed to provide expert preparation, submission, and stewardship for all College of Science awards

COS CONNECTIONS:

ACADEMIC PLAN PILLARS: 4/5

RATIONALE:

Postdoctoral investigators are pivotal for vibrant research programs. We will expand the cadre and diversity of COS postdoctoral trainees through innovative mechanisms that promote their careers.

GOALS:

• Develop the postdoctoral training “package” including skills development, teaching, and work experience opportunities

• Advertise postdoctoral opportunities beyond standard postings, to enable broad and diverse recruitment

RATIONALE:

Exciting discoveries can often extend beyond the academic research milieu and be developed into products and solutions that address societal needs. Promoting acumen in entrepreneurial approaches leads to this success!

GOALS:

• Educate and empower faculty, graduate student, and postdoctoral entrepreneurship, through bootcamps, entrepreneurs-in-residence, and seed funding

• Develop opportunities for faculty internships and sabbaticals with industry partners

• Expand COS engagement with industry/academic partnerships at the Burlington campus and other network sites

PILLARS: 4/5

ACADEMIC PLAN

• Explore mechanisms to promote the postdoctoral community, including group mentoring and career development DEI GROWTH FACULTY DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION P h D

COS CONNECTIONS:

DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION DEI GROWTH FACULTY

ACADEMIC PLAN PILLARS: 4/5

P h D 11

• Promote success in internal, domestic, and international honorific awards through departmental mechanisms and by promoting visibility of Northeastern research DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION P h D DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION
BUILD A LEADING SCIENCE POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING PROGRAM
COS CONNECTIONS:
BUILD A LANDSCAPE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION
ASSOCIATE DEAN ERIN
“In the past three years, the College has made an unprecedented 42 faculty hires whose brilliant research crosses disciplines, in high-impact areas that include cognitive and brain health, network science, and coastal sustainability.”
CRAM,

Promote a Successful Science Faculty

BUILD A SUPPORTIVE, COLLABORATIVE FACULTY COMMUNITY

RATIONALE:

A strong community provides a network of connections, information, and collaborations that help address challenges and build highest-quality research and teaching. Developing close intellectual connections, supportive relationships, and opportunities for collaboration promotes well-being, belonging, and success.

GOALS:

• Expand onboarding processes for tenure-track, full-time non-tenure-track, and part-time faculty, and facilitate contributions to teaching and research

• Develop mechanisms for faculty interaction—from casual to more formal—to develop robust and supportive networks that span disciplines

• Build mechanisms for sharing research or teaching progress through research consortia and meetings, as well as through regular forums in educational innovation

COS CONNECTIONS:

ACADEMIC PLAN PILLARS: 1/3

“Our groundbreaking INVEST junior faculty hiring mechanism is an accelerated pathway that can include a research ramp-up through the Science Fellows program. Over the past three years, seventeen outstanding INVEST faculty have joined the College of Science!”

INVEST IN BRILLIANT AND DIVERSE FACULTY TO MEET RESEARCH GOALS AND TEACHING NEEDS

RATIONALE:

The brightest future of the College and university depends on investing in our existing and hiring outstanding tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty to build our important, cross-disciplinary research portfolios and provide the highestquality, innovative education.

GOALS:

• Hire faculty who will build top-quality research programs, who will expand and build new disciplines, and who will work across disciplines

• Evolve our INVEST early career hiring mechanism to engage the broadest pipeline in junior faculty hiring

• Promote diversity in tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty hiring through recruitment and implementing Equity Guidelines and Process

COS CONNECTIONS: ACADEMIC PLAN PILLARS: 1/2/3/4

DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D
• Identify and hire dedicated educators, promote equitable use of course releases and assignments, and develop strategies for competitive teaching faculty salaries DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D 12
ASSOCIATE
DEAN OYINDA OYELARAN, P h D

SNAPSHOTS OF THE FUTURE

• INVEST keeps shifting the hiring landscape

• Teaching innovation forums

• Research-sharing forums

• Lifelong mentoring for faculty in all positions, at all levels

MENTOR FACULTY FOR SUCCESS ACROSS EVERY POSITION AND LEVEL

RATIONALE:

Development and success of all faculty members, at every stage of their careers, is enhanced by mentoring that provides emotional support, well-being, skills development, and career advancement.

GOALS:

• Establish standards for mentoring junior tenure-track, full-time non-tenure-track, and part-time faculty, with rewards for successful mentoring

• Support lifelong mentoring for post-tenure and more senior, non-tenure-track faculty

• Develop and implement an annual evaluation survey for all junior faculty to provide feedback and identify areas where additional support is needed

• Evaluate trajectories of post-tenure and more senior, non-tenure-track faculty and identify areas where additional support would be useful

COS CONNECTIONS: ACADEMIC

PILLARS: 1/2/4

PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY IN FACULTY EXPECTATIONS AND OBLIGATIONS

RATIONALE:

Service by faculty is an integral and important aspect of the academic appointment. Clarity in service expectations, allocation, and evaluation will ensure equity in service and avoid disproportionate burdens.

GOALS:

• Develop and align merit criteria and expectations with faculty roles across all faculty ranks, levels, and programs

• Develop faculty service expectations, allocation, and evaluations that are appropriate for each rank, level, and program, for tenure-track and non-tenuretrack faculty

DEI

PLAN
GROWTH FACULTY DEI GROWTH FACULTY
DEI
COS CONNECTIONS: ACADEMIC PLAN PILLARS: 1 GROWTH FACULTY DEI GROWTH FACULTY 13

Construct a Framework for Growth

INCREASE AND DIVERSIFY REVENUE STREAMS

RATIONALE:

To support our work effectively in the years ahead, the College needs a healthy and sustainable business model, including diverse sources of revenue, and the mechanisms necessary to engage these sources.

GOALS:

• Expand the portfolio of undergraduate courses and programs of value to other colleges

• Grow and diversify our Professional MS degree programs

• Grow sources of philanthropic and other development support

• Grow our sponsored research portfolio, including expert staff to help accomplish this growth

• Develop our programs in the network to sustainable levels

INVEST IN A DIVERSE, TALENTED, SUPPORTED STAFF

RATIONALE:

Recruiting talented and diverse staff who are representative of society, and empowering each person to thrive and grow, is intertwined with the university’s mission of education and research, while addressing operational needs.

GOALS:

• Plan for the administrative staff across all portfolios to meet needs of tenured faculty, teaching faculty, part-time faculty, researchers, and students

• Develop and implement Equitable Hiring Guidelines and Process to advertise to the broadest pool, in order to recruit and hire a diverse cohort of staff

• Develop an evaluation mechanism for staff recruitment, hiring, and trajectory

COS CONNECTIONS:

ACADEMIC PLAN PILLARS: 1/2/3/4/5

COS CONNECTIONS:

ACADEMIC PLAN PILLARS: 1/2/4

DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE, EQUITABLE WORKPLACE COMMUNITY ACROSS THE GLOBAL NETWORK

RATIONALE:

As a large and complex organization with hundreds of staff members, the College works best with impeccable organization, a collaborative community of people whose work is valued, and positions that benefit our mission across the global network.

GOALS:

• Look for opportunities to reduce staff salary inequities

• Create consistent positions, structures, and expectations for similar work

• Advance community and a culture of collaboration among staff and with faculty by recognizing and supporting staff, and promoting a productive, comfortable working environment

• Connect across the global network to develop community and a culture of collaboration

COS CONNECTIONS:

PLAN PILLARS: 1/2/4

DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D
DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D
DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION P h D 14
ACADEMIC

SNAPSHOTS OF THE FUTURE

• Equitable hiring processes for staff

• Culture of collaboration across the Northeastern network

• Innovative community spaces

• A communications toolkit

INNOVATE IN SPACE AND FACILITIES TO SUPPORT WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

RATIONALE:

To fulfill our development as a top research university, and support our complex research and education portfolios, the College of Science needs flexible and effective space, equipment, systems, and processes.

GOALS:

• Optimize effective use of office and support space for our growing faculty and staff populations, in a manner that uses space flexibly and promotes community connections

• Streamline the process for providing new researchers with ideal lab spaces

• Increase and improve shared research facilities available to faculty

• Advocate for new cross-disciplinary science buildings in Boston and throughout the global network

COS CONNECTIONS:

ACADEMIC PLAN PILLARS: 2/4

ORGANIZE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS THAT SHARE INFORMATION AND CELEBRATE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

RATIONALE:

Strategic, effective communications are crucial for sharing both accurate information and the College vision for prospective and enrolled students, faculty, and staff across the global network. Key to building recognition are communications that celebrate exciting and groundbreaking College of Science accomplishments across the university, to our supporters, and to the world.

GOALS:

• Share clear and accurate information to incoming and current students, faculty, and staff across the College, including the global network

• Develop consistent messaging across all media that supports the College vision, our goals and accomplishments, and the Northeastern brand

• Innovate and improve our external and internal websites through redesign that promotes transparency, facilitates access to information, and is driven by the user experience

• Empower and assist the COS community with a toolkit to share the Northeastern COS brand and achievements, and to build reputation across the world

• Build effective marketing strategy and action to recruit for COS programs at every level

COS CONNECTIONS:

ACADEMIC PLAN PILLARS: 1/2

DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D
DEI GROWTH FACULTY DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION RESEARCH P h D DEI GROWTH FACULTY EDUCATION
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“The College of Science is living and thriving in every way! Across recruiting, general administration, finance, or space – we will build off our tremendous recent growth to provide a framework that supports the years ahead.”
ASSOCIATE DEAN SAM INMAN, MBA

Contributors

Our Plan, CONNECTIONS to the Future , was built through contributions from hundreds of College of Science members— the Executive Leadership team, faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students—as well as other colleagues and friends across Northeastern, and our extended community of advisors and friends.

College of Science Executive Leadership Team

Hazel Sive , PhD, Dean

Erin Cram , PhD, Associate Dean for Research

Randall Hughes , PhD, Associate Dean of Equity

Sam Inman , MBA, Associate Dean of Administration and Finance

Carla Mattos , PhD, Associate Dean for Graduate Affairs and Professional Programs

Brent Nelson , PhD, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Oyinda Oyelaran , PhD, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs

Penny Beuning , PhD, Chair, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Peter Bex , PhD, Chair, Department of Psychology

Egon Schulte , PhD, Chair, Department of Mathematics

Jonathan Tilly , PhD, Chair, Department of Biology

Geoffrey Trussell , PhD, Chair, Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences

Mark Williams , PhD, Chair, Department of Physics

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115 Richards Hall, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 617-373-5085 cos.northeastern.edu
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