Priorities
Topics considered a priority are discussed and established by the Board with input from the membership. Some of our current priorities are as follows:
- Professional Development: We continue to advocate for professional development opportunities for TRaP faculty, including the opportunity to focus on professional development as a part of paid employment, potentially via support for a paid leave or other relief from duties in order to pursue professional development. A comprehensive study was done in Spring 2024 on the topic related to peer institutions and can be found here.
- Emeritus Status: Currently, TRaP faculty are ineligible for Emeritus status.
- Feedback and Pathways to Promotion: We aim to ensure that all TRaP faculty receive feedback from their supervisors annually, or at least once during their contracted employment period. There should be a way for faculty to respond to evaluations and denied promotions.
- Wages: We seek inclusion in any university analysis of salaries. We also aim to help rectify wage compression.
- Coordination of School-Specific Items: Policies and practices vary from school to school. ATRaP is committed to helping uncover differences and support advocacy for change on a school level.
If you would like to help support ATRaP on one or more of these priorities, please contact Julia Deems or Amy Cislo, Co-Presidents.
Accomplishments
ATRaP has played a role in communication and advocacy for the following policy changes that have been enacted on WashU’s campus:
- Paid Parental Leave (2018)
- Provost’s Professional Development Fund (2018)
- Representation on University Committees
- Representation on University- and School-Level Hiring
- Representation on University Faculty Senate and Voting Rights
- Creation of Faculty Fellow position(s) in the Office of Faculty Affairs and Diversity (2021)
- Direct Communication with the Provost
- Phased Retirement (2022)
- Guaranteed Representation on Faculty Senate Council (2023)
- Sick Leave Policy for Research Faculty (2023)
Ongoing Programming
- Mentoring program and networking for newly hired TRaP faculty
- Professional Development Programming for TRaP faculty
- ATRaP Board Meetings (approximately monthly)
- ATRaP Semester Meeting (once or twice each fall and spring semester)
- ATRaP Website (includes links to resources for TRaP faculty)