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| Why is building social and professional networks on campus important to us, what strategies work, and what would help us to build more connections? It is important to network beyond our departments as we develop our own perspective on professional challenges. Connecting with colleagues outside our disciplines benefits not only our teaching and scholarship but our students’ understanding of their liberal arts education. It also encourages us to try new things.
In terms of building these relationships, some of the informal ways groups of faculty are coming together include happy hours and coffee or inviting each other to judge student projects. Make a time to think through what you are doing and what you could be doing better to reach across departments and disciplines to create cultures of connection and support. Being surrounded by opportunities to learn from each other is a part of this job that we value most. |