Academic Council Priorities for 2025-2026

By championing the growth of all members, a community can collectively cultivate and sustain a foundation for everyone to Learn, Thrive, Connect, and Rise. Academic Council affirms the role of a “dynamic and healthy work environment” in realizing the Boldly Elon vision to “continue its rise, setting the nation’s standard for engaged learning and mentoring that transforms students and prepares ethical, resilient, and agile graduates who shape the future.”

When faculty are well-supported and have a strong sense of value, belonging, and autonomy, they can most meaningfully contribute to the transformation of students and the advancement of the institution. To this end, the 2025–2026 Academic Council priorities are as follows.

Faculty Support and Development

  1. To explore the restoration, stability, and equity of faculty funding, with attention to reassigned time, sabbaticals, and financial support for professional travel and development.
  2. To consider the guidance in the Faculty Handbook related to teaching measures, including direction to resources for their implementation, analysis, and judicious use.
  3. To continue supporting the transition of the lecture track to the teaching track, the ongoing work of the Service Working Group, and the Promotion and Tenure Task Force, Implementation Planning Committee, with anticipation of reviewing concluding recommendations in spring 2026.
  4. To attend to the specific interest of Staff with Faculty Rank, National Campus faculty, and graduate programs.

Family Values and Agency

  1. To determine how best to support faculty and efforts to protect and enhance an inclusive community and the academic freedom necessary for critical exploration and growth.
  2. To strengthen faculty engagement in shared governance and expand opportunities to collaborate and contribute to innovation and institutional decision making.
  3. To ensure that policies continue to uphold and protect faculty autonomy as they evolve. Policies related to the ownership of intellectual work and engagement in external professional opportunities are two policies to be considered.
  4. To advocate for fairness, equity, and transparency in fiscal compensation. Key areas of focus include cost-of-living adjustments, compression management, and ensuring the process and allocation of individual raises are aligned with the ethos of Elon.
  5. To advocate for proactive planning and implementation of initiatives, practices, and policies that support the health, safety, and well-being of the Elon community and its individuals. Two foci will be the support of academic achievement and the physical and mental well-being of all community members.