SPARK Program:

Supporting Program Advisors through Reflective Knowledge-sharing

Who Should Attend

Anyone with program leadership responsibilities, including:

• Program Chairs

• Graduate Program Chairs

• Professors-in-Charge

• Assistant/Associate Program Chairs

• Center Directors

• Other faculty or staff in leadership roles

No registration is required

Program Features

• Monthly Hot Topic Sessions

• Led by internal experts from across the University

• Curated and facilitated by Faculty Affairs Associate Deans and Directors of Academic Affairs (DAAs) at the campuses

• Opportunity to connect directly with central offices

• Open Q&A and peer sharing encouraged

Fall 2025 Topics

September
Guiding Growth: Faculty, Postdoc, and Graduate Student Onboarding
Mentoring, career development, and launching strong.

October (Early)
Managing Challenges: Addressing Student Concerns & Complaints
Best practices for resolving student issues and supporting fairness.

November
Balancing the Schedule: Strategies for Course Offerings & Enrollment
Course planning, using the Optimizer, and securing teaching spaces.

December
Program Assessment for Strategic Vision and Growth
Aligning goals, identifying strengths, and envisioning the future.

Program Coordination

Each session is coordinated by dedicated Faculty Affairs Associate Deans or DAAs at the campuses. The Office of Faculty Affairs oversees the program to ensure relevance, alignment, and quality. Presenters are drawn from internal university offices—keeping it practical and cost-free.

Questions?

Reach out to Ann Clements, Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, at acc12@psu.edu.