
Remote work has changed nearly every aspect of our lives. This is especially true for faculty affairs and HR departments—particularly for universities experiencing an uptick in promotions.
In our most recent webinar, Tom Simon, CEO of Mountain Pass Solutions, interviewed Janine DeWitte, Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development at Oakland University’s William Beaumont School of Medicine to speak about her personal experience with our SmartPath software, and how it has benefited the University. The remote work era has completely altered how faculty management is being administered. For DeWitte and her department, SmartPath software has enabled business to continue “as usual” wherever her staff is located.
This year, her department has 36 promotions, nearly double the number of promotions in years prior. DeWitte states, “SmartPath is very intuitive, and has simplified an otherwise long and tedious process. Faculty can log in to the system at a glance and ensure all required documents are uploaded, formatted correctly, and properly categorized before submission.”
DeWitte explained how having the ability to run multiple promotional processes simultaneously, and each promotional rank (instructor, assistant professor) having specific areas of focus and accommodations, is a valuable capability. Prior to the pandemic, utilizing SmartPath, Janine and her four-member department were managing 1440 faculty members in one large excel document. The entire process was completely paper-based and manually tracked. Promotion packets were printed, assembled, and hand-delivered to all review bodies. The overall time commitment was immense for DeWitte and her team.
While SmartPath is commonly utilized for promotions, the software has additional capabilities and uses. DeWitte and her team began utilizing the software to aid in the promotion process (appointment and reappointment processes), but have branched out and utilized it for much more than the original intent. Her department currently utilizes over 10 different workflows in the system.
Why SmartPath?
SmartPath creates an intuitive process, which enables increased proactivity and efficiency for higher education institutions. All documents can be viewed in real-time and from anywhere in the world. Are you seeking a one-stop-shop solution for your faculty management needs?
Seek your faculty management solution and request a demo TODAY!