(424) Incubator Coffee Hour: an Experiment in Cultivating Connection and Caffeinating Collaboration

Objective: To build synergy among faculty initiatives, support belonging, faculty formation and flourishing though interdisciplinary encouragement, collaboration, and problem solving.

Methods: The Helping Others Prosper through Encouragement (HOPE) initiative is a 3-phase program to foster mentorship, growth, wellbeing, and collaboration among Belmont University’s campus community through regular low-effort engagement opportunities. The first phase of the program, Incubator Coffee Hour, invited all faculty and key staff to participate in monthly 1-hour catered events requiring zero preparation. Tables were labeled based on interest areas, including: Academic Life, Brainstorming, Building Connections, Research Nuts & Bolts, Seeking Collaboration, and Scholarship Generation. Representatives from strategic support areas (eg. Sponsored Programs, Tenure & Promotion, Institutional Review Board, Teaching Center, Data Collaborative) were available for participant questions. Participants were challenged to move forward 1% in their area of choice that day.

Results: In Spring 2024, faculty hosted 4 monthly Incubator Coffee Hours with 20-35 faculty and staff at each event, including multidisciplinary representation from across campus (Arts & Design, Business, Entertainment & Music Business, Data Collaborative, Health Sciences, Institutional Review Board, Language Arts & Social Sciences, Library, Medicine, Music, Nursing, Office of Sponsored Programs, Pharmacy, President’s Office, Science & Math, Teaching Center, and Tenure, Promotion & Leaves). Table areas of Academic Life, Building Connections, and Seeking Collaboration had the highest demand.

Conclusions: Providing space for connection across departmental areas is an investment in faculty success that supports the future of the institution. Informal development opportunities through proximity to key campus services and peer experts fosters creativity, belonging, and interdisciplinary collaboration.