MIT has launched the SHASS Faculty Fellows program, administered by the MIT Human Insight Collaborative, to provide faculty in the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences with the opportunity to focus on research, build community, and engage in mentorship. The program, which was recommended in a 2024 report, allows selected faculty to spend a semester away from the classroom, working on their projects and collaborating with students through the UROP program. The inaugural group will begin in Spring 2026, with up to 12 members annually, or about six per term. Heather Paxson and Anne McCants emphasize the program's importance in highlighting MIT's commitment to the humanities, arts, and social sciences, noting it as a significant step in fostering a supportive academic community.