The concept for FACET was set into motion by then–Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculties Anya Peterson Royce at IU Bloomington and Associate Academic Advisor to the President Eileen Bender at IU South Bend. Dr. Bender was FACET’s first director.
As the result of a 1995 presidential initiative, FACET liaisons (renamed "associate directors") were selected for each campus to coordinate teaching excellence activities and to oversee the nomination process for FACET members.