Preparing Future Faculty

Description and History

Launched in 1994 with 17 cluster groups representing 85 different types of institutions, Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) has rapidly gained support for its role in developing new educational models that introduce graduate students to the day-to-day realities of the professoriate. Students benefit from such opportunities as teaching apprenticeships, forums to discuss job hunting and criteria for tenure, and discussions about the roles and rewards of faculty careers at teaching institutions as well as large research institutions. The University of Kentucky was one of the original cluster groups and was awarded an additional three-year grant under Phase II of the Preparing Future Faculty Initiative. Phase two extends the work of the project and its four major goals:

1. Institutionalize PFF principles in existing PFF programs.
2. Expand PFF to reach to a wider number and variety of institutions.
3. Define the intellectual bases of PFF to help reform and improve graduate preparation for faculty responsibilities.
4. Mobilize the higher education community to reshape doctoral education nationally.

Goals of the Preparing Future Faculty Initiative at the University of Kentucky

The Preparing Future Faculty initiatives are designed to help graduate students further develop their teaching skills and explore the various aspects of an academic career on a college or university campus. Specific goals are to help graduate students:

• acquire information about the teaching and leaning process and faculty roles at a variety of institutions of higher education .
• gain a realistic perspective on the skills required for success as a faculty member.
• examine their fit with an academic career in higher education in general and at specific institutions.
• demonstrate, document, and reflect upon their teaching skills.
• help graduate students compete for faculty or other professional positions.

PFF Graduate Courses

Graduate Certificate in College Teaching

Graduate Student Workshops

PFF Forum -- March 28, 2008

Report on 1996 UK PFF Conference - What Institutions of Higher Education Want from New Ph.D.s

PFF Plans for the Future

PFF National Web Site

National PFF Brochure

For more information, contact Dr. Morris Grubbs at morris.grubbs@uky.edu or (859) 257-9725 or Dr. Linda Worley at lworley@uky.edu or (859) 257-1198.

Direct questions to grad.webmaster@email.uky.edu
Last updated by Roshan Nikou January 30, 2007