Frequently Asked Questions

Is PFF a huge time commitment?

Although the workload for PFF is greater than some other 1-credit courses for which PFF students register, most students do not find the demands that PFF places on their time to be unreasonable. While the requirements and activities of the program may seem like a lot, they are distributed throughout the year and most do not require an extensive amount of time. Required PFF seminars take place about once or twice per month, and students may sign up for the remaining workshops (offered by PFF and other departments/organizations on campus, such as the Center for Learning and Teaching Excellence) and reading groups at their convenience throughout the year.

Further, many of the activities simply provide a more focused context in which students may acquire the skills, knowledge, and resources any graduate student would need to succeed in the job search (and, ultimately, as a future faculty member).

Does PFF make a difference?

PFF alumni and alumnae regularly report that participation in PFF provided them with an edge in applying for and securing academic positions, succeeding in their first years as faculty members, understanding the culture of higher education, and serving as better mentors to their students.