Preparing Future Faculty

The Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) program at ASU is a professional development opportunity for students who are seeking a doctorate, MFA, or MSD and are interested in pursuing a faculty position upon graduation or those who are giving it considerable thought.

Through the Preparing Future Faculty program, students learn about the many roles faculty members are asked to perform (research/scholarship, teaching, service) and are given an inside look into other aspects of the faculty position from distinguished faculty and administrators at ASU.

Another component of the Preparing Future Faculty program is to provide participants with an overview and comparison of how the roles of faculty may differ depending on the type of institution (large public research, small private religious, etc.). Students who complete the Preparing Future Faculty program are better prepared for the academic job search and are more successful in their first faculty position.

The Preparing Future Faculty program consists of two one-year for-credit courses (one credit per semester). The second year is optional, but highly encouraged and very beneficial. The first year is called the Exploratory Phase and the second year is called the Participatory Phase.

During the Exploratory Phase (First year) students are introduced to the many roles faculty perform and the dynamic makeup of the college and university system of the United States through seminars, virtual campus visits, and professional development activities.

During the Participatory Phase (Second year) students explore more deeply the roles of faculty within the institution of higher education and begin the process of preparing to become future faculty members. The Participatory Phase (Second Year) is self-driven and affords students the opportunity to shape their experience and explore in greater detail topics that are of personal and/or professional interest.

Admission to the Preparing Future Faculty is competitive and requires the approval of the student’s advisor and the completion of one year toward the Doctorate, MFA, or MSD degree. The selection and admission process for the Preparing Future Faculty program occurs during the spring semester for the following fall semester. More information about the application process is available here.

To learn more about PFF and how to apply, please join us at the annual PFF Information Fair.