Preparing Future Faculty
Components of the PFF program
The PFF program consists of up to four courses. PFF students first take Gr St 585, which overviews topics related to academic careers at different types of educational institutions, followed by Gr St 586, which addresses faculty issues in more depth. Gr St 587 or 588 may be taken concurrently with or following 586.
First Semester - Gr St 585
Graduate Studies (Gr St) 585: PFF Introductory Seminar is a 1-credit seminar series consisting of 8 two-hour panels and workshops overviewing issues of faculty and student life including hiring, promotion, and tenure. During the semester, you will submit 9 one-page journals.
Second Semester - Gr St 586
Graduate Studies (Gr St) 586: PFF Intermediate Seminar is a 3-credit course that meets one evening a week for three hours (With written permission from the program director, students with previous relevant experience may be released from some course requirements and receive 1-2 credits). Sessions will focus on topics such as job portfolios, grant proposal writing, ethical and legal issues in teaching and research, and pedagogical strategies. You will be expected to read some articles for class sessions, create an updated job package, write a series of journal responses, and develop materials (e.g., syllabi, course policy sheets, and assignments) for a course you might teach.
Participants who complete the first two semesters of the program will become PFF associates.
Third Semester – Gr St 587
Graduate Studies (Gr St) 587: PFF Teaching Practicum is a 1-3 credit, individually arranged, teaching experience. You will be expected to arrange and complete a stand-alone teaching experience accompanied by appropriate mentoring. The teaching experience may be traditional or web-based, but must be at least the equivalent of a 1-credit university course. Assignments include a teaching journal, a teaching portfolio, and a readings paper (reading selections must be approved by the program director). Completed proposals for Gr St 587 must be submitted to the program director for approval before the semester begins.
Additional 587 Requirements:
- Meet monthly with fellow classmates
- Submit a one-page teaching journal every other week.
- Expand a 586 teaching portfolio for your 587 experience. In addition to your teaching philosophy, include a syllabus, policy sheet, assignments, and a selection of course handouts or web page sections for two different classes.
- Observe a classmate’s teaching. Visit the class of someone in your 587 group. Write a one-page reflection on their teaching; have them visit your classroom and comment. Due two weeks after midterm.
- Submit the course review journal and evaluation
- Read a pedagogy book and write a reader response (3-5 pages)
- Submit all materials by the first day of dead week.
Participants who complete the third semester will become PFF fellows.
Fourth Semester – Gr St 588
Graduate Studies (Gr St) 588: PFF Special Topics is a 1-3 credit independent study providing academic professional development. Activities might include extensive job shadowing at partner institutions, course or web development, participation in university or extension service responsibilities, etc. Completed proposals for 588 must be submitted to the program director for approval before the semester begins.
Additional 588 Requirements:
Note: 588 teaching projects follow the 587 requirements. Submit a 587 form with your 588 form.
- Meet with program director at least twice¾once after the first month and again at mid-term
- Submit brief emails (1-2 sentences) each week concerning the status of your project with a 1-page progress report at the end of each month
- Submit paper evidence of work done—a paper, annotated bibliography, printouts of web pages, etc.
- Read a relevant book (or 5 significant articles; page count needs to be close to that of a book) and write a reader response (3-5 pages). Reading selections must be approved by the program director
- Submit course review journal and evaluation
- Submit all materials by the first day of dead week.
Participants who complete the fourth semester will become PFF scholars.
