Applications are now closed for the 2023 seminar.

The Rackham School of Graduate Studies and the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching's (CRLT) "Preparing Future Faculty" seminar (PFF) is a nationally-recognized program designed to help prepare doctoral candidates for the academic job search and success in their subsequent faculty positions. The 2023 seminar will meet for five weeks beginning May 2, 2023 and will engage participants in both virtual seminars and in-person meetings. The Seminar will take place on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. between May 2 and June 1. Clarification: PFF this year will offer virtual seminars on Tuesdays and in-person team workshops on Thursdays.

Participants will have the opportunity to engage with a number of pedagogical topics including course design and equity-focused teaching. Participants will also explore different types of academic institutions and positions through faculty panels and a campus visit to a nearby institution (which may be in-person or virtual, depending on COVID-19 safety considerations). Participants will have the opportunity to apply what they learn in the seminar as they develop and provide peer-feedback on a statement of teaching practice and a course syllabus they could use in the future. Participants will also have access to additional readings and resources throughout the program.

Seminar Objectives

1. Higher education (including institution types and landscapes)
2. Course design and assessment: (including designing a syllabus for a specific course you could teach)
3. Equity-focused teaching: (including writing a statement of teaching philosophy)
4. The academic job search: (including conversations with faculty at a range of institutions, mentorship strategies, and good practices for informational interviews)

Eligibility & Requirements

• Participants must have achieved doctoral candidacy before the start of the seminar. Preference will be given to advanced-standing graduate students (i.e. anticipated graduation before Winter 2024).
• Postdocs are not eligible to apply.
• Participants must have GSI experience or other teaching experiences before the start of the seminar.
• Attendance is required at all sessions. More than 1 absence will jeopardize your ability to receive the certificate. 
• Participants will be expected to participate in virtual seminar sessions on Tuesdays and in-person sessions on Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (ET) from May 2 through June 1, 2023. 
• Spring term enrollment is not required for participation in the PFF seminar.
• The seminar is free of charge to accepted participants. 

Online Application Requirements

• Online application form (deadline: 2/23/23) including:
  • Contact information, program/department information, program eligibility
  • 1-paragraph professional bio
  • 1-paragraph overview of your teaching experience
  • 1-paragraph discussion of your interest in PFF
• A current CV

Graduate Teacher Certificate

• Successful completion of the Seminar will count towards the "B. Learning about teaching" requirement of the Graduate Teacher Certificate. 
• To receive credit for the "E. Reflection on instructional practice" requirement of the Graduate Teacher Certificate, you still must submit your statement of teaching practice for a consultation with a CRLT graduate student instructor consultant. 

If you have any further questions about the application process, please email PFFSeminar@umich.edu.