Rackham-CRLT May Seminar on
Preparing Future Faculty (PFF)
Fact Sheet
The Preparing Future Faculty Seminar prepares a select group of University of Michigan graduate students from a variety of disciplines for their first faculty jobs.
The 51 participants in the May 2008 Seminar:
- come from 17 UM schools and colleges and 29 LSA departments and programs and 4 are joint between UM schools and colleges and LSA.
- are interested in a variety of types of positions at a range of institutions, with 16% indicating that they are seeking a teaching-oriented position, 10% desiring a research-oriented position, well over half (74%) wanting to have mixed teaching and research responsibilities, and 2% uncertain about their preferred responsibilities.
- will recieve a Michigan Teaching Fellow Certificate upon successful completion of the Seminar.
The May 2008 Preparing Future Faculty Seminar takes place in 10 half-day classes over 5 weeks. The seminar includes:
- preparation for the academic job search: assistance with the creation of a statement of teaching philosophy, a teaching portfolio, and a syllabus.
- information about higher education (e.g., governance and accountability, the nature of today's students, and faculty work life).
- discussion with UM faculty about faculty life.
- introduction to other types of institutions through a trip to one of four local campuses (Albion College, Eastern Michigan University, Kalamazoo College, or Kettering University) and discussion with Washtenaw Community College faculty.
- exploration of and reflection on various pedagogical techniques; with particular emphases on inclusive teaching, active learning and instructional technology