Preparing Future Faculty

In collaboration with the College of Graduate Studies, the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning provides dedicated instructional and pre-faculty development support for all Ph.D. students, TAs, and Post-Docs.

The purpose of the Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) program is to provide a differentiating experience and competitive advantage for our graduate student and post-doctoral scholars entering the market, and to positively affect the teaching and learning experience of all instructional faculty and students at the University of Idaho.

The Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) program provides a full complement of services designed to support the professional growth and development of our graduate students and post-docs, with an emphasis on—and credentialing in—higher education pedagogy. In the span of an academic year, the PFF program provides concrete evidence of professional preparation for the academy for all U of I graduate students and post-docs.

Work with the Writing Center’s graduate writing consultant for one-to-one assistance at any stage of the writing process for theses, dissertations, research manuscripts, proposals and more. To learn more, email writingcenter@uidaho.edu or drop by the Writing Center office in ISUB 323.

CIRTL Affiliation with U of I

Through our affiliation with the prestigious Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL), we further emphasize the professional development of future faculty with a focus on inclusive and evidence-based teaching and the scholarship of teaching and learning.

As a CIRTL institution, our grad students and post-docs have an opportunity to engage in cross-network programming, events, and --equally importantly-- to leverage affiliation to their advantage. One way to do this is by participating in PFF programming that results in UI-CIRTL Certificates in Higher Education Pedagogy.

A distinguishing characteristic of the University of Idaho’s PFF program is that it is led by CIRTL scholars who are not only experts in the field, but who have designed and lead programs for the CIRTL Network. Graduate students and post-docs at the U of I can earn Associate-, Practitioner-, and Scholar-Level CIRTL credentials in a scaffolded manner during their time at the University of Idaho.

UI CIRTL Levels, Opportunities, and Credentials

Associate Level

Understanding and implementing evidence-based pedagogy

Participation in Online Higher Education Pedagogy seminar and certificate program.
Focus: the foundations of evidence-based and inclusive teaching and learning.
1:1 Teaching and Learning mentorship
UI-CIRTL Certificate issued to all participants
For participants interested in TAR and LTD, a CIRTL Associate-Level Certificate in each is also available.

Practitioner Level

Engage in Scholarly Teaching/Teaching-as-Research

Participation in TAR Certificate program, develop a TAR project, participate in CIRTL TAR Summer Program.
Focus: scholarly/reflective teaching, curiosity, and causality; a systemic approach to studying an aspect of teaching and its expected impact on learning.
Grad students/post-docs create a TAR proposal, implement a TAR Project, and submit an experiential reflection.
Participants can participate in CIRTL Cross-Network Programming, earn a CIRLT TAR Practitioner Certificate, and be eligible for funding and support to present their work at CIRTL events.

Scholar Level

Share Your Research

Graduate students/post-docs transform their projects into a presentable or potentially publishable manuscript
Manuscript submitted for presentation or publication
CIRTL Scholar Certificate earned and eligibility for professional development (travel) funding.

Not every student or post-doc is expected to advance through all levels; the important thing to know is that the opportunity and support system to do so exists. Ideally, all grad students and post docs will engage in Associate Level programming, earning offered Certificates along the way. These programs focus on the basics.

A subset of those may seek an Advanced Certificate in Higher Education Pedagogy and/or engage in a Teaching-as-Research project, both of which include a deeper dive and recognition for Practitioner Level CIRTL credentialing. Here students may complete a handful of teaching and learning workshops that foster and require evidence of the development of a set of instructional skills or design a TAR project --something they will do in a class to gauge the impact of a teaching practice on student learning or engagement.

An even smaller subset may feel like they are on to something and want to present or publish research on teaching and learning (a TAR project), which corresponds to the Scholar Level. We are here to support you at all levels!