This guide is based on a project titled "Shaping the Preparation of Future Science and Mathematics Faculty," a 4-year effort supported by the National Science Foundation. This volume contains lessons learned by faculty members, graduate students, and academic administrators who established innovative programs as part of the initiative. The chapters are: (1) "A New Vision of Graduate Preparation for Science and Mathematics Faculty"; (2) "Strategies for Establishing a PFF Program"; (3) "Content of PFF Program sin the Sciences and Mathematics"; (4) "Outcomes of PFF Programs"; and (5) "Prospects for the Future." Appendixes discuss "Graduate Students and Postdoctorates from Phase 3 PFF Disciplines" and "PFF3 Faculty Leaders and Partner Institutions." (Contains 62 references.) (SLD).

This volume describes Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) programs in the social sciences and humanities and documents their feasibility and desirability. It summarizes the lessons learned in the PFF initiative. The chapters are: (1) "A New Vision for Doctoral Preparation"; (2) "Strategies for Establishing a PFF Program"; (3) "Content of PFF Programs"; (4) "Disciplinary Society Activities and Reflections of Executives"; (5) "Outcomes of PFF Programs"; and (6) "Challenges for the Future: Changing the Culture of Faculty Preparation." Three appendixes contain information about disciplinary societies' strategies to sustain PFF programs, faculty leaders and partner institutions, and the University of Nebraska mentoring contract. (Contains 60 references.) (SLD).

Publisher Description

This monograph discusses the Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) program, a new vision of doctoral education that seeks to broaden the traditional preparation of students who become faculty members. Chapter 1 reviews the four phases of the program, beginning with phase 1 (1993-96) to phase 4 (1999-2002). The program involves a group of cooperating colleges and universities that prepare faculty not only for research but also for teaching and service to the department and the campus. Chapter 2 details three critical elements of the programs: formation of clusters of new institutional partnerships; new forms of mentoring; and the centrality of faculty, both at the doctoral university and at partner institutions. Chapter 3 describes graduate student experiences with PFF programs, and offers results of surveys and reports from alumni on the effectiveness of the programs in the job market. Problems of participation in the programs, chiefly with time required and logistics, are also covered. Chapter 4 discusses future challenges, including sustaining the clusters, promoting inclusiveness, and changing the culture of faculty preparation. Chapter 5 suggests the program as a strategy for organizational change and offers some action recommendations. Appended are lists of participating institutions, as well as related readings and resources. (Contains 40 references.) (RH)

Faculty in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines face intensifying pressures in the 21st century, including multiple roles as educator, researcher, and entrepreneur. In addition to continuously increasing teaching and service expectations, faculty are engaged in substantive research that requires securing external funding, mentoring other faculty and graduate students, and disseminating this work in a broad range of scholarly outlets. Societal needs of their expertise include discovery, innovation, and workforce development. It is critical to provide STEM faculty with the professional development to support their complex roles and to base this development on evidence derived from research. This edited handbook provides STEM stakeholders with an opportunity to share studies and/or experiences that explore STEM faculty development (FD) in higher education settings. More specifically, we include work that examines faculty development planning, techniques/models, experiences, and outcomes focused on supporting the teaching, research, service, and leadership responsibilities of STEM faculty. The Handbook is suited for researchers and practitioners in STEM, STEM Education, Mathematics, Science, Technology, and Engineering disciplines. It is also suited towards faculty developers, higher education administrators, funding agencies, industry leaders, and the STEM community at large. This handbook is organized around three constructs (INPUTS, MECHANISMS, and OUTPUTS). The STEM faculty development inputs construct focuses on topics related to the characteristics of faculty members and institutions that serve as barriers or supports to the adoption and implementation of holistic STEM faculty development programs. Questions addressed in the handbook around this topic include: What barriers/supports exist for STEM faculty? How are these barriers/supports being addressed through STEM FD? How do contexts (e.g., economic, political, historical) influence faculty/administrative needs related to STEM FD? How do demographics (e.g., gender, ethnicity, age, family background) influence faculty/administrative needs related to STEM FD? The STEM faculty development mechanisms construct focuses on topics related to the actual implementation of STEM faculty development and we consider the potential models or structures of STEM faculty development that are currently in place or conceptualized in theory. Questions addressed in the handbook around this topic include: What are the processes for developing models of STEM FD? What are effective models of STEM FD? How is effectiveness determined? What roles do stakeholders (e.g., faculty, administration, consultants) play within STEM FD mechanisms? The STEM faculty development outputs construct focuses on how to best understand the influence of STEM faculty development on outcomes such as productivity, teacher quality, and identity in relation to faculty development. Questions addressed in the handbook around this topic include: How has STEM FD influenced higher education practices and settings? What are appropriate output measures and how are they used in practice? What collaborations emerge from STEM FD? How does STEM FD affect other STEM stakeholders (e.g. students, administration, business, community)? The aim for this handbook was to examine the multifaceted demands of faculty roles, and together with members of the STEM education community, envision pathways through which universities and individuals may support STEM colleagues, regardless of their experience or rank, to enjoy long and satisfying careers. Our hope is for these chapters to aid readers in deep reflection on challenges faculty face, to contemplate adaptations of models presented, and to draw inspiration for creating or engaging in new professional development programs. Chapters across this handbook highlight a variety of institutional contexts from 2-year technical colleges, to teaching-focused institutions, in addition to research-centric settings. Some chapters focus primarily on teaching and learning practices and offer models for improving STEM instruction. Others focus on barriers that emerge for STEM faculty when trying to engage in development experiences. There are chapters that examine tenure structures in relation to faculty development and how STEM FD efforts could support research endeavors. Mentorship and leadership models are also addressed along with a focus on equity issues that permeate higher education and impact STEM FD. It is our sincere hope that this Handbook sparks increased discourse and continued explorations related to STEM FD, and in particular, the intentional focus of faculty development initiatives to extend to the many facets of academic life.