North Carolina State University
PA-7: Support for Future Faculty Diversity

Building Future Faculty (BFF) Program is a two day all-expenses paid workshop for doctoral students and post-doctoral scholars who are interested in pursuing academic careers, committed to promoting diversity in higher education, and who are one to two years away from beginning a job search. During the workshop, which is held each spring, the participants attend sessions describing life as a faculty member at a research extensive university, expectations of new faculty, and resources available to faculty for help with research and teaching. Participants attend presentations on research and teaching and faculty development, as well as having discussion sessions with current faculty at all levels from assistant to full professor. Each participant is matched with an academic department whose interests closely match their own. The balance of time is spent visiting with this academic department. During these visits participants have the opportunity to meet with faculty to discuss the faculty research programs and learn about the departmental culture. They tour the research facilities and laboratories, meet with current students, and meet with the department head and the dean of the college in which the department resides. During these in-depth departmental discussions concerning their academic work and career interests participants receive one-on-one advice about preparing for an academic career and may obtain feedback on what parts of their preparation are strong and what parts might need strengthening. This is an invaluable opportunity for both the BFF participants and for the NC State departments to get to know each other. The BFF program encourages graduate students and postdoctoral scholars from groups that are underrepresented in their disciplines to apply. The program aims to increase representation of diverse U.S. graduate students and postdoctoral scholars joining the professoriate.