The Future Professoriate Project

Developed by the Graduate School at Syracuse under grants from FIPSE and The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Future Professoriate Project seeks to integrate additional preparation for teaching into the graduate experience to help advanced Ph.D. students successfully make the transition to becoming assistant professors. The project has invited departments across campus to offer faculty mentorship, professional development seminars, and new teaching opportunities to their PhD students. The English Department joined this project in the fall of 1995. PhD students join the Future Professoriate Project when they become teaching associates with classrooms of their own.  PhD students who enter the program with an MA serve as teaching associates in their second and third years, while PhD students entering with a BA serve as teaching associates in their third and fourth years. All teaching associates teach one 100 level undergraduate course in English and Textual Studies a semester. These courses relate both to the ETS major and to the PhD student's area of interest and expertise. The students select a faculty teaching mentor, participate in FPP meetings and teaching seminars during the semester, produce a teaching portfolio, and earn a Certificate in University Teaching. The teaching seminars are open to all interested students and faculty in the department. The faculty members currently heading this project are Professors Crystal Bartolovich and Bob Gates. The project complements the work of the department's Professional Development Committee, which offers seminars in getting essays published and which provides mock interviews and other assistance to students as they enter the job market.

PREPARING FUTURE FACULTY 

The Pew Charitable Trusts has awarded the Association of American College and Universities and the Council of Graduate Schools to launch this career development program for advanced Ph.D. students.  This project introduces graduate students to the day-to-day realities of teaching at various kinds of institutions of higher education.  Students benefit from such opportunities as teaching apprenticeships, attendance at faculty and department meetings, faculty mentors at other institutions, etc.


Teaching Strategies (PowerPoint)