Professional Development Component
Union College Future Professors Program
In keeping with the mission of the Future Professors Program, the
Professional Development Component is a vital element in the program.
Minimum Requirements
- Apply to graduate program in your area of
interest. Your faculty mentor will assist you in identifying
appropriate graduate institutions and in preparing applications to
these universities.
- Set aside substantial time periods to
discuss the academic profession with your faculty mentor. Topics
covered should include the following: different types of faculty
positions (tenure-track, visiting, adjunct), tenure, academic job
market projections in the field, publishing, teaching, college and
community service, higher education 'politics', curriculum trends,
administration and institutional requirements and suggestions for
faculty professional development.
- Attend a winter-term workshop on
preparation for the academic job market (academic resume
preparation, etc.).
- Attend the job seminars of at least two
faculty candidates for the same job at Union (in your own or a
related department). With departmental permission, you will look
at the materials submitted by several applicants for a faculty
position at Union.
- Participate actively in the seminar "Skills
for the Academy" throughout the academic year. (Approximately two
seminars per month. Not for academic credit.)
Suggested Activities
- Attend one faculty meeting and one
departmental meeting per year (by invitation).
- Join a professional organization in your
field (if available) and participate in a meeting of that
organization. [Note: There is travel money available for this
purpose.]
- Review the current curriculum in your field
of study, look at trends in the discipline and discuss this with
your mentor.
- Attend periodic workshops offered by the
Career Development Center.
- Read professional development literature,
view videos and tapes.
- Bring information from the Future
Professors program to campus by writing articles for
Concordiensis, presenting at campus organization meetings, and
informally discussing the program with other interested
students.
- Volunteer to enhance the Future Professors
program by planning a special event or workshop.
Return to Future
Professors Program homepage