Illinois State University instructors can take advantage of career development, peer support, and mentoring with online workshops through the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD).
The University joined the NCFDD last year, enabling faculty, post-docs, and graduate students to participate in programs aimed toward building success in research, networks, and relationships.
Dr. Yojanna Cuenca-Carlino
“Our institutional membership in the NCFDD provides a holistic approach to teaching and research,” said Assistant Vice President for Academic Administration Yojanna Cuenca-Carlino. “Our goal is to provide faculty at all levels access to professional development and external mentoring that will help them be more strategic when allocating time and energy, increase their writing productivity, establish and maintain work-life balance in the academia, and create broad networks of collegial support.”
The membership allows for discounted rates for bootcamps such as the Faculty Success Program, which delves into increasing research productivity, gaining control over time, and living a full and healthy life beyond the campus. Members of NCFDD can receive weekly motivational emails and access to the full NCFDD Core Curriculum as well as guest expert webinars, intensive multi-week courses facilitated by national experts, a private discussion forum, monthly writing challenges, and the opportunity to connect with a writing accountability partner.
Recent webinar topics ranged from “How to Challenge Race and Gender Bias in Student Evaluations” and “Resting to Rise: Reduce Burn Out, Find Your Joy for Writing and Life, and Create a Just Academia” to “Creating a Harassment-Free Lab” and “5 Secrets to a Super-Productive Semester.”
NCFDD also developed a curated list of support resources developed specifically in response to the current climate with COVID-19. “These resources focus on self-care, transitioning to online teaching, and adjusting previously laid plans to current circumstances,” said Cuenca-Carlino.
Members can also connect with fellow scholars from the nearly 200 institutions that are part of the NCFDD, which includes schools such as Cornell University, Northwestern University, and Spelman College.
“The overall goal is increased job satisfaction and retention,” said Cuenca-Carlino, who added access to the NCFDD is one of several efforts by the Office of the Provost to provide resources to faculty. “We’ve already seen a very positive response from our faculty, especially those recently hired, and we believe this will help us in our efforts to recruit the best new faculty to ISU.”
Illinois State faculty members can access their membership at the University’s NCFDD page. Members create a log-in using their University email accounts. More information is available on the page.
