CIRTL Forum 2008 Will Explore Future Faculty Development

Katherine Friedrich

Graduate students in science, technology, engineering and math experience a massive shift in their lives and responsibilities when they become new faculty. The CIRTL Forum 2008, Aligning the Preparation of Graduate Students for Early STEM Faculty Careers, will be an opportunity for diverse stakeholders to gather and discuss how to best prepare graduate students for their future roles as professors. The Forum will take place in Madison, Wisconsin on June 16-17.

Panel discussions will explore the extent to which graduate students’ education prepares them to balance teaching, research and service in their future work. Leaders from a diverse group of higher education institutions will share their perspectives on early career experiences, the hiring process, and graduate student preparation.

Graduate students will have a key voice in the conversation, as will academic employers, STEM faculty, and leaders of research universities.

The Forum will also highlight the accomplishments of graduate students participating in professional development programs in teaching and learning. A poster session will showcase the work of future faculty.

Attendees will have the opportunity to present their professional development programs for future faculty, to share the accomplishments of their graduate students, and to be included in a national status report that will be created as part of the Forum.

Project Kaleidoscope, a national initiative that supports strong undergraduate faculties in STEM, will partner with CIRTL for this event. Organizers expect representatives from over 50 institutions to attend. For more information, please visit the Forum 2008 Web site.

4/9/2008

CIRTL
1025 W. Johnson St.
Madison, WI 53706
ph.: 608.263.0630
fax: 608.265.0538