There are two ways to participate:
Option 1: Apply for the Preparing for a Faculty Career Certificate Program
The certificate program is designed for participants who are actively preparing for the academic job market and are able to commit to the full program, including all sessions, assignments, and peer review activities. This option is recommended for ABD Ph.D. students, MFA students in their second year and beyond, and postdoctoral scholars who are preparing academic job market materials.
Certificate participants will be expected to:
- Attend all required program sessions
- Develop and revise key academic job market materials, including a CV, cover letter, teaching statement, and research statement
- Participate in peer editing groups
- Provide thoughtful feedback on other participants’ materials
- Participate in interviewing and mock interview activities
Because certificate participants will be relying on one another during peer review activities, attendance and full participation are required for those pursuing the certificate.
Sessions will be held Fridays from 10 AM – 12 PM between July 24 and September 4, 2026 (see below for more information about individual sessions). To be considered for the certificate program, please complete the interest form by Friday, July 12 at 11:59 p.m. If you do not expect to be able to attend all certificate sessions, or otherwise not participate fully, please consider registering for individual workshops below.
Preparing for Faculty Careers Interest Form
Certificate participants will be notified the week of July 20.
Program Schedule
Session 1: Introduction to the Academic Job Search
Friday, July 24, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Open to all registered participants
This session will introduce participants to the academic job search process, including typical application timelines, variations across American higher education institutions, teaching load and quality of life considerations, and a brief overview of interviewing.
The second part of the session will focus on navigating academic job applications and managing the job search, including how to find academic jobs, how to read a job call, and how to organize your application process.
Register for Session 1 here:
RSVP
Session 2: CVs and Cover Letters
Friday, July 31, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Open to all registered participants
This session will focus on developing academic CVs and cover letters. Participants will learn how to approach CV preparation and cover letter writing, with attention to institutional fit, tailoring, and communicating alignment with a specific position.
The workshop portion will include a cover letter activity in which participants examine sample cover letters and identify how applicants communicate fit, structure their materials, and tailor their applications.
Register for Session 2 here:
RSVP
Session 3: Teaching Statements
Friday, August 7, 10:00–11:00 a.m.
Open to all registered participants
This session will focus on teaching statements, including how to communicate your teaching philosophy, instructional approach, and commitment to student learning. The session may also address diversity statements to the extent relevant to current academic job market practices.
Register for Session 3 here:
RSVP
Certificate-only activity: Peer editing of cover letters will take place from 11:05 a.m.–12:00 p.m. for certificate participants.
Session 4: Research Statements
Friday, August 14, 10:00–11:00 a.m.
Open to all registered participants
This session will feature faculty panelists from multiple disciplinary areas who will discuss how research statements are approached in their fields. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about field-specific expectations for research statements, research talks, chalk talks, and related components of the academic interview process.
Register for Session 4 here:
RSVP
Certificate-only activity: Peer editing of teaching statements will take place from 11:10 a.m.–12:00 p.m. for certificate participants.
Session 5: Interviewing and Campus Visits
Friday, August 21, 10:00–11:00 a.m.
Open to all registered participants
This session will focus on academic interviewing and campus visits, including how to prepare for interviews, what to expect during the process, and what applicants should understand before participating in a campus visit.
Register for Session 5 here:
RSVP
Certificate-only activity: Peer editing of research statements will take place during the second portion of the session for certificate participants.
Session 6: Interviewing Skills and Mock Interviews
Friday, August 28, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Certificate participants only
This session will give certificate participants the opportunity to practice interviewing skills and participate in mock interview activities.
Session 7: Negotiating the Job Offer and New Faculty Panel
Friday, September 4, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Certificate participants only
This session will focus on negotiating an academic job offer, including how negotiation can vary by institution type and how to think strategically about different components of an offer.
The program will conclude with a New Faculty Panel, where participants will hear from faculty members about their transition into faculty roles.
