CSU Pre-Professor Program (PREPP) - UCI

“Guiding future faculty to shape the CSU of tomorrow”

PREPP Program Eligibility

  • UCI M.F.A. and Ph.D. students (1-3 years from finishing their degree) **Students earning self-supporting graduate degrees are not eligible
  • Postdoctoral fellows and project scientists are not eligible
  • Domestic and international students are eligible
  • Ph.D. students must have advanced to candidacy by the program start date
  • M.F.A. students must have completed at least one year in the program
  • Students must be in good academic standing (i.e., no incompletes; within normative time to degree)
  • Any discipline/department represented at CSU is eligible
  • Seeking students who contribute to educational excellence and the advancement of the people of California.

PREPP Program Features

PREPP Fellows receive individualized mentorship from an experienced CSU faculty member to learn about instruction, research, service expectations, and the process of preparing tenure-track applications. Fellows are also connected with faculty, staff, and administrators at CSU to support their professional growth and expand their networks.

What you will do in PREPP

Understand CSU faculty roles. In weekly mentor-led meetings, you will gain a clear picture of teaching expectations and workload, including Standard Course Outlines and syllabus development. Additionally, you will learn how Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity (RSCA) fits within a comprehensive university, as well as the types of service activities and responsibilities that accompany the role.

Learn about retention, tenure, and promotion (RTP) policies. You will explore RTP policies and what counts in each area; how annual reviews and multi-year milestones are evaluated; how the RTP packet is assembled (e.g., syllabi, peer observations, student feedback, RSCA outputs, and service); and how department, college, and university guidelines interact.

Immerse yourself in a department. Meet with the chair and senior and junior faculty in your discipline, attend meetings (e.g., faculty, department service committees, research lab meetings), observe classes, deliver a guest lecture, and receive feedback on your teaching to understand the day-to-day responsibilities and expectations of faculty in your field.

Connect across campus. Join conversations with academic and university leaders (e.g., deans and the Provost) and support units (e.g., Faculty Development and the Office of Research) to understand how a CSU campus operates and how new faculty are supported (e.g., instructional support services).

Prepare applications for tenure-track jobs and learn what to expect in interviews. Learn how to prepare competitive tenure-track applications, including a cover letter and teaching and research statements, what to expect during virtual and campus interviews for CSU faculty positions, and how to negotiate offers.

Participate in a campus visit. You will visit a campus and gain a firsthand look at CSU faculty life. During the visit, you may meet with department chairs, faculty, and students; observe or lead a class; connect with administrators and your mentor; and tour the campus to experience the CSU community.

To support your participation in PREPP, the UCI Graduate Division will provide:

  • A professional development support stipend: $200 for students assigned to Southern California CSU campuses, and $750 for those assigned to Northern California CSU campuses.  
  • A $1,000 award upon successful completion of the program.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is PREPP an in-person or virtual program?
    • It is a virtual program. However, fellows are expected to participate in select in-person campus activities with financial support provided by UCI for this purpose. 
  • How many PREPP fellows are admitted?
    • Up to 24 PREPP fellows from UCI are admitted per semester (these numbers are subject to change)
  • I have a connection with a faculty member at a CSU. Can they be my PREPP mentor?
    • No, CSU PREPP mentors have been selected and you would work with them.
  • Can international students participate in PREPP? Can PREPP sponsor a visa?
    • Yes, international students can participate but note that you are applying to be part of a program and not a job, and thus PREPP cannot sponsor a visa.
  • If I am selected for PREPP, will I be offered a faculty position? Am I guaranteed an interview for a CSU job?
    • No, PREPP is designed to provide you with a sense of what faculty life is like at a CSU and help you determine if it is a good fit for your professional career. Applying to faculty positions is a separate and independent process.
  • If I am a Postdoctoral Fellow or Project Scientist can I participate in PREPP?
    • Unfortunately, no, postdoctoral fellows and project scientists are not eligible.
  • If I already have a Master’s degree – can I participate in PREPP?
    • Yes, if a Master’s degree is NOT the terminal degree in your discipline.
  • What if my primary CSU mentor is not in my discipline?
    • This is often the case and is totally OK! Your primary mentor will provide you with valuable insight into life at a CSU AND connect you with faculty in your discipline.
  • I’m in my first year and want to apply now! May I?
    • The ideal candidate is about 1-3 years away from applying to faculty positions.
  • I’m 1-to-3 years away from applying, but I have a time-intensive quarter. May I still apply?
    • Because the majority of PREPP activities occur M-F between 9AM-5PM, it is best to participate in PREPP during a term when your schedule is more flexible. The expected commitment is 4-5 hours/week.
  • I applied previously but was not accepted. May I apply again?
    • Yes! We encourage you to reapply.

Information Session 

Learn more about the application process and hear from PREPP Alumni.

The recording for the Spring 26 Info Session can be found here

Past CSU PREPP Information Session

The recording of the SP 26 info session will be available after the live session.

How to Apply

Eligible doctoral and MFA students should prepare the documents listed below as instructed (2. CV, 3. Personal statement, and 4. Teaching Research Statement). Once you have them ready, complete the application (1. PREPP Application) and upload your documents to the PREPP Application SmartSheet website. Instructions for submitting the application and creating a SmartSheet account are available in the PREPP Application Guidelines.

As participation in PREPP involves a weekly commitment, applicants must obtain support from their primary faculty advisor (e.g., dissertation chair), who will be asked to complete a support form (5. UCI Advisor Support Form). To view the questions that will be asked of your faculty advisor, please click here to access the read-only version of the form. Do not share this form with your advisor. Instead, follow the instructions below to request completion of the official PREPP Advisor Support Form.

Please request that your faculty advisor complete the PREPP Advisor Support Form as soon as you decide to apply to the program (even if you have not submitted your application). The Advisor Support Form is due on the same date as the PREPP application. Click here to request completion of the PREPP Advisor Support Form.

The application deadline for Spring 26 is Monday, November 3rd at 11:55PM.

Application Contact Information

For questions regarding the application process or eligibility, please email the PREPP Director, Dr. Arturo Zavala, at azavala@calstate.edu.

A completed PREPP application form that includes questions about your personal information, educational history, and post-graduation plans.

A current CV should include the applicant’s contact information and education. It should also highlight academic and professional experiences and accomplishments across the following three areas:

  • Teaching. List courses in which you served as the instructor of record or teaching assistant (TA), including the name of the institution, department, course title, dates, and your specific teaching role. Invited guest lectures and workshops may also be included.
  • Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity. Include publications (e.g., peer-reviewed journal articles, edited book chapters), applied scholarship (e.g., external grants, fellowships, reports for community organizations), scholarly presentations (e.g., poster or oral presentations at professional conferences), and creative activities (e.g., gallery exhibitions, solo or group performances). You may also include research lab experience.
  • Service. Include professional service activities (e.g., leadership roles in professional organizations) and department or university service (e.g., committee work, mentoring student groups). Relevant community engagement activities may also be included.

Additional sections of the CV may include awards and honors, professional association memberships, and relevant training.

The personal statement provides applicants with an opportunity to highlight their academic and professional trajectories, discuss their career goals, and demonstrate alignment with the program’s purpose. Responses should be specific and address the following three prompts in no more than 600 words.

  • Tell Us About Yourself. Share your background, experiences, and motivations that have shaped your academic path.
  • Professional Aspirations. Explain your current career goals, including your level of interest in pursuing a faculty position and the kind of faculty position that might be ideal for you. Briefly reflect on where you see yourself in 5 years. Applicants who are still exploring career options are encouraged to indicate this in their statement and to describe current professional interests and areas under consideration.
  • Fit with Program. Describe your motivation for applying to PREPP and what you expect to gain from the experience. Share how your experiences, values, or future goals align with the CSU system, including any prior experiences within the CSU (if applicable).

This statement provides applicants with an opportunity to highlight their teaching experiences and reflect on their teaching philosophy and interests. It should also address research interests and experience, as well as interest in engaging students in a research program. Responses should be specific and reflective, addressing the three prompts below in no more than 600 words.

  • Past Teaching Experiences. Describe past teaching experience, including a memorable teaching or learning episode. Discuss what made it significant and what you learned about effective teaching or learning from this.
  • Teaching Philosophy and Interests. Discuss the types of courses or subject areas you are most interested in teaching. Reflect on the pedagogical strategies and values that guide your approach in the classroom, as well as your strengths and weaknesses as an instructor.
  • Program of Research and Mentoring. Briefly describe your primary research interests, including the key aims that drive your work and the broader significance or potential impact of your research. In addition, discuss how you have engaged, or plan to engage, students in your research program.

As participation in PREPP involves a weekly commitment, applicants must obtain support from their primary faculty advisor (i.e., dissertation chair), who will be asked to complete the PREPP Advisor Support Form. To view the questions that will be asked of your faculty advisor, please click here to access the read-only version of the form. Do not share this form with your advisor. Instead, follow the instructions below to request completion of the official PREPP Advisor Support Form.

Please request that your faculty advisor complete the PREPP Advisor Support Form as soon as you decide to apply to the program (even if you have not submitted your application). The Advisor Support Form is due on the same date as the PREPP application. Click here to request completion of the PREPP Advisor Support Form

Hear From Past Fellows

Alejandra Hormaza Mejia

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Cal Poly Pomona

Ph.D., UCI Mechanical Engineering, 2023

PREPP was the perfect program for me to participate in as a graduate student. It exposed me to a career with the perfect balance of teaching and research.

I especially appreciated the built-in mentoring from a variety of professionals who had my dream job, and the ability to network with others at CSULB in my field. The program was also especially useful because it provided me with a close-up view of the path I needed to take to achieve my career goals. I highly recommend participating in this!

Alma P. Olaguez

Assistant Professor, Psychology, CSU Los Angeles

Ph.D., UCI Psychological Science, 2021

The PRE-Professor Program truly introduced me to the role of a faculty member at a CSU. I met with several individuals at various levels throughout the university (department, college, university) which helped me understand what shared governance was and how my role as a future faculty member contributes to this ecosystem. I developed my identity and confidence as a faculty member, which was critical to my performance during my job interview. I had the language to describe my potential contributions to the various levels at the university, showing my commitment to students and faculty beyond the department level. The introduction to the tenure process was also great, these conversations allowed me to ask questions without judgement. I deeply appreciate this experience, and I still have valuable relationships with faculty I met during that semester. I’d encourage future fellows to maximize their experience by meeting as many folks as possible and fellows can reach out to me if they’d like to establish a network!

Yasmine Sherafat

Assistant Professor, Psychology, CSU San Marcos

Ph.D., UCI Neurobiology and Behavior 2021

The PREPP program provided me with invaluable resources and opportunities to learn about the responsibilities and expectations of being a professor at a CSU. Now, as a current faculty member at a CSU, I continue to benefit from the networking and insights I gained, which have been instrumental in my professional development.

Tatiane Lima

Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences, Cal Poly Pomona

UCI Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Postdoctoral Scholar

PREPP was instrumental in my transition to a tenure-track faculty career. For years, I knew I wanted to become faculty and was interested in joining a university where I could balance teaching and research. The program gave me the opportunity to immerse myself in the CSU system and really get a taste of what my life could be. I learned so much… I met regularly with a mentor (Dr. Molidor) who was passionate about teaching, met faculty from the Biology department, visited labs, and learned about the RTP process. More than anything, the program gave me the confidence to believe I could do it.