RFP for Preparing Future Faculty in Biological and Life Sciences

Winfred M. Phillips, Vice President

The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) and the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) have received a grant from the National Science Foundation to support a new initiative, “Shaping the Preparation of Future Science and Mathematics Faculty.” The goal is to create model graduate programs to prepare future faculty for emerging roles in five academic disciplines: biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics and physics. This project builds on and extends the “Preparing Future Faculty” (PFF) program led by AAC&U and CGS since 1993.

At this time, only doctoral degree-granting biological and life sciences departments are invited to submit proposals for model programs, preferably in partnership with other institutions such as four-year colleges/universities, two-year colleges, and institutions with a large number of minority students. Selected departments will receive up to $10,000 annually for two academic years, plus matching funds from their institutions. Proposed programs should “increase knowledge, broaden perspectives and develop skills of graduate faculty members and graduate students about how to incorporate research, teaching and service components into doctoral education for aspiring faculty.”

Because of the short response time on this RFP (proposals are due September 7, 1999), CGS and AAC&U will give preference to biological and life sciences departments located in universities already participating in this national PFF program. Although the University of Florida is not a PFF participant, we are welcome to develop and submit proposals to this competition. I strongly encourage you to do so if your college has biological and/or life sciences programs appropriate for this competition.

Research and Graduate Programs will provide matching funds as required by the RFP guidelines. A letter requesting such matching support should be directed to my attention in advance of the proposal deadline. Should your college decide to submit a proposal, please kindly email me of your intentions so that we can inform our Proposal Processing Office.

Application materials are available from our Program Information Office, 392-4804, and may also be printed from the PFF website at http://www.preparing-faculty.org/NSFiles/Cover.htm