Faculty and student success go hand in hand at Cal State Fullerton. When faculty achieve their professional goals and advance their teaching, they bring that expertise and scholarship back to their students, training them to be thoughtful and creative leaders.
Earning tenure marks a significant milestone in a faculty member’s career, but it also brings new responsibilities, including increased service and advising commitments as well as continued expectations for research, scholarship and teaching. For mid-career faculty, balancing those demands while planning for what’s next can pose challenges.
To help ease this transition for faculty and ensure that they have the tools and resources they need to continue promoting student success, the Office of the Provost launched the Provost’s Faculty Fellows Program for recently tenured associate professors. The three-year program provides small funding, mentorship and professional development opportunities to help faculty sustain their growth and success in the years following tenure.
“When faculty have the support to pursue new ideas and opportunities, the benefits extend across the university and to the students we serve,” said Sean Walker, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Fullerton Forward calls on us to recruit, develop and retain outstanding faculty. The Provost’s Faculty Fellows Program reflects that commitment by providing support at a pivotal point in a faculty member’s career.”
Originally piloted under Amir Dabirian, former provost and vice president for academic affairs, the program is a collaborative effort between the Office of the Provost, the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, Faculty Development Center, and Faculty Affairs and Records.
Supporting scholarly momentum
For Stevan Pecic, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry and a member of the inaugural cohort, the program arrived at the right time. After receiving tenure, Pecic said he experienced an increase in his service and advising workload, but the program’s organized resources played a critical role in renewing his research momentum.
Pecic’s experience reflects a challenge many faculty face after tenure, when growing responsibilities compete with the time needed for research and creative work.
“Tenure is a major accomplishment, but it also brings new demands,” said Binod Tiwari, associate vice president for research and sponsored programs. “This program gives faculty the flexibility and support to continue pursuing meaningful research and creative work.”
Jaya Dofe, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and a member of the second cohort, added that the program’s support created new opportunities to advance her work.
“The Provost’s Faculty Fellows Program has had a significant impact on my research and scholarship by providing flexible funding, including summer support, during a critical stage of my career,” Dofe said.
Dofe has used program funding to support conference travel, research assistants and preliminary research. Her work has already resulted in a conference Best Paper Award, two published short papers and a journal manuscript currently under review. The findings will also serve as the foundation for a future National Science Foundation proposal.
Advancing teaching and learning
The program also encourages faculty to continue refining their teaching. Through intentionally curated workshops and discussions, participants learn from colleagues across disciplines within a faculty learning community. The materials developed through this pilot program are available to all faculty members on campus.
“Faculty often focus on research after tenure, but teaching continues to evolve throughout a career,” said Kathleen Preston, executive director of the Faculty Development Center. “The program creates space for fellows to explore new pedagogical approaches, reflect on their classroom practices and exchange ideas with colleagues from across the university.”
Kristin Kurianski, associate professor of mathematics and a member of the second cohort, said the value of the program extends beyond any one resource.
“When I applied for this program, I didn’t fully understand how impactful it would be,” Kurianski said. “The financial support alone is enough incentive to apply; still, the additional support from the cohort, grant-writing resources and professional development make this an extraordinary opportunity for any recently tenured faculty member.”
The cohort experience has been especially meaningful for Kurianski, who joined CSUF during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s been great to meet with folks from other departments and colleges,” she said. “The Provost’s Faculty Fellows Program has given me a chance to connect with faculty across campus whom I otherwise would not have had the opportunity to meet.”
Planning the next stage
The years following tenure are also an opportunity for faculty to think strategically about their long-term goals.
“Faculty spend years preparing for tenure, but the path afterward can be less clearly defined,” said Mark Carrier, executive director for faculty affairs and records. “The Fellows Program gives participants the opportunity to develop a strategic plan for their continued growth and identify the steps that will help them reach their career goals.”
Pecic said that this planning has helped bring his goals into focus.
“Being part of this program, especially as a member of the first cohort, has been one of my most meaningful achievements since earning tenure because it provides clear guidance toward promotion to full professor,” Pecic said. “It even has me planning to apply for early promotion.”
The program provides support not only for the work faculty are doing today, but for the opportunities they hope to pursue next.
More information about the Provost’s Faculty Fellows Program, including a list of current and former fellows, is available on the program webpage.