University of Wisconsin–Madison

For Future Faculty

Do you have dreams of becoming a faculty member?

UW–Madison provides in-person and online events and resources designed for graduate students and postdocs interested in continuing their careers in academia.

A faculty member sits around a table with undergraduate and graduate students in his lab. They discuss questions on the papers in front of them.

Three things you can do to jump start your faculty journey

  1. Sign up for the Delta mailing list to stay in the loop of professional development opportunities on campus designed for future faculty.
  2. Create your free NCFDD account and start reading the Monday Motivator each week.
  3. Create your Beyond the Professoriate account and explore the Academic Careers program of study.

Earn a Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning

Completing the Graduate/Professional Certificate in Higher Education Teaching and Learning represents your commitment to excellence as an educator. This certificate prepares you to become a leader in teaching and learning, promoting inclusive and effective educational experiences at the college level. Through this program, you will gain the skills and confidence needed to thrive as an instructor and mentor, be competitive for faculty positions and other academic roles, and contribute to the advancement of teaching and learning practices in your discipline.

Within this certificate program, you will:

  • build foundational knowledge and skills in evidence-based teaching
  • develop strategies to foster inclusive and equitable learning experiences
  • engage with a community that values teaching and learning in higher education
  • become a more confident and effective instructor and mentor
  • prepare for success in the academic job market

Graduate students in any disciplinary area are encouraged to engage in this certificate program, with or without previous teaching experience.

Resources

Delta Program

The Delta Program engages graduate students and postdocs in professional development in teaching, mentoring, and outreach — key skills for any future faculty. Delta offers courses, a Delta Internship, and a certificate.

Delta Program
Beyond the Professoriate

Beyond the Professoriate

Don’t be fooled by the name — Beyond the Professoriate helps graduate students launch their faculty job search. It offers two programs (STEM and Humanities and Social Sciences) for students preparing for faculty careers.

Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL)

The CIRTL network helps develop skills for graduate students, postdocs, and faculty committed to implementing and advancing evidence-based teaching practices for diverse learners in the college setting.

CIRTL
UW–Madison Writing Center

The Writing Center

In addition to providing workshops on preparing materials for job applications, the Writing Center’s UW–Madison Writer’s Handbook devotes an entire section of their guide to Academic and Professional Writing, including tips on CVs and cover letters.

NCFDD

NCFDD is a professional development, training, and mentoring community. It provides online career development and mentoring resources to help graduate students finish their dissertation, enter the faculty job market, and thrive in the academy.

NCFDD

The Graduate School

217 Bascom Hall
500 Lincoln Drive
Madison, WI 53706

Front Desk Hours:

Fall and Spring Hours
(September – April):
Monday – Friday
10 am – 3 pm

Summer Hours (May – August):
Monday – Friday
10 am – noon

Connect

Email

Prospective students and applicants:

admissions@grad.wisc.edu

Current students:

gsacserv@grad.wisc.edu

Phone

608-262-2433