Teaching for Tomorrow Fellowship Awards
Provided by the classes of 1944 and 1945, the Teaching for Tomorrow (TfT) Fellowship Award fosters continued excellence in teaching and learning and facilitates the development of teaching potential. Each year the award recognizes up to 12 assistant professors (or recently promoted associate professors) for demonstrated talent for teaching, as well as three senior faculty members for long-term contributions to teaching and mentoring at the University.
The intended outcomes of this faculty development program are simple: improving the learning environment for Purdue students and enhancing faculty teaching skills to meet the needs of our students. All TfT faculty members selected are expected to participate fully in the TfT program for the full year of their appointment, which is from April to April.
Senior TfT mentors will work closely with junior TfT fellows to craft a plan that will enable them to grow as educators. Each cohort of senior TfT mentors and junior TfT fellows will have considerable latitude to craft a plan that meets the needs of their group. Regardless of the structure the group determines, the goal should be to enhance student learning across campus.
College Nominations
Each college may nominate up to five junior faculty members (junior nominees must hold the rank of assistant or associate professor, or clinical assistant or clinical associate professor). Each college may nominate up to two senior faculty members (senior nominees must hold the rank of associate or full professor, or clinical associate or clinical full professor). From these nominees, up to fifteen junior TfT fellows and three senior TfT mentors will be selected.
Tenure track or clinical faculty who are interested in this program should contact the Center for Instructional Excellence at cie@purdue.edu.
Junior Faculty Requirements
Junior faculty members interested in improving their teaching are encouraged to apply. Each junior TfT fellow will receive $1,500 in professional development funds. Receipt of these funds is contingent upon meeting a series of program requirements and will be dispersed at the end of each semester:
- Participate in the fall semester Kick-off Breakfast Meeting
- Actively participate in your small group meetings three times per semester
- Actively participate in a mid-way panel discussion (December) with Junior TfT Fellows and Senior TfT Mentors
- Actively participate in the wrap-up panel discussion (April) with Junior TfT Fellows and Senior TfT Mentors
Junior TfT Fellowship Application Form
Senior Faculty Requirements
Senior faculty members interested in serving as mentors to junior faculty, and who have been previously recognized for their commitment to teaching, are encouraged to apply. Each senior TfT mentor will receive $2,500 in professional development funds, while their respective departments will receive $2,500 to offset the necessary release time. Receipt of these funds is contingent upon meeting a series of program requirements and will be dispersed at the end of each semester:
- Meet with other TfT Senior Mentors and submit plan for the TfT program by July 1 to cie@purdue.edu
- Develop a plan to mentor your TfT Junior Fellows
- Actively participate in the fall semester Kick-off Meeting
- Convene TfT Junior Fellows group three times per semester
- Actively participate in the mid-way panel discussion (December) with Junior TfT Fellows and Senior TfT Mentors
- Observe each member of your small group of TfT Junior Fellows (or up to five TfT Junior Fellows) in the classroom/lab/clinic setting and provide feedback
- Actively participate in the wrap-up panel discussion (April) with Junior TfT Fellows and Senior TfT Mentors
Senior TfT Mentors Application Form
Important Dates
- Feb 3rd – Each nominee should complete the web applications for junior TfT fellows and senior TfT mentors by Feb 3rd (CIE will distribute applications to the colleges).
- Mar 16th – Colleges should send their nominees to CIE (cie@purdue.edu) by March 16th.
- April – Announcements of award recipients will be made in April. The program will officially begin in April of the selection year and end in April of the following year
Contact Us
For Purdue University Online Awards:
Ryne Kerchner
Senior Program Manager for Undergraduate Programs and Compliance
Email: rkerchne@purdue.edu