Future Faculty Career Exploration Program

The Future Faculty Career Exploration Program is a rigorous four-day program designed for individuals to experience a “behind the scenes” glimpse into life as a faculty member here at RIT. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with RIT's diverse administration, faculty, and students while on campus. The program offers additional opportunities to enhance interview skills, practice job-talk presentations, and explore the research, teaching, and service expectations of RIT Faculty members.

This competitive, nationwide search welcomes scholars from all disciplines offered at RIT. We encourage you to explore our colleges and departments to see how your research or artistic endeavors best align with the RIT vision of engagement and innovation.  If chosen to participate, RIT will cover your transportation, lodging, and meals for the duration of the program.

The Future Faculty Career Exploration Program is considered a best practice, and was one of the first faculty diversity and recruitment programs in the nation. Our longstanding history is due to the continuous institutional support of the President and Provost, and the divisions of Academic Affairs and Diversity & Inclusion.

Applications for this year’s session is closed. We will start accepting applications for the upcoming year in January. To get notifications and learn more about future RIT Future Faculty Career Exploration Programs, please add your credentials to our RIT Scholars Network.

Highlights

  • Attend networking receptions with RIT’s President, Provost, Deans, faculty, staff, and students
  • Present your research or art to faculty, department chairs and Deans
  • Tour campus and the greater Rochester community
  • Gain career development insight and advice from RIT faculty
  • Learn about current and upcoming faculty positions
  • Engage in one-on-one, panel and roundtable discussions about life in academia
  • Receive feedback on your research or art, and job talk to improve your candidacy 

Who Should Apply?

Individuals who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply:

  • Able to contribute in meaningful ways to the RIT’s commitment to cultural diversity, pluralism and individual differences. While we are primarily interested in applicants of African American, Latin American, American Indian or Alaskan Native descent, and others who are underrepresented and underserved in teaching professions at RIT, the Program is open to all eligible participants regardless of race, religion, age, gender, or other protected federal or state categories.
  • Studying or researching in the discipline areas offered at RIT.
  • Advanced PhD or MFA candidate (anticipated graduation by May/June 2025), postdoctoral scholars or early-career faculty or researchers.
  • Desire a rewarding academic teaching and research career at an exceptional institution.
  • Able to travel to Rochester, New York, or participate in virtual sessions for the duration of the program.

Application Materials

  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Cover Letter: express your interest in FFCEP, and desire for a career in the professoriate. MFA applicants should include a link to their online portfolio. 
  • Diversity Statement: describe your commitment to diversity and inclusion throughout your academic career.
  • Artistic or Research Statement: summary of current research or artistic endeavors and/or proposal for upcoming work.
  • Teaching Statement: summary of the guiding principle(s) that inform your pedagogical approach & style.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1 – Travel day, meet and greet with participants, job talk pointers

Day 2 – RIT community welcome breakfast, host department activities, panel discussions on faulty support, diversity and student body

Day 3 – Host department activities, panel discussions on faculty life, dinner with RIT administration and community members

Day 4 – Conclude program with a tour of the greater Rochester area, lunch with cohort, and departure for travel home

For more information on RIT’s current COVID-19 guidelines please visit https://www.rit.edu/ready/

FFCEP Participants

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We are excited to share our 2024 program participants with you. View their profiles and abstracts in our program booklet. 

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We are excited to share our 2023 program participants with you. View their profiles and abstracts in our program booklet. 

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We are excited to share our 2022 program participants with you. View their profiles and abstracts in our program booklet. 

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We are excited to share our 2021 program participants with you. View their profiles and abstracts in our program booklet. 

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2020 FFCEP Participants

We are excited to share our 2020 program participants with you. View their profiles and abstracts in our program booklet. 

View profiles and abstracts