CSU Pre-Professor Program (UCI-PREPP)
The PRE-Professor Program (PREPP) is designed to support the University of California, Irvine (UCI) doctoral students’ and postdoctoral scholars’ transition to a faculty position by engaging them in a semester-long program at a California State University (CSU) campus. In addition, PREPP is a blueprint to support CSU’s efforts to foster a pipeline for prospective new faculty. The goal of PREPP is to immerse participants in the life of a faculty member at a comprehensive master’s granting institution. PREPP fellows will have individual mentorship from an experienced Faculty Mentor in three broad categories: Instruction, Understanding the Campus Culture, and Service.
We accept applications from candidates with expertise in any discipline/department represented at CSU. Visit the CSU website to determine if your area of study is represented at a CSU (https://www.calstate.edu/attend/degrees-certificates-credentials/Pages/search-degrees.aspx).
Applicants from underrepresented groups and those who are champions of diversity are encouraged to apply.
PREPP Program Features
PREPP Fellows will be partnered with a CSU Faculty Mentor who will oversee the project. Fellows will learn what faculty life is like at a comprehensive master’s granting institution. Your doctoral studies and post-doc positions prepare you for research and scholarship, which is a large part of the job. This program focuses on the other components of a faculty position, instructionally related activities (teaching, curriculum, mentoring students), service activities, and how research is conducted at a master’s comprehensive university. UCI Graduate Division will provide travel reimbursement to visit the CSU campus PREPP Fellows are assigned to (up to $750) and a $1,000 award for completing the program.
Instructional Activities
Instructional activities are a broad topic that encompasses teaching (and all the tasks associated with that) and mentoring. Teaching is a rather broad category that includes several tasks, from planning for instruction, planning and teaching lessons, and mentoring students (teaching in small groups or one-on-one).
Campus Culture of a Comprehensive Master’s University & Service
Fellows will learn how a campus runs and the role of a faculty member within the structure of a comprehensive university. First and foremost, Fellows need to learn about department life within their field(s). How does a department run, what’s expected of new faculty, and in what role(s) do junior faculty engage? How is research carried out, and what forms of support are there for research? These questions will be answered by participating in a variety of tasks, discussions, and assignments.
Typical Program Activities/Assignments
I = Instruction, M = Mentoring, C = Campus Culture, S = Service, JR = Job Readiness
- Develop a Syllabus (I)
- Prepare and teach two class sessions in a course within your doctoral discipline (ideally one lower-division and one upper-division) (I)
- Observations of teaching with debriefing (I)
- Identify instructional support services on campus (I)
- Curriculum Committee (I, C, S)
- Attend a department meeting (C)
- Meet with Department Chair (C)
- Tenure/Retention Expectations (C)
- Understanding Shared Governance (S, C)
- Components of a good cover letter (JR, C)
- Inclusive Excellence Statement/Teaching Philosophy Statement (JR, C)
- Attend a lab meeting (M)
- Attend a mentoring meeting between faculty and student (M)
Applications for Fall 2024 now open!
Information Session
Learn more about the application process and hear from PREPP Alumni.
CSU PREPP Information Session
Friday, February 23, 2024
Please click here to watch.
How to Apply
Interested doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars will prepare an application and submit the following documents to be reviewed by PREPP program faculty. A PDF with application instructions is available.
Please prepare the documents listed below. Once you have them ready, complete the PREPP application and upload your documents to the CSU PREPP UCI Fall 2024 Application.
The application deadline is March 22, 2024.
For questions, please contact Dr. Arturo Zavala, CSU PREPP Director at azavala@calstate.edu.
Please upload your most recent CV.
Include a personal statement (500 words or less) that focuses on the following prompts:
- Tell us about yourself.
- Why are you applying for this program? What do you hope to gain from the experience?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Include a teaching statement (500 words or less). Your statement might include responses to the following prompts:
- What teaching experience have you had? Describe your strengths and weaknesses as an instructor.
- What do you want to learn about teaching and instructionally related activities?
- What do you think teaching diverse undergraduate students might look like?
- What do you think would be the most effective approaches to teaching diverse undergraduate students?
- Describe a particular memorable teaching/learning episode.
As this program requires time, we require approval from your primary research advisor/supervisor. The UCI Mentor Support Form should be completed and emailed directly by the mentor. Download form here.
Completed form should be emailed to azavala@calstate.edu.