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Session 2655

Training Future Professors: The Preparing Future Faculty Program in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Cincinnati Gary Lewandowski, Xavier University, lewan@xavier.xu.edu Carla C. Purdy, University of Cincinnati, carla.purdy@uc.edu

Abstract In the rapidly evolving fields of computing and electrical engineering, many graduate students have little opportunity to learn teaching skills necessary for success in an academic career or to become familiar with the benefits of faculty life. In the combined Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science (ECECS) Department at the University of Cincinnati, for example, between 1993/94 and 1998-99, 75 students graduated with a Ph.D., but only three chose to pursue an academic career. To encourage and prepare potential future faculty, we have developed a "Preparing Future Faculty" program in our department. We discuss the outcomes of this program, its potential for impacting projected faculty shortages, options for sustaining the program, benefits to graduate students, faculty, and undergraduates, and whether it should be mandatory in a high-quality Ph.D. program.

1. Introduction The Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) program in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science (ECECS) at the University of Cincinnati (UC) is a component of Phase 3 of the ongoing PFF program begun in 1993 by the Council of Graduate Schools and the American Association of Colleges and Universities, with support from the National Science Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trust, and a private donor3. The UC ECECS program is administered through the Association for Computing Machinery's Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE). The PFF programs have as their overall goal the improvement of undergraduate and graduate education. To achieve these goals each PFF program relies on three core activities: • formation of a "cluster" consisting of one Ph.D.-granting institution, along with other near- by institutions of higher learning to provide Ph.D. students information and experience related to the broad range of faculty positions available. The Cincinnati cluster includes the University of Cincinnati, with a Ph.D. program; Northern Kentucky University, which offers B.S. and M.S. degrees; and Xavier University and the College of Mt. St. Joseph, which offer 4-year degrees in computing; • emphasis on the full scope of faculty roles, including teaching, research, and service, and on how these roles are fulfilled at diverse types of institutions; • provision of multiple mentors for Ph.D. students and feedback not only for research but also for teaching and service activities they may undertake while in graduate school.

Proceedings of the 2001 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright Ó 2001, American Society for Engineering Education”

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Lewandowski, G., & Purdy, C. (2001, June), Training Future Professors: The Preparing Future Faculty Program In Electrical And Computer Engineering And Computer Science At The University Of Cincinnati Paper presented at 2001 Annual Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 10.18260/1-2--9914