CFEP was launched in 2007 through a special grant from the Ford Foundation for the UNCF/Ford Faculty Enhancement Initiative. The goals of this program are to assess, examine and address the myriad issues related to faculty development and the enrichment of academic programs at UNCF-member institutions—such as support for innovations in curriculum, teaching and learning as well as faculty research and career advancement at the 39 UNCF-member institutions.
Specific program components include:
- Chief academic officers and faculty roundtables to facilitate the establishment of a community of practice among academic administrators and faculty
- The UNCF Faculty Engagement Study, a network-wide baseline assessment to identify best practices and areas of need in faculty development at UNCF institutions. Results of the study will inform CFEP efforts to provide financial and technical assistance to support our member HBCUs as they institutionalize and sustain faculty development activities
- Planning grants to facilitate campus-wide roundtables, focus groups and general assessment of needs, resources and support for faculty development;
- Faculty enhancement action grants to support the development and implementation of institutional action plans to establish or expand faculty development initiatives.
Another major component of this initiative, and other CFEP activities, will be opportunities for small clusters of member colleges with similar interests and goals to work together. This team-oriented approach will foster the growth and development of UNCF faculty as teachers, mentors and scholars through innovative faculty research and development opportunities. Institutions and their faculties will share valuable information, learn from each other’s experiences, and respond to challenges together in a setting that promotes mentoring and collaboration.