Mavis Future Faculty Fellows Program

Our graduate students show the interest and potential to become future faculty and it is our intention as a leading university to encourage and nurture this promise. The Mavis Future Faculty Fellows (MF3) Program in the College of Engineering was developed to facilitate the training of the next generation of great engineering professors.

Program Description: The three main components to the MF3 Program are research, teaching and mentoring. All MF3 students will become proficient in these core areas as well as self-selecting a capstone experience. The activities in each area will be designed to enhance the graduate students’ experiences in their departments. The three focus areas are described below.

Research: Professional development activities include dedicated workshops on communicating engineering research through writing and presentations as well as writing proposals. The Academy for Excellence in Engineering Education (AE3) and the Graduate College Career and Professional Development Office both will offer workshops and discussion forums in which MF3 students will participate. MF3 students who are participating in the year of their final defense have the option of requesting a mock faculty interview.

Teaching: All MF3 participants will have a significant teaching experience, typically a teaching assistantship, obtained inside the student’s department or in the College of Engineering. Several departments in the College of Engineering award teaching fellowships that encourage advanced graduate students to be the primary instructor of an engineering course. Where appropriate, MF3 participants may also be guest lecturers at other institutions, such as Olin College. Also, all MF3 students will attend the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) sponsored workshop on developing a teaching philosophy statement.

Mentoring: MF3 participants are required to mentor a less experienced graduate student or an undergraduate student and advise them on a research project. This experience can occur during the academic year or summer. Second-year fellows provide leadership and mentoring for first-year fellows.

Capstone Experience: MF3 participants will select a capstone experience that will concentrate their professional development in a self-directed area. The capstone experience allows the MF3 fellow to explore areas of interest and could include, but is not limited to: • Developing a grant proposal • Completing the Center for Teaching Excellence Foundations in Teaching Certificate • Job shadow faculty members (at least two) at different institutions and write a reflective paper • Completing EOL 585, College Teaching • Participating and having a leadership role in CTEN (College Teaching Effectiveness Network) or student chapter of ASEE 

Eligibility: Advanced doctoral students (passed qualifying exam) in the College of Engineering who express an interest in academia are eligible to apply. Students must be enrolled for the full academic year of their Mavis fellowship. Students may be awarded the MF3 at most twice during their doctoral studies.

Requirements and Expectations: The MF3 program is a full academic year program. MF3 participants will have opportunities to attend a variety of workshops, activities, seminars, courses, and events to improve their knowledge of faculty responsibilities, however all MF3 students will agree to meet the following expectations during their fellowship year.

First-year MF3 participants

One-time events:

-- Attend a group orientation session

-- Attend a communicating research seminar

-- Attend CTE teaching philosophy workshop

-- Attend a proposal writing seminar

-- Present research results at a professional conference

-- Attend the American Society for Engineering Educators (ASEE) annual conference or a Frontiers in Education (FIE) conference First-year MF3 participants

Longer-term activities:

-- Mentor a less-experienced graduate or undergraduate student

-- Meet regularly with research faculty mentor

-- Attend the College of Engineering academic career series

-- Complete a teaching assignment (to occur or be scheduled) within one year of Mavis fellowship year

-- Complete and document the capstone experience

Second-year MF3 participants

One-time events:

-- Attend a group orientation session

-- Attend a communicating research seminar

-- Attend a proposal writing seminar

-- Present research results at a professional conference, if not completed during first-year MF3 academic year

-- Attend the American Society for Engineering Educators (ASEE) annual conference or a Frontiers in Education (FIE) conference Second-year MF3 participants

Longer-term activities:

-- Assume a leadership role in the MF3 program and mentor to first-year MF3 students

-- Mentor a less-experienced graduate or undergraduate student

-- Meet regularly with research faculty mentor

-- Complete a teaching assignment, if not assigned one during the first-year MF3 academic year

-- Complete and document the capstone experience

Optional (First or Second-year): For those invited for a campus faculty interview, participate in a mock faculty interview

Application Process: For participation in the MF3 program, applications must be received by March 21, 2014. Applications may be submitted by using this link https://wiki.engr.illinois.edu/display/gradprogs/Mavis+Fellowship+Applications+2014 or email them to Ms. Kathy Reeves at kreeves2@illinois.edu.

The application consists of:

-- Applicant cover sheet form (attached to this document)

-- Statement of interest describing why you wish to participate in the program

-- Statement of your career goals and interests

-- Copy of unofficial transcript

-- Current curriculum vitae

First-year applicants must also submit:

-- Letter of endorsement from your department head stating that you will be given a teaching assignment within the next two years

-- Letter of recommendation from your research advisor that includes a commitment to serve as your academic mentor and to send you to a professional conference to present research results within the next two years

Questions about the MF3 program may be directed to Ms. Kathy Reeves, engr-gpo@illinois.edu.

Selection Process: MF3 program participants are admitted on a competitive-basis. Selected students receive an award of $5,000 for participating in the program with an additional $1,000 available to support travel to the ASEE or FIE conference. Fellows will be announced in March.