03/17/2026
By Julie Nash and Shaima Ragab

The Provost’s Office is offering support for five tenured, tenure-track or teaching faculty with the opportunity to participate in the Summer Session of the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD) Faculty Success Program. This intensive program helps faculty build practical habits and strategies to strengthen research, teaching and writing productivity while maintaining a while making it easier to manage the demands of academic life (while still having a life!)
Since spring 2022, we have supported 39 faculty members in NCFDD’s Faculty Success Program. Although participation requires a real commitment of time and effort, nearly all participants have said the experience had a positive impact on both their professional and personal lives and was well worth it.

As a Faculty Success Program participant, you will learn how to:

  • Set achievable personal and professional goals that align with UMass Lowell’s priorities and your own values.
  • Create a realistic and concrete plan to meet your goals.
  • Establish and maintain a healthy and sustainable daily writing habit.
  • Develop a publication portfolio (helpful for promotion).
  • Better manage your time spent on teaching, service, research, and writing so that it aligns with your goals.
  • Identify obstacles that are holding you back and strategies to move through them.
  • Prioritize your physical and emotional health.

To learn more about the Faculty Success Program, please download the Faculty Success Program Guide.

Still not sure this program is for you? Email faculty_success@uml.edu and we can put you in touch with a faculty member who has previously participated in the program.

The 2026 summer session runs from May 18 - July 26, 2026.

Deadline to apply for funds from the Office of the Provost: March 30, 2026.

Cost - Provost’s Office Support

The Provost’s Office will provide $2,500 fellowships for selected full-time tenured, tenure-track, and teaching-stream faculty to participate in the program. Early Bird registration rate is $4,895. Faculty will be responsible for the remaining $2,395, which may be covered through a combination of professional development funds, support from their department or college, start-up funds, or other sources. Before applying, faculty should speak with their department chair and dean’s office about available support. Faculty with a modest funding gap are still encouraged to apply.

Application for Funding

Complete this online form to apply for funding. Applications must be received by the March 30 deadline. The Provost’s Office will coordinate submitting of the applications with the NCFDD’s office.

Expectations and Requirements for Recipients of Program Funding Support

Faculty who receive funding are expected to fully participate in and complete the Faculty Success Program, including all program requirements.

Share what you learned: we’ve found that faculty who participate in the Faculty Success Program come away with valuable insights and strategies that benefit others in our community. We may ask participants to consider sharing what they’ve learned with your colleagues. This may be through a workshop, a panel discussion or lightning talk at the Faculty Symposium, a mentoring program, etc. We’d love to help you find a format that works for you.

Eligibility

Full-time, tenured, tenure- track and teaching-stream faculty members at UMass Lowell are eligible to apply for program support funding.

About NCFDD (and how to get engaged)

UMass Lowell is an institutional member of the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD), which provides all of UML’s faculty members, post-doctoral fellows and graduate students free access to a number of the NCFDD’s programs and resources. If you haven’t signed up for a membership, please do so in order to take advantage of the available NCFDD’s programs and resources to support faculty, including support for academic life, and professional development. To activate your membership, visit the NCFDD website.

If you have questions, email Shaima_Ragab@uml.edu, Senior Director of Faculty Development.