Eligibility & Enrollment

All UVA graduate students and postdoctoral scholars are eligible for this program. Those interested in pursuing academic positions after leaving UVA will find the program most beneficial. In order to complete all program requirements, participants are recommended to have at least two years remaining at UVA.

Please consult the FAQ page if you have additional questions regarding whether you’re eligible for the program or whether it's suitable for your professional development needs.

Enrollment in TPT consists of a two-part process: an application, and registration for the Foundations of College Teaching seminar. Enrollment in TPT is not complete until a participant registers for and attends the seminar. Participants who register for but do not attend the seminar will be removed from TPT and can reapply to the program the next time the seminar is offered. The Foundations of College Teaching seminar will be offered twice per semester.

The application opens before the Fall and Spring semesters each year. The application form consists of two short essay questions (200 words or fewer) and a question about your availability to participate in the Foundations of College Teaching Seminar. The short essay questions are as follows:

1. Describe your interest in Tomorrow’s Professor Today, clearly explaining your motivations for enrolling in the program at this stage of your career. What are your plans for or concerns about a future faculty career? How does the program align with your professional and personal goals?
2. The success of the program depends in large part on the active engagement of all participants, and on your ability to complete requirements in a timely manner. Engagement includes working independently to fulfill program requirements, analyzing and applying a wide variety of teaching-related topics, and exchanging ideas with other participants. With this information in mind, briefly respond to the following question: What do you expect to gain from other participants in the program? How will you contribute to the collegiality of the program?

Typically, all applicants are admitted to TPT. The CTE reserves the right to decline admission due to space constraints or mismatches between the applicants' goals and the program’s purposes.