The ARA Faculty Mentoring Program seeks to enhance faculty success, self-efficacy, advancement, and retention. The program offers professional development workshops to help early-career faculty develop key competencies and career development strategies that promote their own success. Many of the topics for the professional development workshops were identified by CNAS faculty in the ARA Introductory Workshops held in March 2023.
The professional development workshops were designed to meet the needs of CNAS assistant professors in research, teaching, and extension in the life, physical, mathematical and environmental sciences. CNAS faculty at all ranks are invited to participate. Repeat participation is encouraged. Faculty from the SOM (Division of Biomedical Research), BCOE, and CHASS (Neuroscience) may also participate in these workshops. The open-door policy for ARA workshops and events promotes the development of a community of mentors and mentees across the college and campus.
The professional development workshops are offered in the Winter and Spring quarters.
- Introduction to the ARA Mentoring Program: This meeting introduces CNAS assistant professors to the ARA Program’s activities throughout the academic year, including: selection of ARA mentees and mentors, professional development workshops, the Train the Mentors workshops, and ARA-sponsored Distinguished Speaker seminars. (Open to all CNAS faculty; particularly useful for new assistant professors).
- Self-advocacy and the Merit and Promotion Process: This workshop focuses on the critical role of being a self-advocate and identifying advocates for a successful academic career. We discuss the bricks and mortar of the UC Merit and Promotion system, with ample time for discussion. Two department chairs and a CNAS Divisional Dean join the workshop to enhance discussions. (Open to all CNAS faculty; particularly useful for assistant professors).
- The Art of Saying No (aka the Art of the Strategic Yes): This workshop focuses on prioritizing decisions critical for balancing research, teaching and service, as well as time management. Strategic decision-making is a focus. (Open to all CNAS faculty; geared towards Assistant Professors).
- Leading Successful Teams in Academe: This interactive workshop focuses on the strategies for and complexities of building successful teams, from leading TAs for a successful course to leading a highly motivated and productive research team. Faculty will discuss and explore key tools, skills and considerations for building successful teams, including guiding, motivating and establishing expectations for team members. We will also discuss supervising others including: graduate students, TAs, staff, and postdoctoral scholars. (Open to all CNAS faculty; particularly useful for assistant professors).
- Self-Statements and the Merit and Promotion Process: Faculty will discuss best practices and strategies for assembling materials for advancements and promotions and writing self-statements that will reach the diverse campus audiences that read Merit & Promotion files. Examples of early and refined self-statements are discussed to identify strategies for relaying accomplishments during a merit/advancement period. A CNAS Divisional Dean will join the workshop to enhance discussions. (Open to all CNAS faculty; particularly useful for assistant professors).
2025-26 Professional Development Workshop Schedule
The schedule of workshops and meetings in the Winter and Spring quarters in announced by an email to all CNAS faculty. Workshop times are determined by the teaching schedules of all CNAS assistant professors who have not participated in an ARA Professional Development workshop.
These workshops are particularly useful for assistant professors. All CNAS faculty may attend the workshop. We encourage repeating the professional development workshop, as the needs and perspectives of early-career faculty members change over time. The presence of senior assistant professors and associate/full professors enrich workshop discussions; they are encouraged to attend.
Workshop | Date | Location | Facilitators | Link |
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduction to the ARA Mentoring Program | Mid-January 2026 | TBD | ARA Director | TBD |
Self-advocacy and the Merit & Promotion Process | Mid-February 2026 | TBD | ARA working group; two CNAS Chairs; a CNAS Divisional Dean | TBD |
The Art of Saying No | Mid-March 2026 | TBD | ARA working group | TBD |
Leading Successful Teams in Academe | Mid-April 2026 | TBD | ARA working group | TBD |
Self-Statements and the Merit & Promotion Process | Mid-May 2026 | TBD | ARA working group; former CAP Chair; a CNAS Divisional Dean | TBD |