At NCFDD, we’ve spent the past 15 years building programs, tools, and resources to support faculty development at every career stage. But one thing we kept hearing from graduate students, new assistant professors, and tenured faculty alike was this:
“I feel like I’m doing this alone.”
Whether it’s the pressure to publish, the struggle to navigate department dynamics, or just the everyday reality of being pulled in too many directions, academic life can be isolating. Peer support is often informal (at best), and finding others who truly understand your experience can feel like a matter of luck.
We built the NCFDD Community to change that.
Filling the Gaps: What’s Different About This Space
Unlike open platforms or social networks, the NCFDD Community is a private online space focused on faculty professional development, exclusively for members. It was created to foster connection, support, and shared learning among faculty across institutions and disciplines. That means it’s full of people who get it…because they’re living it, too.
Inside the Community, you’ll find:
- Career stage-specific discussion groups so you can connect with peers who understand the challenges of your current role
- Weekly threads like the Monday Motivator to offer strategies and solidarity, and the Wednesday Wisdom prompts to crowdsource advice from the thousands of bright minds in the community
- Recaps of webinars and blog posts that invite deeper conversation
- A safe place to ask questions, share insights, and build lasting professional relationships
This isn’t just another forum. It’s an intentional space designed to make faculty life less isolating and more sustainable.
Aligned With Our Vision, Built With You
The NCFDD Community is an extension of our long-standing commitment to helping faculty thrive. We believe professional development should be collaborative, ongoing, and grounded in shared experience. This space brings that philosophy to life in a new way.
In fact, our beta users helped shape the space. During our soft launch, members shared what they needed most, from topic suggestions to tone-setting. Their input led to improvements in layout, prompts, and the tone of our weekly discussion series.
A Glimpse Inside: Real Conversations, Real Support
What does this look like in action? Here are just a few anonymized moments from inside the Community:
- In a Monday Motivator thread about uncertainty and fear, one member offered:
“This post couldn’t have come at a better time. It hit very hard. It really does hold up a mirror to the patterns I have been in for a few years now. ” - In a Monday Motivator thread, an assistant professor said:
“I’ve definitely been feeling like the Monday Motivators have my name written all over them lately!” - In the Mid-Career space, members are letting each other know they aren’t alone in writing perfectionism:
“I feel this. My brain wants it to be close to perfect before sending it out.”
These kinds of interactions are already helping faculty feel seen, supported, and more connected.
What’s Next (and How to Join)
The NCFDD Community is open now, and we’re kicking off our launch with weekly giveaways tied to our Wednesday Wisdom series. Each week in August, when you share your advice or perspective to the weekly Wednesday Wisdom prompt, you’ll be entered to win a seat in one of our flagship programs (Faculty Success Program, Department Chair Success Program, etc).
Whether you want to connect with peers, ask a question, or just see what others are talking about, this is your space.
Ready to jump in? Log in to the Community here.
We hope you’ll find camaraderie, accountability, and encouragement here—because faculty success should never be a solo journey.