How Institutions Can Better Support Faculty Research Funding Without Adding More Work

Faculty research funding support without increasing workload

Author: NCFDD Faculty research funding support has become one of the most urgent and misunderstood challenges facing higher education today. As expectations around external funding increase, many institutions respond by asking faculty to do more: write more proposals, pursue more opportunities, and adapt faster to shifting funder priorities. Yet this approach often overlooks a central … Read more

The 2026 State of Faculty Development in Higher Education Survey Report

The faculty support gap in higher education is real. Over 1000 faculty and academic leaders revealed what faculty need most, and how institutions can help deliver it. Faculty development is no longer optional infrastructure. NCFDD’s national survey of 1,098 faculty and academic leaders reveals a growing divergence between what faculty need to remain productive and … Read more

Redefining Grant Funding in Higher Education

Redefining Grant Funding in Higher Education

A white paper from NCFDD, with key insights from our inaugural Rethinking Your Research Funding Course Many faculty care deeply about their research and want to pursue ambitious, meaningful work. Yet the process of securing funding often feels fragmented, rushed, and discouraging. Ideas move forward in short bursts. Feedback arrives late or not at all. … Read more

Supporting Faculty Funding Success: The Role Leadership Plays 

faculty leadership support in grant funding

For many institutions, faculty funding success is treated as an individual achievement. A strong proposal is a reflection of the scholar’s creativity, discipline, and persistence. While these qualities matter, they do not operate in isolation. Even the most skilled researchers thrive when they work within a system that provides clarity, structure, and opportunities to develop … Read more

Access the Recording: Strengthening Your Department Chair Playbook

Strengthening Your Department Chair Playbook

Facilitator: Erin Furtak, PhDProfessorUniversity of Colorado, Boulder Spotlight on Faculty Development Strategies On-Demand Webinar Recording Department chairs play a pivotal role in shaping faculty success—but the demands of the role can be challenging and isolating. Whether you’re new to the position or a seasoned leader, this on-demand webinar offers a practical look at how the … Read more

Planning for Rest and Recovery: An Agile End-of-Year Reflection

Planning for Rest and Recovery Webinar

Watch the Recording: Planning for Rest and Recovery: An Agile End-of-Year Reflectionn Host:Rebecca Pope-Ruark, PhDDirector of the Faculty Professional DevelopmentGeorgia Institute of Technology Take a deliberate pause, recharge, and step into the new year with clarity, focus, and renewed energy. Have you had a year of intense teaching, research, service, meetings, and deadlines? It’s time to … Read more

APLU Annual Meeting

SREB Institute on Teaching and Mentoring

Theme: Rising to the Moment 📍November 9–11, 2025 | Philadelphia, PA We’re excited to share that NCFDD will be attending the 2025 APLU Annual Meeting! This year’s conference theme, “Rising to the Moment,” celebrates the bold leadership and innovative spirit of public and land-grant universities as they adapt to meet extraordinary challenges and opportunities. The … Read more

SREB Institute on Teaching & Mentoring

SREB Institute on Teaching and Mentoring

Theme: Collective Brilliance: Advancing Research, Mentorship and Leadership 📍 October 30–November 2, 2025 | Atlanta, GA We’re excited to announce that NCFDD will be attending the 2025 Institute on Teaching and Mentoring, hosted by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). The conference theme, “Collective Brilliance: Advancing Research, Mentorship and Leadership,” aligns perfectly with our commitment … Read more

Free Department Chair’s Survival Guide

Chair's Survival Guide Preview Image

Lead with clarity, confidence, and balance starting today. Stepping into the chair role can feel overwhelming. This guide from NCFDD offers proven strategies to help you lead effectively, support your faculty, and protect your own well-being. Download Your Free Guide Becoming a department chair is one of the most complex transitions in academia. You are … Read more

Rethinking Your Research Funding: A Conversation with Franco Montalto, PhD

rethinking your research funding course franco montalto

Author: NCFDD Ahead of the start of our new Rethinking Your Research Funding course, we’re spotlighting the experts who helped shape the curriculum. Franco Montalto, PhD, is one such contributor, bringing extensive experience working across federal, state, local, and industry-funded projects. Franco is a Professor in the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering at … Read more