Well-being

Strengthening Faculty Support Systems Beyond Informal Networks

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Faculty support systems in higher education and institutional strategy

Faculty support systems are central to research productivity, mentoring continuity, academic leadership development, and long term faculty retention strategies. Any effective faculty development strategy depends on them functioning reliably across departments and career stages. The State of Faculty Development 2026 findings suggest that while many institutions have formal support systems in place, a growing share … Read more

Access the Recording: How to Create and Maintain Healthy Boundaries

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How to Create and Maintain Healthy Boundaries Webinar Recording

Facilitator: Lisa Hanasono, PhDProfessorBowling Green State University Build boundaries that support productivity, balance, and long-term success. On-Demand Webinar Recording Feeling stretched thin? Saying “yes” too often? Struggling to maintain balance with students, colleagues, and constant demands? You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep operating at the edge of burnout. Access the recording of … Read more

The 2026 State of Faculty Development in Higher Education Survey Report

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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

The Loneliness of Academic Life and How to Break the Cycle

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academic support

Author: NCFDD Academic loneliness is more common than many faculty are willing to admit. Academic life is often portrayed as collaborative, intellectual, and community driven. In reality, many faculty describe it as isolating from the earliest stages of graduate school through the years leading to tenure. The pressure to perform, the expectation to manage everything … Read more

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

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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

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

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end of year reflection

Author: Rebecca Pope-Ruark I spend a lot of my time teaching faculty and academic leaders about burnout, which the World Health Organization (2019) defines as “a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” It has three characteristics: exhaustion, depersonalization or cynicism toward those you work with, and real or perceived … Read more

Beyond Burnout: Small Shifts That Help Faculty Recharge and Refocus

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Relaxing

Burnout in higher education is widespread and deeply felt. Faculty are teaching, mentoring, researching, and serving their institutions all at once. The workload rarely slows down, and many academics find themselves running on empty long before the semester ends. What was once fulfilling can start to feel like survival. Recognizing burnout is not a sign … Read more

Stop Going It Alone: How Academic Community Fuels Real Progress

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academic community

Faculty life is often described as a balancing act. Teaching, research, service, and personal responsibilities compete for attention, and the instinct for many academics is to grit their teeth and simply push harder. Late nights, working through weekends, and skipping breaks are treated as badges of honor. The message is clear: if you are strong … Read more