Author: Elizabeth Odders-White, PhD We all know how challenging life in academia can be, and it seems to get harder every year. The intense and varied demands lead to constant juggling, which can leave us feeling that we’re not doing anything well. Unhelpful stories like this further escalate our stress, setting off a vicious cycle. … Read more
More than 70% of faculty report cuts in professional development while nearly two-thirds report declining well-being, raising concerns about long-term impacts on teaching, research and student success DETROIT (MARCH 26, 2026) — NCFDD—a faculty success organization founded in 2010 that partners with 300+ institutions to reduce isolation, increase research productivity, and support sustainable academic career paths—today … Read more
Author: NCFDD Academic careers have always involved a degree of uncertainty. But for many faculty, the current environment feels especially difficult to navigate. Funding landscapes shift. Leadership changes. Expectations expand. Priorities move quickly. As a result, many faculty are asking a practical question: how do you maintain research productivity and steady progress in an academic … Read more
Author: NCFDD 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 … Read more
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 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
Author: Lisa Hanasono, Ph.D. The overwhelm is real! For many academics, it seems like there always will be more work to do than can possibly be done in a day, month, year, or career. From floods of emails and requests to jam-packed calendars and ever-expanding task lists, academics are managing a growing number of responsibilities, … Read more
Author: NCFDD 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 independently, and the lack of built-in peer support can make even the … Read more
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
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