UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Applications are open now for the Faculty Affairs Residency (FAR), a semester-long opportunity designed to immerse Penn State faculty in the operational and strategic work that supports faculty success across the institution.
This new initiative offers full-time faculty a chance to step into the administrative side of academia, working directly with leaders in the Office of Faculty Affairs on projects that shape policy, professional development and institutional processes. FAR is not a fellowship or shadowing experience — it is a working residency designed for faculty who are curious about leadership and ready to engage deeply with the inner workings of academic administration.
Residents will take on high-impact, hands-on assignments such as drafting proposals, benchmarking policies, designing evaluation frameworks and helping implement shifts in faculty lifecycle processes like onboarding and mentoring. Participants will attend relevant meetings, manage their own workflows and deliverables and submit a final report or portfolio at the end of the semester summarizing their contributions and recommendations.
To support this engagement, participants will receive a one-course buyout during the spring 2026 term.
The program is open to full-time faculty — either tenure-line or non-tenure-line with multi-year appointments — who currently hold the second rank (typically associate professor or equivalent) and have at least five consecutive years of faculty experience at Penn State. The program is especially well-suited for faculty with prior leadership or administrative experience who are comfortable working independently, coordinating complex projects and exercising discretion and confidentiality.
“The Faculty Affairs Residency is a unique opportunity for faculty to contribute to the University’s core administrative efforts while building experience and insight into academic leadership,” said Ann Clements, associate vice provost for Faculty Affairs. “It’s ideal for those who are intellectually curious, practically minded and excited to help shape systems and policies that support our faculty community.”
Interested faculty are invited to submit an online application by May 9. The application requires a current CV, a statement of interest outlining motivations, qualifications and project area preferences. Applicants will be notified of the selection outcome by late May 2025.
For more information, contact Ann Clements at acc13@psu.edu.