Future Faculty Fellowship Program

The purpose of the King • Chávez • Parks Future Faculty Fellowship Program is to increase the pool of minority candidates pursuing postsecondary faculty teaching careers in Michigan.

The program was created by the Michigan State Legislature in 1986 as part of the larger King • Chávez • Parks Initiative, designed to stem the downward spiral of college graduation rates for students underrepresented in postsecondary education. Future Faculty Fellows are eligible to pursue a masters or doctoral degree at public universities in Michigan. Future Faculty Fellowship graduates are obligated, by signed agreement, to remain in teaching employment in a postsecondary institution in Michigan or in a state with which Michigan has established a reciprocity agreement for a minimum of three years, equivalent of full-time. Michigan currently has a reciprocity agreement with the state of Illinois. Fellows who do not fulfill the obligations of their fellowship agreement may be placed in default, which results in their fellowship converting to a King • Chávez • Parks Initiative loan that the fellow must repay to the State of Michigan.

The King • Chávez • Parks Initiative, part of the MDCD Postsecondary Services, provides oversight to the Future Faculty Fellowship Program and technical assistance to participating universities. At least twice per year, the King • Chávez • Parks Initiative hosts a statewide meeting of Future Faculty Fellowship Coordinators to provide an opportunity for programs to exchange information on successful Future Faculty Fellowship Programs, keep abreast of educational reform, and provide useful suggestions to improve programs.

The Joint Fellows Conference, held annually in collaboration and partnership with Illinois and Michigan’s 15 public universities, provides networking and professional development opportunities for Future Faculty Fellowship Program participants.

The program also publishes the Directory of Graduates and Potential Degree Recipients. For more information on the Future Faculty Fellowship Program,