The Early Career Success Program is designed to empower new assistant professors by accelerating their transition to faculty life. The program will impart crucial knowledge about the University, enhance research skills, and set up new faculty to be thriving members of the University of Chicago academic community. This is a cohort-based initiative, in which new faculty engage in hands-on learning through a series of workshops and participate in mentor-facilitated group meetings to reflect upon their goals and discuss new challenges.  

The program is geared toward new tenure-track assistant professors. It will include five workshops over the course of the academic year. Faculty will also participate in small-group peer mentoring that will allow for engagement with colleagues across the University.

The Academic Ecosystem: How the University Works    

As faculty, it can be helpful to gain a broader view of how the University operates. This session will provide exclusive insight from multiple University leaders, with tips on how to find and navigate your own place in the institution and your path toward tenure, with the goal of professional empowerment and success. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Friday, October 16, 2026

Time Management and Peer Mentorship for Maximizing Productivity and Minimizing Stress 

In addition to launching a research program, new faculty will be expected to take on a number of other responsibilities including teaching, service, and generally adapting to their new life at the University of Chicago. This session will feature faculty experts who offer research-informed frameworks for optimizing your time for maximum research impact and personal fulfillment. It will also introduce participants to senior faculty mentors for additional perspectives and advice. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Friday, December 4, 2026

The Evolving Research Agenda: Defining and Refining Your Scholarly Identity 

Launching a faculty career requires more than executing a pre-formed research plan. It involves actively shaping a scholarly identity that can grow and adapt over time. This workshop invites participants to reflect on how their research questions have evolved and where they are headed, through a structured individual exercise and facilitated small-group discussion. A cross-divisional panel of University of Chicago faculty will share candid reflections on how their own research agendas have shifted across their careers, offering practical perspectives on navigating change, seizing new opportunities, and sustaining intellectual momentum. Participants will leave with a clearer sense of their evolving scholarly identity and concrete strategies for developing a research agenda that is both ambitious and adaptable. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Friday, February 19, 2027

Effective Academic Writing: From Grants and Book Proposals to Finished Manuscripts  

Making the transition to a first faculty job often raises the importance of effective and persuasive academic writing. This session, led by writing and publishing professionals, will include training on advanced strategies of persuasive academic writing, plus breakout groups for book and grant fields in which participants will hear from experts who train and advise faculty on a range of writing applications. 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Friday, April 16, 2027

Navigating Key Relationships in Academic Life 

A thriving faculty career is built not only on individual achievement but on a network of meaningful relationships — with mentors, collaborators, colleagues, and others who support your growth and open new opportunities. This workshop invites participants to take stock of their current relationships, identify gaps, and develop strategies for cultivating the connections that matter most at this stage of their careers. Through a guided reflection exercise and a panel discussion featuring experienced faculty, participants will gain practical insight into how to build and navigate the relationships that sustain long-term scholarly success and professional fulfillment. 2 to 5 p.m., Wednesday, May 26, 2027

Questions? Contact Mike Tessel, Assistant Provost (tessel@uchicago.edu)