From: Heather Boon, Vice-Provost, Faculty & Academic Life 
Date: June 20, 2025 
Re:  Provostial Funding for the NCFDD Faculty Success Program (FSP) & Post-Tenure Pathfinders Program (PTP), 2025-26  

The Faculty Success Program (FSP) and the Post-Tenure Pathfinders Program (PTP) are key offerings from NCFDD, an organization that supports “faculty members, postdocs and graduate students in making successful transitions throughout their careers.” The University of Toronto continues to maintain an institutional membership with NCFDD and encourages faculty and graduate students to register for a free subaccount to take advantage of a robust suite of professional development online programs. 

Since 2015, more than 1,600 University of Toronto faculty and students have registered for a subaccount with the organization. Many have let us know that they find the resources and webinars to be valuable. 

The University of Toronto has reserved 50 FSP seats and 5 PTP seats for faculty at a reduced rate for the 2025-26 academic year. The Provost’s Office will continue to contribute 50% of the costs associated with the FSP and PTP programs for these seats, provided that the home unit or Dean’s Office contributes the remainder of the funds. Additional seats may be available, but they will not be at the reduced rate nor will they be eligible for reimbursement through the Provost’s Office. 

This memo provides details about the FSP and PTP programs, followed by information on the reimbursement process that will apply to both programs.  

Faculty Success Program 

The Faculty Success Program is an intensive 10-week virtual program “designed to help faculty members increase productivity, establish sustainable writing habits, and create work-life balance – all with the support of expert coaching and a dedicated community of peers.” The program is offered three times per academic year (see table below for dates).  Faculty members in the following groups are eligible for Provostial funding provided that the Dean’s Office covers 50% of the tuition: 1. Tenure stream faculty at all ranks; 2. Continuing stream teaching stream faculty at all ranks; and 3. Part-time faculty in continuing appointments in both teaching and non-tenure streams. 

For the 2025-26 academic year, the University has reserved 50 FSP seats at $3,335 USD per seat (regular price is $5,250 USD). Approximately 20 seats are available for the Fall 2025 session, 10 seats for the Spring 2026 session, and 20 seats for the Summer 2026 session. VPFAL will notify Dean’s Offices when the registration period for each session opens and when the allotment for each session has been filled. VPFAL will manage a waitlist of any additional names that are put forward. Additional seats may be available, but they will not be at the reduced rate nor will they be eligible for reimbursement through the Provost’s Office. 

Post-Tenure Pathfinders Program 

The Post-Tenure Pathfinders Program is a 12-week virtual program designed for tenured FSP alumni offered once per academic year. The next session will run May 18-August 9, 2026 and provides recently tenured faculty “with the space to reflect, explore possibilities, and build the support network necessary to move confidently into the next chapter of their careers.” Tenured faculty who have participated in the FSP are eligible for Provostial funding provided that the Dean’s Office covers 50% of the tuition. 

For the 2025-26 academic year, the University has reserved 5 PTP seats at $3198.20 USD per seat (regular price is $4,250 USD). VPFAL will notify Dean’s Offices when the registration period for the session opens and when the allotment has been filled. VPFAL will manage a waitlist of any additional names that are put forward. Additional seats may be available, but they will not be at the reduced rate nor will they be eligible for reimbursement through the Provost’s Office. 

Reimbursement Process for FSP and PTP Programs 

Details about the application and reimbursement process are as follows: 

1. Dean’s Offices will communicate details about the FSP and PTP programs to eligible faculty members. VPFAL will provide a communications template for the FSP program to Dean’s Offices. 

2. To be eligible for reimbursement, faculty members interested in enrolling in either program must first notify their Dean’s Office (and cc their Chair/Director/Principal in the case of Multi-Department Faculties). Faculty members should not register independently with NCFDD, as they will not be eligible for reimbursement through the Provost’s Office.  

3. Dean’s Offices will review funding eligibility as detailed above and direct any questions to vpfal.prof.dev@utoronto.ca. 

4. For each candidate that the Dean has committed to fund, the Dean’s Office will fill out the NCFDD Programs Request for Provostial Funding Form, 2025-26 by the internal registration deadline for each session (see table below). 

5. VPFAL will confirm with the Dean’s Office that the candidate is eligible for Provostial funding within two weeks after the internal registration deadline. The Dean’s Office will notify the faculty member that they will be enrolled in the program.  

6. VPFAL will submit registrations on behalf of University of Toronto faculty members approved for Provostial funding. 

7. VPFAL will manage the payment process for those approved for Provostial funding and will charge 50% of the associated costs directly to the Dean’s Office. 

NCFDD Programming Session Dates and Deadlines 

Please direct any questions related to this memo to  vpfal.prof.dev@utoronto.ca.