At Wake Forest, the teacher-scholar model is rooted in the belief that teaching and research are mutually enriching pursuits. Through CULTIVATE, that philosophy comes to life by providing faculty with the mentorship, community, and structured guidance needed to advance their scholarly ambitions. The program affirms Wake Forest’s mission to educate the whole person and to generate knowledge that serves humanity—helping faculty grow as both educators and creators of new ideas.
Our Mission
CULTIVATE provides structured, tailored support for faculty pursuing external funding for their research, scholarship, or creative work. The program nurtures faculty growth as teacher-scholars by combining one-on-one coaching, peer review, and community-building in an environment that celebrates innovation and excellence.
Program Goals:
CULTIVATE is designed to:
- Build community among faculty through a cohort-based model that encourages connection, shared learning, and mutual accountability.
- Provide tailored mentorship through one-on-one coaching, workshops, and proposal development support.
- Develop submission-ready proposals via Quality Circles — small peer review panels modeled on professional grant review processes.
- Empower faculty to sustain long-term success in securing external funding and growing their research impact.
By the end of the program, each participant will have at least one submission-ready proposal and a strengthened foundation for future success.
What are Quality Circles?
Quality Circles are small peer-review groups that help participants refine their proposals before submission.
Each participant:
- Submits a near-final draft for peer review
- Reviews 2–3 proposals from colleagues with similar funding targets (e.g., NIH R01, NSF CAREER, NEH)
- Participates in a live mock review panel discussion
Benefits include:
- Constructive feedback grounded in real-world review criteria
- Experience serving on a proposal review panel
- Insight into diverse proposal strategies and perspectives
These circles not only improve proposal quality but also strengthen interdisciplinary understanding and community among faculty researchers.