NCFDD
Registration is now open for RAMS WRITE, a 14-Day Writing Challenge
March 2-15, 2026
RAMS WRITE is a VCU-exclusive NCFDD writing challenge is an opportunity for faculty to experiment with daily writing, online community, and supportive accountability.
Registration closes on February 22.
NCFDD is a nationally recognized organization that provides faculty with professional development, mentoring, and resources to support success throughout their careers. Through its online platform, faculty can access research productivity tools, writing support, time management strategies, and guidance for navigating the challenges of academia. As part of an institutional membership, VCU faculty can access a range of NCFDD’s resources at no cost.
NCFDD provides a variety of virtual programs and resources including:
- Weekly Monday Motivator
- Monthly Core Curriculum Webinars
- Monthly Guest Expert Webinars
- Access to Multi-Week Courses
- Access to Dissertation Success Curriculum for graduate students
- Private Discussion Forum for peer-mentoring, problem-solving, and moderated writing challenges
- Monthly accountability buddy matches
- Access to 14-Day Writing Challenges
- Access to the Member Library that includes past webinar materials, referrals, and readings
Curated NCFDD Content by Faculty Position
Term/Professional Track Faculty
Core Curriculum
- Every Semester Needs a Plan
- How to Align Your Time With Your Priorities
- How to Develop a Daily Writing Practice
- Mastering Academic Time Management
- Moving from Resistance to Writing
- The Art of Saying No
- Cultivating Your Network of Mentors, Sponsors, & Collaborators
- Overcoming Academic Perfectionism
- How to Engage in Healthy Conflict
- How to Manage Stress, Rejection & the Haters in Your Midst
- Virtual Writing Session
Guest Expert Webinars
- Every Career Chapter Needs a Plan
- How to Create and Maintain Healthier Boundaries
- The Weekly Meeting
- The Retention Equation: Negotiating for Academic Success
- The 3 P's to Plan Your Professional Pivot
- Supporting Faculty Well-Being
- AI in Academia
- What I Wished I Would Have Known as a New Full-Time Faculty Member
- Mentorship: Efficient and Effective Practices
- 5 Tips for Avoiding the Summer Slump
- Knowing Your Worth
- Ten UDL-Aligned Strategies for Supporting Students with ADHD
Additional Resources
Tenure Track Faculty
Core Curriculum
- Every Semester Needs a Plan
- How to Align Your Time With Your Priorities
- How to Develop a Daily Writing Practice
- Mastering Academic Time Management
- Moving from Resistance to Writing
- The Art of Saying No
- Cultivating Your Network of Mentors, Sponsors, & Collaborators
- Overcoming Academic Perfectionism
- How to Engage in Healthy Conflict
- How to Manage Stress, Rejection & the Haters in Your Midst
- Virtual Writing Session
Guest Expert Webinars
- Every Career Chapter Needs a Plan
- How to Create and Maintain Healthier Boundaries
- The Weekly Meeting
- The Retention Equation: Negotiating for Academic Success
- How to Craft and Submit a Winning Book Proposal in 4 Weeks
- Mentorship: Efficient and Effective Practices
- Preparing Tenure and Promotion Materials
- What I Wished I Would Have Known After Becoming a Full Professor
- Drama Free Collaborations
- How to be a Strong Sponsor and Advocate for Faculty
- Imposter Syndrome
- AI in Academia
- What I Wished I Would Have Known as a New Full-Time Faculty Member
- Supporting Faculty Well-Being
- Ten UDL-Aligned Strategies for Supporting Students with ADHD
- Being Agile in Uncertain Times: Scrum Project Management for Faculty
Additional Resources
Tenured Faculty
Core Curriculum
- Every Semester Needs a Plan
- How to Align Your Time With Your Priorities
- How to Develop a Daily Writing Practice
- Mastering Academic Time Management
- Moving from Resistance to Writing
- The Art of Saying No
- Cultivating Your Network of Mentors, Sponsors, & Collaborators
- Overcoming Academic Perfectionism
- How to Engage in Healthy Conflict
- How to Manage Stress, Rejection & the Haters in Your Midst
- Virtual Writing Session
Guest Expert Webinars
- Every Career Chapter Needs a Plan
- How to Create and Maintain Healthier Boundaries
- The Weekly Meeting
- The Retention Equation: Negotiating for Academic Success
- Rewriting the Retention Equation: Strategies to Reward, Recognize, and Retain Faculty
- Building a Publishing Pipeline
- What I Wished I Would Have Known After Earning Tenure
- What I Wished I Would Have Known: Transitioning to Department Chair
- Creating a Culture of Support for All Faculty
- How to be a Strong Sponsor and Advocate for Faculty
- Making the Case: Preparing Your Dossier for Promotion to Full Professor
- Supporting Faculty Well-Being
- Mentorship: Efficient and Effective Practices
- Cultivating Structural and Systemic Change
- Ten UDL-Aligned Strategies for Supporting Students with ADHD
- Being Agile in Uncertain Times: Scrum Project Management for Faculty
Additional Resources
Leadership
Core Curriculum
- Every Semester Needs a Plan
- How to Align Your Time With Your Priorities
- How to Develop a Daily Writing Practice
- Mastering Academic Time Management
- Moving from Resistance to Writing
- The Art of Saying No
- Cultivating Your Network of Mentors, Sponsors, & Collaborators
- Overcoming Academic Perfectionism
- How to Engage in Healthy Conflict
- How to Manage Stress, Rejection & the Haters in Your Midst
Guest Expert Webinars
- Academic Leadership: When, Why, and How to Step Up
- Mentorship: Efficient and Effective Practices
- What I Wished I Would Have Known: Transitioning to Department Chair
- What I Wished I Would Have Known as an Academic Leader and University Administrator
- Creating a Culture of Support for All Faculty
- How to be a Strong Sponsor and Advocate for Faculty
- Supporting Faculty Well-Being
- From a Chair's Perspective
- Leadership: Cultivating Your Mentorship Network
- Building Strong Peer Communities: A Resource for Leadership and Advancement
Additional Resources