Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for College Professor

🎯 Role Definition

A College Professor is an experienced academic responsible for designing and delivering undergraduate and graduate-level curriculum, conducting and publishing original research, mentoring and advising students, securing external research funding, and contributing to departmental governance and institutional service. This role balances instructional excellence, scholarly productivity, and meaningful service, with expectations that may include tenure-track milestones, leadership in interdisciplinary initiatives, and active engagement in community and industry partnerships. Keywords: teaching, research, tenure-track, curriculum development, grant writing, student mentoring, peer-reviewed publications, accreditation, academic leadership.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Postdoctoral Research Fellow with demonstrated teaching experience and publications.
Adjunct Lecturer or Visiting Instructor with course design and delivery experience.
PhD Candidate or recent PhD graduate with a record of teaching assistantships and scholarly output.

Advancement To:

Associate Professor (tenure-track promotion following successful review).
Full Professor / Endowed Chair (senior academic leadership and recognition).
Department Chair, Program Director, or Dean (administrative leadership roles).

Lateral Moves:

Director of Undergraduate/Graduate Programs or Curriculum Specialist.
Research Center Director, Academic Advisor, or Educational Developer.

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design, develop, and deliver high-quality undergraduate and graduate courses using evidence-based pedagogy, learning outcomes, and inclusive teaching strategies that support student success and retention.
Prepare detailed syllabi, course materials, lecture notes, assignments, and assessments aligned with program competencies and accreditation standards, and ensure timely publication on the institutional LMS (Canvas, Blackboard, or equivalent).
Supervise, mentor, and advise undergraduate honors projects, master's theses, and doctoral dissertations, providing constructive feedback, methodological guidance, and professional development support to advance student research and career placement.
Develop and maintain a sustained program of original scholarly research, publish findings in peer-reviewed journals, and present work at national and international conferences to maintain and enhance the department's academic reputation.
Proactively pursue external research funding by preparing competitive grant proposals, managing grant budgets, complying with sponsor requirements, and reporting outcomes to funding agencies and institutional offices.
Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams across departments and external partners to develop research initiatives, joint curricula, and publicly engaged scholarship that addresses real-world problems and attracts funding.
Incorporate current technologies, data analysis tools (R, Python, SPSS, Stata) and digital pedagogies into coursework to enhance student engagement, online/hybrid course delivery, and learning analytics.
Design, implement, and evaluate assessment instruments and program-level outcomes for continuous improvement and accreditation reporting, working closely with assessment officers and curriculum committees.
Recruit, train, supervise, and mentor teaching assistants, lab staff, and research personnel, establishing clear expectations, performance standards, and safety protocols in teaching laboratories.
Maintain regular office hours, provide academic advising, career guidance, and timely written feedback to students, and engage in retention initiatives for at-risk and first-generation students.
Conduct rigorous classroom and program evaluation using qualitative and quantitative methods to iterate on course design, classroom practices, and learning outcomes.
Lead and participate in departmental, college, and university committees (e.g., curriculum, admissions, tenure and promotion) and contribute to faculty governance, strategic planning, and policy development.
Serve as primary investigator or co-investigator on funded projects, ensuring fiscal stewardship, regulatory compliance (IRB, IACUC), and timely publication and dissemination of results.
Build and maintain relationships with industry, community organizations, and alumni to create experiential learning opportunities, internships, service learning projects, and public-private partnerships.
Mentor junior faculty and postdoctoral scholars on research design, grant preparation, publication strategy, and career development, fostering a collaborative and inclusive research culture.
Participate in student recruitment, orientation events, open houses, and outreach to prospective students, families, and community stakeholders to promote degree programs and departmental strengths.
Manage laboratory facilities, specialized equipment, and research infrastructure, ensuring compliance with safety standards, inventory control, and budget oversight.
Contribute to curriculum development and program renewal by reviewing course sequences, mapping competencies, and integrating new disciplinary knowledge and workforce needs.
Provide community-engaged instruction and public scholarship through workshops, continuing education courses, policy briefs, and media engagement to increase impact beyond the academy.
Conduct peer review of manuscripts and grant proposals and serve on editorial boards or professional society committees to advance disciplinary standards and networks.
Coordinate capstone projects, internships, field placements, and industry collaborations, vetting host organizations, setting learning agreements, and evaluating student performance.
Use data-driven approaches to monitor enrollment trends, student learning outcomes, and post-graduate success metrics; recommend and implement corrective actions to improve program effectiveness.
Engage in ongoing professional development in pedagogy, diversity and inclusion, accessibility (ADA), and emerging disciplinary methods to maintain teaching excellence and institutional compliance.
Lead efforts to internationalize curriculum and research through partnerships, study-abroad programs, collaborative research, and recruitment of diverse students and scholars.

Secondary Functions

Participate in institutional accreditation reviews, preparing documentation, coordinating site visits, and implementing post-review recommendations to maintain program quality and compliance.
Assist with department-level administrative tasks such as scheduling, budgeting, space allocation, and equipment procurement to support academic operations.
Support alumni relations and fundraising initiatives by contributing expertise, participating in donor events, and helping to cultivate relationships that can support scholarships, research chairs, and program development.
Serve as a faculty representative on search committees, help recruit new faculty and staff, and participate in onboarding and mentoring of newly hired personnel.
Develop continuing education, certificate programs, and executive education offerings in collaboration with industry to diversify revenue streams and strengthen community ties.
Respond to student and institutional inquiries related to academic policies, grading appeals, and student conduct in a timely, impartial, and documented manner.
Engage in outreach to K–12 schools, community colleges, and workforce partners to build articulation agreements, dual-enrollment programs, and pipelines for underrepresented students.
Contribute to campus-wide initiatives aimed at improving diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging through curriculum content, recruitment practices, and mentorship programs.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Demonstrated expertise in subject-area pedagogy and curriculum design, with a documented record of developing course materials, assessments, and learning outcomes aligned to accreditation standards.
Advanced research skills including research design, grant proposal development, quantitative and qualitative methodologies, statistical analysis (R, Python, SPSS, Stata), and data visualization.
Proven grant writing and funding acquisition abilities, including experience preparing proposals for federal agencies (NSF, NIH), foundations, and industry sponsors.
Scholarly writing and publication record: ability to author peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, monographs, and technical reports.
Proficiency with learning management systems (Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle) and instructional technologies for in-person, hybrid, and fully online course delivery.
Experience with Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes, human subjects protection, and ethical compliance for research involving human participants.
Laboratory or field-site management skills where applicable: equipment oversight, safety protocols, budgeting, and procurement.
Competence in supervising graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and research teams, including mentorship, performance evaluation, and professional development planning.
Familiarity with accreditation processes, program assessment tools, outcome mapping, and institutional reporting requirements.
Project and budget management skills for leading research grants, center-level initiatives, and program operations.

Soft Skills

Excellent verbal and written communication tailored to diverse audiences: students, academic peers, funding agencies, and community partners.
Strong mentorship and coaching ability to support student learning, research skill development, and career advancement.
Collaborative mindset and proven success working in interdisciplinary teams and building productive cross-functional relationships.
Leadership and influence: experience chairing committees, leading initiatives, and guiding colleagues through change.
Time management and organizational skills to balance teaching, research, service, and administrative responsibilities effectively.
Critical thinking and problem-solving orientation, with a track record of translating complex ideas into actionable plans and measurable outcomes.
Cultural humility and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in teaching, research, and service.
Resilience and adaptability in a dynamic academic environment, including shifting teaching modalities and evolving institutional priorities.
Ethical judgment and integrity in research conduct, student assessment, and faculty responsibilities.
Networking and stakeholder engagement skills for community partnerships, industry collaborations, and alumni relations.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Ph.D. or terminal degree in the relevant discipline is typically required for tenure-track and full-time professor positions. For some teaching-focused or adjunct appointments, a Master's degree with substantial professional experience may be acceptable.

Preferred Education:

Doctorate (Ph.D., Ed.D., or other terminal degree) in discipline-specific field with postdoctoral experience or equivalent professional achievements.
Additional certifications in pedagogy, instructional design, or higher education leadership are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Discipline-specific graduate degrees (e.g., Biology, English, Computer Science, Business, Education, Psychology)
Interdisciplinary programs that align with departmental priorities (e.g., Data Science, Public Health, Environmental Studies)
Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Higher Education Administration (for teaching and leadership-focused roles)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3–10+ years post-degree experience depending on rank:
- Lecturer/Adjunct: 0–5 years professional/teaching experience.
- Assistant Professor (tenure-track): 0–5 years postdoctoral/research and teaching experience.
- Associate/Full Professor: 6–15+ years with demonstrated scholarship, teaching excellence, and service.

Preferred:

Record of successful teaching across modalities, active research program with peer-reviewed publications, history of external funding, and demonstrated contributions to service and curriculum development. Experience mentoring graduate students and supervising research labs or centers is highly desirable.