Chancellor's Doctoral Incentive Program

CDIP

The provides an opportunity for exceptional applicants interested in
faculty careers in the CSU or institutions similarly focused on economic and social mobility to receive
comprehensive support during their doctoral studies. CDIP is designed for aspiring professors who want to
prepare for rewarding careers that balance student-centered teaching and research while earning a doctorate. Through
career development programming and mentoring by CSU faculty, we train doctoral students across the United
States to become professors who promote the academic success of all students.

Since 1987, the Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program has supported more than 2,400 fellows in pursuing their doctoral degrees through mentoring, financial assistance, and professional development. Of those who have completed their doctorates, 69% have secured faculty positions within the CSU, making them eligible for loan forgiveness under the program. Many other CDIP fellows have gone on to faculty roles at institutions nationwide or have completed postdoctoral appointments that prepare them for academic careers.

CDIP is open to domestic and international students and to those applying or already attending U.S. doctoral programs. DACA students are also eligible.

Mentorship Support

CDIP supports the success of the doctoral students through mentorship by current CSU faculty. Through collaborative teaching, research and service activities, faculty mentors:

Support the CDIP fellows' successful completion of their doctoral studies;
Develop the CDIP fellows' potential for employment in an instructional faculty position at a CSU.
Engage in collaborative scholarly, creative, or research activities.
Participate in service activities that intentionally support the success of diverse student populations.

Internal Grant Funding

CDIP grants support collaborative work between fellows and their CSU faculty mentors. Fellows may apply for grant funds to advance their doctoral training, participate in professional conferences and workshops, and strengthen their research and scholarly activities. These grants provide seed funding to help fellows build the skills and experience needed to effectively serve the diverse students of the CSU.

Doctoral Education Support Grant provides up to $2,500 yearly for resources to support the successful completion of the fellow's doctoral training and strengthen their competitiveness for tenure-track faculty positions within the CSU. Funds may be used for doctoral-related expenses such as supplies, software, cloud storage, professional services, memberships, journal subscriptions, and training. Awards are competitive and not guaranteed.
The Conference Travel Grant provides up to $1,500 each for CDIP Fellows and their CSU Faculty Mentors to attend or present at disciplinary conferences related to the fellow’s field of study. Fellows submit the application on behalf of themselves and, if applicable, their mentor traveling to the same event. This is a competitive funding opportunity, with priority given to fellows who will be presenting.
Fellows who have advanced to candidacy are eligible to apply for a Dissertation Fellowship Award of $5,000 to support them in their final year of their doctoral studies.
CDIP Fellows are eligible to receive membership to the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD), a national professional development and mentoring community that supports over 71,000 faculty, postdocs, and graduate students. If a fellow’s doctoral institution does not have an institutional membership, CDIP will cover the cost of an individual student membership ($495).

CSU Pre-Professor Program (PREPP)

The Pre-Professor Program (PREPP) helps CDIP Fellows prepare for faculty roles through a semester-long experience at a CSU campus. Fellows are paired with a CSU Faculty Mentor and gain firsthand exposure to faculty life at a master’s-granting institution, with a focus on teaching, curriculum development, mentoring students, and service. Participants also meet with department chairs and faculty, learn about CSU research practices, receive guidance on tenure and promotion expectations, and develop materials such as teaching and diversity statements for future faculty applications.

PREPP Fellows are paired with a CSU Faculty Mentor to gain hands-on experience in teaching, mentoring, and service at a master’s-granting institution. Fellows engage with department chairs and faculty to explore faculty life, learn about tenure and promotion, gain teaching experience, and receive guidance on crafting teaching and diversity statements for faculty applications.

Financial Loan

CDIP offers optional educational loans up to $10,000 per year over five years, with a maximum amount of $30,000. The loans are:

The optional loan is repayable up to a 15-year period commencing one year after completion of, or withdrawal from, full-time doctoral study. Interest is not charged until the repayment period begins.
The optional loan is forgivable at the rate of 20% for each year of full-time postdoctoral teaching employment in the CSU or 10% for each year of half-time postdoctoral teaching employment in the CSU. The amount forgiven is income, and it will be taxed.
The interest rate for funds borrowed is 5 percent per annum.
The minimum repayment required for a $30,000 loan is approximately $237 per month to amortize the 5 percent per annum loan over a 15-year period.
Funding available for the loan program depends upon approval of the CSU budget each year.

CDIP does not restrict participants from receiving other financial aid or earning income.

Important Dates for Current Cycle

CDIP Applications Open Via Smartsheet: December 8, 2025
Campus Review Date: February 9, 2026
Completed Application Submission Deadline: February 16, 2026
Letters of Recommendation Due: March 2, 2026
Notification Date: June/July 2026

For more information about the loan program, please review the , including Loan Cancellation and Repayment and Loan FAQs.

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ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Academic Status

The Chancellor's Doctoral Incentive Program is intended to support doctoral students who will pursue CSU instructional faculty positions. Those who meet one of the following criteria are eligible to apply to the CDIP:
- New or continuing full-time doctoral students currently enrolled in an accredited program in the U.S.
- Individuals in the process of applying to accredited doctoral programs in the U.S. for the upcoming year
CSU Employment
- Lecturers who are enrolled full-time in a doctoral program are eligible and encouraged to apply. Probationary or tenured faculty members in the CSU are not eligible, however, regardless of their status in a doctoral program;
- Although enrollment or employment in the CSU is not required for participation in the program, approximately one-fourth of the awards are expected to be made to applicants who have served in the last two years in CSU positions represented by the California Faculty Association.
Professional Doctoral Programs

Most professional doctoral degree programs (such as EdD, DNP, DPT, and PsyD) are designed for entrance into a non-academic career. Applicants in a professional doctoral program may apply to the CDIP ONLY if they plan to pursue a tenure-track instructional faculty position AND their doctoral program's mission includes preparation and training of future university faculty members (evidence of latter must be provided by applicant).

Citizenship

U.S. citizenship is not required, but applicants must be eligible to work in the United States.

Information about eligibility and selection criteria can be found on the webpage.
APPLICATION COMPONENTS
The CDIP application has two parts: one to be completed by the student applicant, and the other by the applicant in collaboration with the CSU Faculty Mentor. Funds will only be disbursed if the applicant enrolls at an institution they proposed in the application.

To apply to CDIP, you'll need to provide the following Application Materials:

Curriculum Vitae (4 pages maximum, 12pt font)

Your CV should should highlight your education, research, teaching, service, awards, and other experiences that demonstrate your preparation and dedication to a faculty career. Include the following, as applicable:
- Education: Degrees earned or in progress.
- Research: Presentations, publications, works in progress, or research assistant experience.
- Teaching: Teaching assistant or instructional experience, tutoring, or supplemental instruction.
- Service and Leadership: Student leadership, campus involvement, or community service activities.
- Awards and Honors: Scholarships, fellowships, or recognitions related to your academic work.
- You may also include any employment or professional experience relevant to your scholarly or teaching development.
Essays (300-600 words each, 12pt font)
1. Describe a field of study you would like to pursue for a doctoral degree. What are the specific research questions or theoretical perspectives that interest you? What activities or achievements from past experiences have helped you develop important knowledge and skills related to these research interests? Be specific about your interests, but please use language that someone outside of your discipline would understand.
2. Describe your interest in a faculty career serving a diverse student body and your interest in a university system that centers inclusive excellence, student success, and social mobility. What experiences in your education draw you to this career? What specific research, mentoring, or teaching activities interest you based on your past experiences? How have these experiences developed interpersonal skills related to working with people from different backgrounds? Be specific with concrete examples of leadership or group activities related to educational, research, work, and/or community service settings.
3. Describe how the teaching, research, and service activities outlined in your Collaborative Plan of Support (CPS) will support your career as a future faculty committed to helping students from diverse backgrounds achieve their aspirations. What specific mentoring activities (e.g. collaboration in teaching, research, and service) outlined in your CPS will prepare you for a role as a future faculty in the CSU? What past experiences support your CPS? How will the duration of the proposed CPS help you develop important teaching, research, and service skills that will prepare you for faculty position in the CSU? Be specific with concrete examples of collaborative mentorship activities.
Collaborative Plan of Support

Applicants to the program must have a CSU faculty mentor. The faculty mentor must be full-time tenured/tenure-track CSU faculty member. The objectives of the mentor/student interactions are to assist the student in his/her doctoral program, to help the student understand the workings of higher education institutions and the faculty labor market specific to particular disciplines, and to aid the student in the development of skills relevant to success as a CSU tenure-track faculty member. Please see for more information about CDIP faculty mentor’s role and eligibility.

Faculty mentor and applicant are required to jointly develop a written plan of support describing how they intend to maintain communication and collaborate. The plan should describe clearly defined activities with a timeline that is designed to assist the applicant through his/her doctoral studies. The quality of this support plan is critically important in the application selection process.

The CPS should describe specific yearly activities and timelines focused on the three areas of faculty development:
- Teaching (e.g., co-developing syllabi, participating in teaching workshops, engaging in accessible and inclusive pedagogy)
- Research and Scholarly Activities (e.g., joint research, publications, conference presentations, grant development)
- Service and Leadership (e.g., mentoring students, participating in professional organizations, or community-engaged projects)
Applicants and mentors are encouraged to align planned activities with CDIP opportunities such as the Doctoral Education Support Grant (DESG), Conference Travel Grant, Dissertation Year Award or Optional Loan.

The plan should demonstrate:
- Clear communication and collaboration between the applicant and mentor
- Realistic milestones that align with the applicant’s progress through the doctoral program
- Familiarity with the CSU’s mission, governance, and expectations for tenure-track faculty
The CPS must also include a short statement from the faculty mentor attesting to the applicant’s potential as a future CSU faculty member (this statement may be included as part of the mentor’s letter of recommendation).

Samples for Plan of Support: |

Note: The samples indicate the range of styles, content and format that CDIP applicants use in the Collaborative Plan of Support attachments. All identifying information has been removed from these actual submitted statements.

Letter of Recommendation

Two letters of recommendation: One letter must be from your faculty mentor. If you are currently in a doctoral program, the other letter must be from a faculty member at that institution.

You will input your recommender's information into Smartsheet and they will be emailed a link to upload their recommendation after you submit your application.
APPLICATION PROCESS
1. Review the components of the application.
2. Although not mandatory, it is strongly suggested that you have the Campus Coordinator review your application before submitting to . Please send your materials to Nam Nguyen at gradstudies@csusm.edu by no later than February 9, 2026.
3. Please note, the application must be completed in one sitting. You cannot save the application in progress. Have all materials prepared and ready to submit before you begin the application form through
4. After you submit your application to , your recommenders will be sent an email request to upload their letters of recommendation.
IMPORTANT DATES
- Campus Review Date: February 9, 2026
- Completed Application Submission Deadline via : February 16, 2026
- Letters of Recommendation Due: March 2, 2026
- Notification Date: End of July 2026
SELECTION CRITERIA
Two criteria are used to make selections to the Chancellor's Doctoral Incentive Program:

Academic potential A number of factors are considered to determine the applicant's potential as a doctoral student, potential to become a tenure-track faculty member and interest in working with a diverse student population. These include:
- Potential for continual and sustained quality mentorship by CSU faculty mentor
- Applicant's academic achievement and potential as a doctoral student
- Applicant's potential to become a tenure-track professor
- Applicant's connection to the CSU and passion for CSU students
- Potential for successful collaboration between applicant and CSU faculty mentor in teaching, research and service
- Potential for continual and sustained quality mentorship by CSU faculty mentor
- Quality of the applicant's doctoral program
Academic discipline Primary consideration will be given to candidates whose proposed area of study falls where CSU campuses anticipate the greatest difficulty in filling potential future instructional faculty positions. Information from a variety of sources may be considered when evaluating this criterion.
SELECTION PROCESS

A systemwide committee evaluates the applications and makes recommendations. This systemwide committee is composed of the Faculty Director of CDIP, two representatives from Academic Senate of the CSU, a CFA member, and faculty from across the 23 campuses. Applicants will receive communication about the status of their application via email.
INFORMATION SESSIONS

Thursday, December 4, 2025 from 5:00-6:00pm.

RSVP for Zoom link.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

CDIP Brochure

We recommend reviewing the Chancellor's which includes information about the benefits of the CDIP and further resources.

Questions? Contact the �� CDIP Campus Coordinator: Nam Nguyen, gradstudies@csusm.edu

Congratulations to our CDIP Fellows

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2025-2026 AWARDEES

Hugo Peralta-Ramirez
Doctoral Program: History, University of Callifornia at Los Angeles
Mentor: Dr. Alan Malfavon, History Department

Karissa Tran
Doctoral Program: Psychology, University of Callifornia at Los Angeles
Mentor: Dr. Richard Armenta, Kinesiology Department
2024-2025 AWARDEES

Daniela Adriana Carreon
Doctoral Program: Sociology, Arizona State University
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Holling, Communications Department

Yvette Conde
Doctoral Program: Education Policy Analysis and Leadership, University of California at Riverside
Mentor: Dr. Marisol Clark-Ibañez, Sociology Department

Matthew Logan Cope-Arguello
Doctoral Program: Education Policy Analysis and Plant Pathology/Phytopathology, University of California at Davis
Mentor: Dr. Elinne Becket, Biology Department

Diana Gamez
Doctoral Program: Anthropology, University of California at Irvine
Mentor: Dr. Marisol Clark-Ibañez, Sociology Department

Rachel Ann Nortz
Doctoral Program: Education and Leadership, Pacific University
Mentor: Dr. Sue Moineau, Speech-Language Pathology Department

Ciara Sanders
Doctoral Program: Molecular Biology, Princeton University
Mentor: Dr. Elinne Becket, Biology Department

Emmanuel Solis
Doctoral Program: Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University
Mentor: Dr. Carlos Luna, Biology Department
2023-2024 AWARDEES

Juan R. Sandoval
Doctoral Program: Criminology, Law and Society, University of Callifornia at Irvine
Mentor: Dr. Xuan Santos, Sociology Department

Demeturie Toso-Lafaele Gogue
Doctoral Program: Education, University of Callifornia at Los Angeles
Mentor: Dr. Theresa Suarez, Sociology Department
2021-2022 AWARDEE
Annie Le
Doctoral Program: Education, University of Callifornia at Los Angeles
Mentor: Dr. Xuan Santos, Sociology Department
2020-2021 AWARDEE
Jordan Grasso
Doctoral Program: Social Science, University of Callifornia at Irvine
Mentor: Dr. Richelle Swan, Sociology Department
2019-2020 AWARDEES
Francisco Fernandez
Doctoral Program: Biological and Biomedical Science, Harvard University
Mentor: Dr. Matthew Escobar, Biology Department

Tara Marko
Doctoral Program: Health Professions and Related Programs, Washington State University
Mentor: Dr. Geri Schmotzer, School of Nursing
2018-2019 AWARDEES
Jacques Coulombe
Doctoral Program: Mathematics, University of Callifornia at San Diego
Mentor: Dr. Andre Kundgen, Mathematics Department

Teresa Hodges
Doctoral Program: Education, Univerisity of Hawai'i at Manoa
Mentor:Laurette McGuire, Anthropology Department

Emily Merryweather
Doctoral Program: Counseling, Oregon State University
Mentor: Dr. Sharon Hamill, Psychology Department
2017-2018 AWARDEES

Leandro Galaz
Doctoral Program: Social Work, Baylor University
Mentor: Dr. Blake Beecher, Social Work Department

Kristen Nahrstedt
Doctoral Program: Speech-Language Pathology, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
Mentor: Dr. Sue Moineau, Speech-Language Pathology Department

Jose Plascencia-Castillo
Doctoral Program: Sociology, University of Callifornia at Riverside
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Bickel, Sociology Department
2016-2017 AWARDEES
Razel Milo
Doctoral Program: Nursing, University of San Diego
Mentor: Dr. Denise Boren, School of Nursing

Victor Vega
Doctoral Program: Education, University of Callifornia at Irvine
Mentor: Dr. Laurie Stowell, School of Educataion

Lori Walkington
Doctoral Program: Sociology, University of Callifornia at Riverside
Mentor: Dr. Sharon Elise, Sociology Department
2015-2016 AWARDEES
Sarah J. Neal
Doctoral Program: Psychology
Mentor: Dr. Nancy Caine, Psychology Department

Arianne M. Schulz
Doctoral Program: Anthropology, University of Callifornia at Riverside
Mentor: Dr. Bonnie Bade, Anthropology Department