BECOMING A PROFESSOR AT A PUI – PART 1: WHAT IT IS PUI AND HOW TO GET THERE

If you're a graduate student or postdoc considering a teaching-focused academic career, there's a good chance you've heard of Primarily Undergraduate Institutions, or PUIs. These institutions play a critical yet often under-discussed role in the American higher education system. In this first part of a two-part article series, we break down what PUIs are, why they matter, and how you can launch a successful faculty career at one.

This article draws from the book A Professor's Job in a Primarily Undergraduate Institution: Succeeding as a professor in a teaching-focused institution and setting up yourself for professional and financial success by Dr. M. P. Raman and Dr. Mark Orsag—a comprehensive guide to the life and career path of a PUI faculty member. If you're serious about this career path, we highly recommend checking it out.

What Is a PUI?

PUIs are higher education institutions that emphasize undergraduate education as their core mission. While many associate academic prestige with large research universities (R1s and R2s), PUIs focus on classroom teaching, student mentoring, and educational access. They typically include four-year colleges, liberal arts colleges, and some public universities where 85% or more of the student population is at the undergraduate level.

Unlike their research-intensive counterparts, PUIs prioritize faculty-student engagement and pedagogical excellence over research output. This doesn’t mean research is absent—many PUIs support faculty-led undergraduate research projects—but the emphasis is on teaching and student development. The success of faculty members is closely tied to how well their students do, both academically and in terms of career outcomes.

Who Should Consider a PUI Career?

If you're someone who finds joy in explaining concepts clearly, engaging with young minds, and mentoring students toward their goals, then a PUI might be the ideal environment for you. PUIs tend to attract faculty who are passionate about student success, thrive in interactive and intimate classroom settings, and seek a career that prioritizes teaching over publication output.

A good candidate for a PUI faculty position is one who believes in education as empowerment, has the patience and commitment to teach a diverse student population, and is drawn to the idea of making a difference in the lives of undergraduates. PUIs are often located in smaller towns or rural areas, so an appreciation for close-knit academic communities and the potential to engage with the surrounding community is also important.

PUIs are not simply looking for subject experts; they are looking for faculty who are empathetic educators, effective communicators, and enthusiastic contributors to campus life. If you envision yourself guiding students not just through course content but through their academic and professional journeys, then a PUI career can be immensely fulfilling.

Faculty Roles at PUIs

The faculty role at PUIs typically balances three areas of responsibility: teaching, research, and service.

Teaching remains the centerpiece. Professors usually carry heavier teaching loads than their peers at R1 institutions, often involving multiple lectures and labs per semester. Smaller class sizes allow for personalized instruction and deeper student-faculty interaction. Faculty are also expected to be available outside the classroom—via office hours and advising—and to design inclusive, engaging curricula that foster meaningful learning outcomes.

Research, while not the top priority, is still a valued part of faculty life. However, the focus shifts from grant-intensive, high-stakes projects to student-centered research experiences. Many PUIs encourage faculty to include undergraduates in their research programs, guiding them through writing reports, giving conference presentations, and even co-authoring publications. This type of research often blends pedagogy with scholarship, helping students grow while supporting the professor’s academic goals.

Service is also a significant component of faculty responsibility. Professors are expected to contribute to their departments through committee work, student recruitment, curriculum development, and administrative duties. They may also participate in broader university governance and engage with the local community through outreach initiatives and events.

What defines the successful PUI professor is not simply academic ability, but a deep commitment to teaching, consistent presence on campus, and a genuine interest in student development.

How to Find and Apply for PUI Jobs

Finding a job at a PUI is competitive, but with the right strategy and preparation, it’s very achievable.

The academic hiring season for PUIs typically runs from September through March, with the largest number of job postings appearing in the fall. Most of these positions are tenure-track and begin the following academic year. Job listings can be found on well-known platforms such as HigherEdJobs and Chronicle of Higher Education, as well as directly on the HR pages of colleges and universities.

When preparing your application, it's important to remember that teaching is the focal point. Each element of your application should reflect your interest and experience in student-focused teaching and demonstrate your alignment with the institution’s values.

Your cover letter should be personalized for each school, referencing specific courses you could teach, institutional values you share, and how your approach to education aligns with the department’s mission. The curriculum vitae (CV) should prominently display your teaching experience, including TA roles, guest lectures, course development, and student mentorship. If you've supervised undergraduates in research or led outreach efforts, be sure to include those as well.

Your teaching statement should articulate your teaching philosophy with clarity and sincerity. Talk about your instructional methods, your classroom goals, and how you measure success. Emphasize your use of inclusive teaching practices, any experience with active learning, and your commitment to continuous improvement.

In your research statement, tailor your research agenda to the PUI context. That means outlining a feasible project that can involve undergraduates, does not require extensive resources, and integrates with your teaching when possible. Describe how your research can enrich the student experience and mention any plans for securing modest institutional or external grants.

Finally, make sure your letters of recommendation come from individuals who can speak to your teaching ability and your collegiality. While research competence still matters, what committees often want to know is: will this person thrive in our community and help students succeed?

Interviewing for a PUI Job

If your application is shortlisted, you'll typically go through a two-stage interview process: an initial phone or video interview, followed by an on-campus interview if you advance.

The phone or video interview is your first chance to make a strong impression. You will likely be asked questions about your teaching experience, classroom strategies, how you assess student learning, and how you see yourself fitting into the institution. You may also be asked to explain your research in a way that first-year undergraduates would understand.

The on-campus interview is a more comprehensive process. You'll give a teaching demonstration, often to a class of real or simulated students, and sometimes a research talk. You'll meet with department faculty, administrators, and possibly students. You might also participate in a tour of the campus and local area.

The teaching demo is arguably the most crucial moment in the interview. Success here depends not just on content mastery but on how effectively you can communicate, engage students, and structure a clear, coherent class session. Faculty committees will evaluate how well your teaching style aligns with the institution’s culture and how likely you are to be successful in a real-world PUI classroom.

Take time to rehearse your presentation, solicit feedback from colleagues, and prepare thoughtfully for the kinds of questions that may arise. This is your opportunity to show that you are not just knowledgeable, but also pedagogically prepared and student-centered.

Final Thoughts

Choosing to become a faculty member at a PUI is not just about selecting a career path; it is about committing to a mission. It’s a mission that values teaching, nurtures student growth, and seeks to make higher education more accessible and meaningful.

The road to a PUI position may seem long, but it is entirely achievable with intentional preparation. For those who value the classroom as much as the lab, the student more than the citation, and the community over the conference, PUIs offer a deeply fulfilling professional home.

To explore this path in greater depth, pick up a copy of A Professor's Job in a Primarily Undergraduate Institution by Dr. M. P. Raman and Dr. Mark Orsag. The book offers indispensable advice, practical examples, and encouragement for anyone serious about becoming a professor at a PUI.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this series, where we will dive into how to thrive once you're hired: succeeding in the classroom, navigating the tenure process, sustaining research, and building a long-term academic career rooted in purpose.