Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program
The Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program's (CDIP) prepares promising doctoral students for careers as CSU faculty. Its mission is to ensure that the CSU’s future faculty pool can meet the demands of its student body through teaching and research. CDIP is the largest program of its kind in the United States and CDIP Fellows receive mentorship from CSU faculty, professional development, and financial support in the form of grants and loans. Since 1987, CDIP has supported more than 2,500 Fellows pursuing doctorates at institutions in California and across the United States.
Info Workshops
The College of Graduate Studies (CGS) is hosting three workshops for 2026-2027 CDIP application. The workshops are for current doctoral students and students looking to apply to doctoral programs for the 2026-2027 school year, and will be held on the following days/times:
- Friday, December 5, 2025: 10 am - 11 am in SSE 1410 and via zoom (hybrid).
- Tuesday, January 13, 2026: 4 pm - 5pm in SSE 1410 and via zoom (hybrid).
- Friday, January 30, 2026: 2 pm - 3 pm in SSE 1410 and via zoom (hybrid).
Students can sign up for the informational workshops via this form.
Description
Mentorship
CDIP facilitates the success of doctoral students by formalizing the mentoring relationship with CSU tenure-line faculty. CSU faculty mentors support CDIP fellows to:
- Successfully complete their doctoral studies.
- Prepare for employment in an instructional faculty position at a CSU.
- Develop as teacher-scholars.
- Collaborate in scholarly, creative, or research activities.
- Pursue service activities that intentionality support student success across diverse student groups.
The CSU Chancellor's Office webpage has more information about CDIP mentorship.
Professional Development & Grants
Through CDIP grants (Doctoral Education Support Grant, Conference Travel Grant, and NCFDD Membership), CSU aims to support the collaborative activities of our CDIP Fellows and their faculty members. Fellows will have the opportunity to use grant funds to further their doctoral training and to attend professional conferences and workshops.
Through research and scholarly attendance at conferences, Fellows can enhance their professional development. The goal of the grants is to support Fellows by awarding them seed funds to enhance their skills and experience to teach the CSU student body.
CSU Pre-Professor Program (PREPP)
The Pre-Professor Program (PREPP) supports CDIP Fellows’ transition to faculty positions by engaging them in a semester-long program at a California State University (CSU) campus. PREPP aims to immerse participants in the life of a faculty member. PREPP Fellows are partnered with a CSU Faculty Mentor who oversees the project. Fellows will learn what faculty life is like at a comprehensive master’s granting institution. Doctoral studies and postdoctoral positions prepare individuals for research and scholarship, while this program focuses on instructionally related activities (teaching, curriculum, mentoring students) and service activities associated with faculty positions. In addition, Fellows meet with department chairs and other faculty members within their discipline(s) to get their perspective on faculty life, gain teaching experience, learn about how research is conducted in the CSU, learn about tenure and promotion requirements, and how to write teaching/diversity statements for applications to faculty positions.
Loans
CDIP offers a optional educational loan of up to $30,000 with a potential for loan forgiveness. The program offers an optional loan program for CDIP Fellows. Fellows can apply to borrow up to $10,000 per year, for a maximum of $30,000, while active in CDIP. See here for more information about the loan.
Who is eligible to apply?
- Anyone interested in doctoral study, including lecturers without terminal degrees, current MA and MFA students, and undergraduate seniors may apply for CDIP.
- The program is open to applicants who will be new or continuing full-time students in doctoral programs at regionally accredited universities anywhere within the United States.
- Applicants are not required to have attended the CSU nor to have been accepted in a doctoral program at the time of their application.
- Each applicant is required to have a full-time tenured/tenure-track CSU faculty advisor who will provide professional mentoring and networking opportunities throughout the student’s educational experience.
Important Reminder
The Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities (CSRR) and the student’s home college will be consulted to ensure that the student is in compliance with the Student Code of Conduct and/or their program’s Graduate Professional Standards.
- Award nominees and current awardees: A nomination or award is subject to being deemed ineligible if (a) it is determined by CSRR that the student is in violation of the Student Code of Conduct and/or (b) if the program notifies CGS that the student has violated their program’s Graduate Professional Standards.
Application Information
The 2026-2027 CDIP application will be due mid-February 2026. Please visit the CSU Chancellor's Office CDIP webpage for more information.
Please contact [email protected] should you have any questions.
