2026 PTK Symposium

The University of Maryland’s 2026 Professional Track Faculty (PTK) Symposium brought faculty, staff, and administrators together on March 5 for a day of learning and connections under the theme “Adapting to Now.” This eighth annual symposium highlighted the pivotal role of PTK faculty in advancing the University’s teaching, research, and service missions. This year’s focus on “AI in Teaching and Scholarship” and “Thriving in Uncertain Times” framed conversations about how faculty can respond to rapid changes in higher education with resilience and creativity.

President Darryll J. Pines welcomed the participants via video, followed by remarks from Provost Jennifer King Rice that set the stage for the plenary panel, “Leading, Connecting, & Networking in Academia in Uncertain Times.” Provost Rice challenged the audience to stay informed and in tune with the University’s vision and to help create the future. Plenary panelists explored how faculty can step into leadership roles as priorities shift, expectations expand, and artificial intelligence reshapes teaching and knowledge creation. Panelists emphasized anchoring this leadership in core academic values, such as mentorship, collaborations, intellectual curiosity, and community. They encouraged participants to see uncertainty as an opportunity to lead with integrity and purpose. 

Throughout the late morning and afternoon, attendees chose from a slate of in-person breakout sessions led by PTK faculty that addressed workplace strategies, personal growth, mentoring, and effective engagement with AI in both teaching and scholarship. These sessions offered practical tools for improving workflow, strengthening classroom practice, and navigating evolving institutional expectations. The university-level budget process and status, as well as the administrative processes for PTK promotion, were covered. 

The symposium closed with a networking hour, giving participants a relaxed setting to continue the conversations sparked earlier in the day. Faculty from across departments used the time to build new collaborations and share ideas for future events. Organizers underscored that the PTK Symposium remains an open, community-wide event, inviting PTK, tenure-track, adjunct faculty, staff, and administrators to continue working together to shape the future of academia at UMD.

Please follow the PTK Faculty on Instagram for more information.