The national PFF project was jointly sponsored by the Association of American Colleges and Universities and the Council of Graduate Schools, and funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts. Through their efforts, UT's program became one of the most successful in the nation. UT students participate in PFF in several ways. Students may elect to visit partner schools for a few hours to meet with faculty, students and administrators. Others are asked to advise and mentor students.
Some interns spend time sitting in on faculty meetings and other administrative committees.
Whatever the tasks, however, interns report that they are made to feel as though they are a valued part of the community. Moreover, many interns report that PFF is a major turning-point in their career preparation. For the first time, say many students, they see opportunities to do work that is different from what gets done at a Research One school. Teaching at St. Edwards' New College, Maureen Casile discovered a love for teaching adult learners. Working with the Physics Department at Southwest Texas State, Elizabeth Watts was fondly reminded of the camaraderie that existed at the smaller school she had attended as an undergraduate.