Frequently Asked Questions

This information reflects the U-PEP Faculty Fellowship program offered in 2027. Please note that program details may change from year to year. 

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About U-PEP

What is U-PEP? How is U-PEP different from other psychedelic education or training initiatives?

The University Psychedelic Education Program (U-PEP) is a philanthropically supported initiative that equips health professional faculty across disciplines with the knowledge, resources, and community to integrate evidence-based psychedelic education into curricula—laying the groundwork for the next generation of practitioners, researchers, and educators.

Unlike most psychedelic education and training programs, which focus on educating healthcare providers directly, U-PEP educates health professional faculty. We equip Faculty Fellows with the tools, resources, and support they need to develop and teach evidence-based psychedelic content to their students. By embedding this content within higher education, U-PEP helps integrate psychedelic education into the core education of future professionals—ensuring this knowledge becomes part of mainstream curricula rather than an optional add-on later in a career.

Most U-PEP Faculty Fellow initiatives focus on providing foundational education, helping students gain a strong understanding of psychedelic-assisted care. However, a few programs—such as the one at Columbia University’s School of Social Work—offer training, which includes comprehensive coursework and extensive practicum experiences to prepare graduates to deliver psychedelic-assisted care.

The U-PEP Faculty Fellowship is a two-year interdisciplinary program designed to equip Faculty Fellows with knowledge and resources to develop and integrate evidence-based, person-centered psychedelic content into curriculum within their institutions. Each Fellow’s path is considered individually, allowing for a deepening connection over time.

 

In Year One, Faculty Fellows are required to attend periodic virtual meetings throughout the year. Fellows are also required to attend the Faculty Education Intensive (in-person or virtual), which in 2027 is being held over the course of two dates at Usona Institute in Madison, Wisconsin, on June 6-10, 2027 and July 11-15, 2027. Later in the year, Faculty Fellows are invited to attend a Faculty Fellowship Gathering, held at 1440 Multiversity in Scotts Valley, California, on November 10-13, 2027.

In Year Two, Faculty Fellows deepen their journey in continued community and utilization of the program’s many resources to complete their curriculum development goals. Year Two Faculty Fellows are asked to share their created curriculum in the Resource Hub, and are given opportunities to present their work to the larger U-PEP community. Those who have completed the two-year fellowship are considered program alumni.

The U-PEP Learning Community includes both current Faculty Fellows and program alumni. Ongoing participation in the Learning Community is encouraged, and includes continued invitation to the Monthly Speaker Series and other connective opportunities.

U-PEP is funded through generous philanthropic support from individuals and family foundations who share a commitment to evidence-based psychedelic education. A full list of funders is available on the website.

There is no cost to participate in the U-PEP program. There are two in-person gatherings that require travel. The Faculty Education Intensive is held during the summer at Usona Institute in Madison, Wisconsin. The cost for the Intensive, including up to $1000 of air/ground travel costs to/from Madison, WI, is funded by philanthropic support and included in the Fellowship. 

The Faculty Fellows Gathering is held during the fall at 1440 Multiversity in Scotts Valley, CA. Accommodation and meals at 1440 Multiversity are funded with philanthropic support and included in the Fellowship. However, travel expenses for the Fellows Gathering are not included, and are therefore the responsibility of the Faculty Fellow or the institution.

Eligibility & Application

What are the qualifications to apply to the U-PEP program?

U-PEP is currently open to full-time higher education faculty members at accredited schools of nursing, social work, medicine, psychology, counseling, physician assistant/associate, and public health. Qualifying full time higher education faculty members are a full time employee of any rank and on any track at a U.S.-based accredited institution.

  • Each school (or college or department) may have up to two applicants:
    • A lead faculty member, who must be full-time.
    • An additional full-time faculty member from the same program or project (part-time faculty will be considered for the second applicant role, subject to availability).
  • While U-PEP encourages two faculty members per school, only a lead faculty member is required.
  • If more than one school at a university or institution is applying, each school can have up to two faculty applicants.

U-PEP is currently accepting applications from full-time faculty members in schools of nursing, social work, medicine, psychology, counseling, physician assistant/associate, and public health. We plan to expand to include other disciplines in the coming years.

At this time, U-PEP is only open to accredited programs at higher education institutions in the United States and its territories.

Faculty are not required to have experience in psychedelic research, practice, or education to participate in U-PEP. The program welcomes faculty at all levels of familiarity with the field—from those just beginning to explore this area to those who have completed psychedelic-assisted therapy training and/or are already working in the field.



Requirements to participate in the U-PEP program are:

  • Lead applicant must be a full-time higher education faculty within an accredited school (or college or department) at a U.S. based college or university
  • A completed application
  • Letter of Commitment from the faculty’s school Dean 
  • Signed agreements from all participating faculty, as well as the Deans of all participating school programs
  • Agreement to share psychedelic-related materials created through U-PEP with other Faculty Fellows via the online learning platform

Yes! We welcome eligible applicants from all institutions, regardless of their current curriculum. In fact, psychedelic content has been new to most—if not all—of the institutions that have participated in U-PEP so far. U-PEP is designed to help you introduce and integrate this content, providing the resources and support you need to get started. 



The application for the 2027 Faculty Fellow cohort opens on October 1st, 2026, and will remain open through December 6th, 2026.

Details for the following year’s program application can be expected to be released mid-year.

For more information, prospective applicants are welcome to join us live for one of several virtual informational sessions offered during the application period.

Register for the September 30th, 2026 Info Session

Register for the October 19th, 2026 Info Session 



Program Resources

What resources does U-PEP provide to Faculty Fellows?

Curriculum Companion & Toolkit: Practical resources and guidance for creating and integrating psychedelic content into university curricula, and ideas for institution-specific and inter-professional approaches.

Faculty Education Intensive: An in-depth 4-day learning experience held at Usona Institute in Madison, Wisconsin, designed to foster faculty professional development, personal growth, and community building. 

Mentorship: U-PEP Faculty Mentors – experienced educators who understand both the evolving field of psychedelic science and the practical realities of developing, integrating, and advancing new content within academic institutions – are available to support Fellow’s professional growth, provide guidance on curriculum development and implementation, help navigate institutional opportunities and challenges, and foster collaboration and connection across the U-PEP community. Each participating institution receives up to three hours of dedicated mentorship support per year.

Faculty Fellows Gathering: A 3-day gathering at 1440 Multiversity in Scotts Valley, CA, providing a unique opportunity to convene in a beautiful setting and deepen connections through shared learning.

Online Resource Hub: The U-PEP Online Resource Hub on the Sabba platform includes a shared curriculum library, community discussion, a network of subject matter experts, and more. Only participating Faculty Fellows and select advisors can access this password-protected site, ensuring that our collaborative space remains secure and focused on its educational mission.

Continuing Education: Various components of the Faculty Fellowship program are eligible for continuing education credits for certain health professional credentials. Please contact us for more information.

 

In Year One, the minimum time commitment to participate in U-PEP includes attendance at up to four virtual meetings and the 4-day Education Intensive at Usona Institute. The 3-day Faculty Fellows Gathering at 1440 Multiversity and all other U-PEP events and offerings are optional, but highly encouraged. 



You are not required to create a new course. There are many ways to bring psychedelic content into your curriculum, and the only requirement is that you plan to integrate some form of content. This could include a learning series, conference, seminar, modules embedded into existing classes, an elective, or even a more comprehensive program.

Collaboration & Sharing

Will I have access to content developed by other Faculty Fellows?

Yes. All Faculty Fellows have access to U-PEP’s password-protected online Resource Hub. The Resource Hub houses curriculum materials, teaching tools, and resources contributed by Faculty Fellows across institutions, making it easy to share ideas, build on one another’s work, and strengthen psychedelic education collectively.

Faculty Fellows—and their Deans—commit to sharing psychedelic-related curriculum materials created through U-PEP Fellowship support with the other Faculty Fellows. By contributing to U-PEP’s online Resource Hub, Fellows not only strengthen psychedelic education across institutions, but also gain access to a robust library of resources, inspiration from peers, and opportunities to collaborate with like-minded educators. 

This innovative shared approach makes the U-PEP model scalable and helps faculty develop their own curriculum more efficiently—eliminating the need to reinvent the wheel and accelerating the adoption of high-quality content.

Institutional Involvement

What if my institution is hesitant about adding psychedelic content?

We understand that this is a new and evolving field, and some institutions may have questions or concerns. We offer several ways to help:

  • Attend an information session: Join us live during the application period to learn more about U-PEP and hear directly from faculty members who have integrated psychedelic content into their institutions. 

  • Connect individually: Our team is happy to speak with Deans, department chairs, or other decision-makers to answer questions and provide tailored resources.

  • Access supporting materials: We can share sample syllabi, evaluation data, and testimonials from other universities to help demonstrate the value and feasibility of psychedelic education.

  • Highlight alignment with institutional priorities: Many Faculty Fellows frame this work as improving access to mental health and addiction treatment—showing alignment with broader educational missions.

  • Build gradually: We encourage a phased approach, starting with smaller offerings (such as a seminar or guest speaker series) to build comfort and support over time.

Your school Dean plays an important role in supporting your participation in U-PEP. As part of the application, Deans provide a Commitment Letter that includes:

  • Name of the Lead Faculty Member, confirming they are a full-time faculty member
  • University name, school, department and title in the department as well as other roles at the university
  • Name and title of up to one additional interested faculty member from your school
  • University accreditation information
  • Commitment to participate in all components of the program to the best of your ability
  • Commitment to share, via the online U-PEP Resource Hub, any psychedelic-related content created with the other participating Faculty Fellows

This letter signals institutional support, helps set the stage for successful integration of psychedelic education, and ensures U-PEP remains a collaborative effort.

Success & Impact

Does U-PEP provide data or impact measures that I can share with my institution?

Yes. U-PEP surveys and assesses Faculty Fellows throughout the program, and can share these results to demonstrate growth and outcomes. U-PEP also produces an Annual Impact Report that highlights program achievements and reach—resources you’re welcome to share with your institution to build support for psychedelic education.

Read the 2025 U-PEP Annual Impact Report

Read the 2026 Press Release

The 2025 U-PEP cohort included 63 Faculty Fellows from 33 higher education institutions across 21 states and Washington, D.C.

The 2026 U-PEP cohort included 87 Faculty Fellows from 48 higher education institutions across 28 states and Puerto Rico.

In 2025, program outcomes demonstrated U-PEP’s intended multiplier effect:

  • 68% of Fellows developed 1–3 new psychedelic-related lectures, with an additional 15% developing more than three
  • 68% of Fellows established new institutional learning opportunities, including student groups, workshops, lectures, journal clubs, courses, academic programs, and conferences


These outcomes underscore how a single fellowship experience can generate sustained institutional engagement long after the formal program concludes.

“U-PEP played a transformative role in enabling me to develop two MSW courses as well as a monthly professional webinar series at the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. Most importantly, U-PEP cultivated a collaborative community of educators committed to building a well-prepared workforce.” 

– 2025 Faculty Fellow Tonya Edmond, PhD-LCSW 

 

“U-PEP might be the most strategic and impactful project in psychedelic science today. Nurses and social workers – those on the front lines of mental health – are now being educated in best practices for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy as part of the core curriculum at more than 33 colleges and universities, including several HBCUs. As my grandfather loved to say, everyone said it couldn’t be done, but the fool went ahead and did it anyway! Great work, Team U-PEP!” 

– Robert Ansin, Healing Hearts, Changing Minds

 

“I believe the U-PEP program aligns perfectly with our school’s vision to be a leading source of high-impact research, evidence and education that will develop the knowledge and nurses necessary to address healthcare’s biggest challenges and provide health for all.”

– Dean of Nursing, University of Michigan

 

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