President's Track: Open Educational Resources, Spring 2024

• To increase access to quality educational materials by removing financial, geographic, and other barriers to education.
• To reduce the cost of education by providing free or low-cost educational resources that can be used to replace expensive textbooks.
• To allow instructors to tailor educational materials to meet the specific needs of their courses and students.
• To encourage the sharing of educational resources among instructors, institutions, and students, fostering a collaborative approach to learning and teaching.
• To promote the development of new and innovative teaching and learning practices by leveraging the flexibility and adaptability of OER.
• To enhance teaching and learning by providing access to a wide range of high-quality educational resources, including multimedia materials, simulations, and interactive tools.
• To promote the long-term sustainability of higher education by reducing the financial burden on students and institutions and supporting the development of a more open and inclusive educational ecosystem.

Fellowship Expectations and Timeline

The President’s and Provost’s Faculty Fellows program aims to provide faculty members with opportunities for professional growth, collaboration, and the development of innovative initiatives within the university community. Please review the program expectations and timeline, which are intended to recognize and support the efforts of participating faculty members.  

Fall 2023: Launch and Selection

• Program launches August 30th, 2023, with joint informational meeting for both tracks, open to all full-time faculty.
• Additional PD workshops and collaborative faculty sessions facilitated by Faculty Commons.
• Fall 2024 concludes with Faculty Fellows Luncheon for each track, attended by the president and/or provost.
• Faculty select sessions to attend based on interests/preferences.
• Faculty interested in applying for a Faculty Fellowship must attend at least two PD workshops and/or collaborative meetings from their desired track and be available to participate in the Spring 2024 Faculty Fellows Cohort.
• Faculty Fellows Cohort applications due November 17^th, 2023.
• Cohort members selected by December 8^th, 2023.
• Faculty selected to participate in the spring cohort will receive a stipend of $500, to be paid during Spring 2024 semester. 

Spring 2024: Cohort and Proposal Development

• Selected faculty members begin participation in Faculty Fellows Cohort and will receive $500 stipend.
• Cohort faculty meet regularly to explore topics.
• Cohort faculty develop proposals for future university initiatives (i.e., a new course curriculum, inspired research opportunity, or some other creative deliverable centered around the faculty member’s cohort topic.)
• Proposals submitted in April 2024.
• President and provost review proposals and select Faculty Fellows, to be announced at Faculty Awards.
• Beginning in Summer 2024, selected Fellows will receive a summer stipend, a fall course release, and a 3-course release as part of the Faculty Fellows Sabbatical opportunity. 

Summer 2024: Fellowship Implementation

• Selected Faculty Fellows start yearlong fellowships.
• Fellows begin plans for fall implementation of fellowship proposals and plan initiatives.
• Fellows meet with president, provost, vice provost, Faculty Commons to discuss plans/implementation.
• Fellows submit Fellowship Update Report to track progress.
• Fellows each receive $4,000 summer stipend. 

Fall 2024: Fellowship Implementation

• Faculty Fellows meet with higher administration to discuss fellowship progress.
• Fellows submit Implementation Plan detailing fall/spring initiative timelines and goals.
• Faculty Fellows each present at least one workshop for Faculty Commons.
• Fellows each receive a Fall 2024 course release.

 Spring 2025: Fellowship Implementation, Reflection, and Conclusion

• Fellows continue project implementation and plan next steps.
• Fellows meet with administration to discuss fellowship outcomes and future plans.
• Fellows submit Fellowship Reflection and Longterm Goals Report.
• Fellows will receive a 3-course spring release as part of the Faculty Fellows Sabbatical opportunity. 

The inaugural President’s and Provost’s Faculty Fellows will conclude their fellowship in April 2025.

Fellowship Compensation

The President’s and Provost’s Faculty Fellows program aims to provide faculty members with opportunities for professional growth, collaboration, and the development of innovative initiatives within the university community. Please review the program compensation plan, which is intended to recognize and support the efforts of participating faculty members.  

Spring 2024: President’s and Provost’s Faculty Fellows Cohort Participants

• Faculty selected to participate in the Spring 2024 Faculty Fellows Cohort will each receive a $500.00 stipend.

Summer 2024: President’s and Provost’s Official Faculty Fellows

• In April 2024, two faculty members will be selected as the inaugural 2024-2025 President’s and Provost’s Faculty Fellows. Fellows will be expected to begin working on proposal implementation in Summer 2024.
• Each Fellow will receive a $4,000 stipend for summer work.

Fall 2024: President’s and Provost’s Official Faculty Fellows

• Faculty Fellows will receive a Fall 2024 course release.
• A $2,000 stipend may be available either for faculty who cannot receive a course release or to cover adjunct/overload cost of the class that the Fellow is released from.

Spring 2025: President’s and Provost’s Official Faculty Fellows

• Each Faculty Fellow will be released from 3-courses as part of the spring 2025 Faculty Fellow Sabbatical opportunity.
• Stipends may be available to cover adjunct/overload courses that faculty are released from during the Faculty Fellow Sabbatical.