Instructor Development Award

OVERVIEW

The Instructor Development Award (IDA) offers financial support for expenses associated with faculty professional development specifically in their roles as teachers. Projects under this umbrella might include costs associated course registration fees or conference attendance to broaden the faculty member’s ability to teach new courses or extend their capacity to implement new pedagogical techniques, for example.

Pending availability of funding, faculty may also apply for IDAs when they have unmet expenses for course development resources that could not be funded at the department or school level; in considering applications of this sort, we would expect the resources to enrich subsequent offerings of the course as well. If the enhancement would be specific to just one particular offering of the course, funding should be sought at the department or school level instead of through an IDA. The maximum award is $1500, and faculty are limited to one award per fiscal year. Funds must be spent by May 31 of the fiscal year for which they are awarded, an application can be submitted on behalf of expenses to be incurred in the subsequent fiscal year.

ELIGIBILITY

IDAs are available to all continuing full-time faculty, with priority given to faculty who have not received the award in the past three years.

Proposal Process

Proposals should include the following on the form:

  • Timetable : Month(s) and year during which the expenses would be incurred.
  • Course(s) that would be enriched through the IDA: Identify the particular course(s), or if the prospective development would have broader impact than particular courses please articulate.
  • Expected Outcomes: Describe how the project will enhance your teaching of a particular course or curriculum and outline the methods and criteria that will be used to evaluate the project’s outcomes.
  • Implementation: Provide a timeline that includes the anticipated start and completion dates for the prospective development opportunity, as well as any necessary intermediate milestones or date markers.
  • Alignment: Explainhow the project aligns with the strategic plan of the college, school, department, or program, as applicable.
  • Itemized Costs: Outline specificcosts for the proposed project
  • Funding Sources Explored: Outline all other sources of funding you have explored or secured.

Review

Applications will be reviewed jointly by the Center for Faculty Excellence co-director and Provost’s office.

EXAMPLES OF PREVIOUSLY FUNDED PROJECTS

  • Participation in a Teaching and Learning Conference 
    Attendance at a national disciplinary teaching conference to learn evidence-informed instructional strategies and redesign a course to enhance student engagement and assessment.

  • Completion of Specialized Pedagogical Training 
    Enrollment in a structured online or in-person instructional program to strengthen course design, alignment of learning outcomes, and implementation of new teaching approaches.

  • Development of Technology-Enhanced Learning Experiences 
    Professional learning and tool acquisition to design adaptive simulations or immersive learning environments that support applied decision making and student interaction.

  • Advanced Technical or Creative Skill Training 
    Intensive workshop participation to develop expertise in industry-standard tools, enabling expanded instructional capacity and updated curriculum design.

  • Scholarly Conference Engagement to Inform Course Revision 
    Attendance at a national scholarly society meeting to integrate contemporary research and emerging perspectives into course redesign.

  • Research Travel to Strengthen Instructional Materials 
    Travel to archives or research centers to collaborate with specialists and incorporate primary source materials into inquiry-based assignments.

Sharing with the campus community

Recipients may be asked to share information on their project at campus gatherings celebrating faculty creativity, innovation, and inquiry as an example of leadership in instructional development. Submission of a proposal implies permission to share the proposal or reproduce it for on-campus discussion if it is funded.

Timeframe
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis via this application form:
Instructor Development Award Proposal Form