Center for Faculty Development
Faculty Partnerships
The Partnerships are intended specifically to help faculty increase their knowledge of areas outside their own disciplines, or outside their specialty within a discipline. Partnerships can be used for exploratory or general preparation in a field, or for mastering a particular body of knowledge. Efforts to revise courses by incorporating multicultural or international perspectives are especially encouraged. Partnerships are NOT intended to fund program or course development, or to fund preparation to teach a team-taught course. The intent is rather to encourage individual exploration by faculty in ways that will have a significant impact on their teaching or research.
A Partnership will usually range from five meetings of two or more hours, to ten meetings of shorter duration. Those being tutored are expected to spend 30-40 hours on the Partnership project; those tutoring, somewhat less. All continuing full-time faculty are eligible for these partnerships. Occasionally a tutor might be a visitor or adjunct instructor, but with a particular expertise brought to the partnership.
Deadlines. Sept. 15 for Fall & J-Terms; Feb. 15 for Spring Term; and April 15 for Summer (after July 1)
Award. Each partner receives a $1500 stipend and up to $150 for books or related expenses for the partnership. Priority will be given to those who have not previously participated in Partnerships; prior recipients must show that a request for a new partnership involves work and topic distinct from previous partnerships supported by this grant. Faculty are eligible for just one partnership per grant period, e.g., fall-J-term, spring, and summer.
Application Process. Application forms must be filled out by both partners and submitted by 4 p.m. of the date of the deadline. At the end of the project, each Partner must submit a brief final report. Those being tutored are also required to complete a piece of written work -- for example, a critical or bibliographic essay; a description of a new pedagogy, or reading list for revising a course; a plan for further self-directed study; or a revised syllabus. In addition, Partners will be expected to share their experience of the Partnership with a wider audience (through materials for those teaching related courses, an article for Synergia, a departmental presentation, etc.)
Selection Criteria. Proposals will be judged on the basis of:
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Evidence for impact on the individual professional development of the tutored, particularly of an interdisciplinary, multicultural, or international nature.
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Adequacy of the work plan, timetable, bibliography, and clarity of the proposal.
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Plans for sharing the results with others, as appropriate.
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Appropriateness of the background of the proposed tutor.
