Faculty Fellows Program Overview
Vanguard University of Southern California is currently one of the most ethnically and racially diverse institutions in the region and within the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities. Vanguard also has the highest percentage of Hispanic students enrolled amongst Christian institutions in the region. The increase in diverse enrollment growth is both substantial and relatively recent.
The Faculty Fellows program exists to continue to equip our faculty for meeting the needs of our diverse student body. The work of the fellows can vary, from developing resources for faculty, offering workshops, or coaching individual professors.
The Fellows program provides one course release over the course of an academic year for up to two faculty members. These individuals explore the challenges and opportunities of being a Hispanic-serving Institution further, coach faculty to use high impact practices in our classroom teaching, and create multimedia resources to equip the faculty to effectively teach to a wide range of student needs, cultures, and learning preferences.
By providing leadership to the university in this regard, the Faculty Fellows will also be serving the broader higher education community by sharing best practices for teaching diverse students through professional workshops and publications.
Why be a Faculty Fellow
- The Fellowship will allow the Fellow to explore an area of teaching and/or research interest by granting one-course release over an academic year
- The Fellowship will lead to the development of practical tools and resources to serve faculty at Vanguard and other institutions, opportunities to present at professional conferences, and/or to publish
- The outcomes of the Fellowship can lead to enhanced teaching effectiveness that contributes to improved student learning, retention, and higher graduation rates
- This is an academic award that can be listed on a CV
- The work and resources generated during the Fellowship can contribute to one’s application for promotion and/or tenure
Faculty Fellow Objective
To serve as a catalyst to engage and empower faculty to increase their use of culturally-responsive student engagement strategies through classroom practices and technology.
Faculty Fellow Job Description
- Reports to the Director of Teaching Excellence and Digital Pedagogy
- The appointment is over the course of one academic year and fellow receives a single course release during that time
- Leads training seminars and facilitates faculty growth in areas of professional development including but not limited to: technological pedagogy, culturally-sensitive pedagogy, active-learning modalities
- Implementation of technology and tools within the classroom or online environments, and guidance on the enhancement of student engagement
- Eligible for technology tools and/or resources (requested/approved by IFD Director)
- Ex-officio appointment to either the Faculty Development Committee or the Technology Planning and Advisory Committee (TPAC), as appropriate
Faculty Fellow Key Deliverables
Precise deliverables will be identified upon selection of a Faculty Fellow. They may include:
- 2-3 training workshops
- Development and documentation of effective practices
- Engage multiple faculty groups
- Opportunities to publish or present at conferences
- CCCU collaborations
- Blog(s) on the IFD website to keep colleagues informed of progress and accomplishments
