Newsletter September 19, 2024
cte.utah.edu

Many instructors at the U would be accurately described as teaching scholars, or scholars who consult disciplinary literature and integrate it into their courses. The next step is to engage in scholarship of teaching and learning (SOTL) to understand how different teaching practices contribute to student learning across and within disciplines. The Center for Engaged Teaching at Elon University provides an excellent distinction between scholarly teaching and SOTL, as well as an article on the value of SOTL to your university and your discipline.

In the Martha Bradley Evans Center for Teaching Excellence, we are delighted to hear about U faculty’s presentations and publications in SOTL. Share them with us so we can highlight you and your work!

The University of Utah’s University Professorship is a special rank that recognizes tenure-track faculty who have demonstrated extraordinary skills in teaching, distinguished scholarship in their field, and an interdisciplinary approach to undergraduate instruction. The University Professorship provides time and funding for faculty to launch new SOTL projects related to general education courses. We highlight general education courses with this award because they have broad impact across disciplines and can make significant differences in our efforts to provide exceptional educational experiences for students. University Professors hold this special rank for two years. The application cycle for the 2025-27 University Professorship is now open. For more information, see the University Professorship website. Apply by December 2, 2024.

Do you teach or know of a course that applies academic concepts to unmet societal needs through tangible community action? Applications for new Community Engaged Learning (CEL) designations on Spring 2025 courses are due by October 1. CEL-designated classes automatically earn funding to recognize their value and the extra effort it may take to provide deeply engaged learning opportunities. Contact Megan Medina, Director of Community Engaged Learning with any questions.

Nonprofit Mixer: Leveraging University Resources for Societal Impact
Friday, September 27, 2024, 10 – 11:30am, Hinckley Institute of Politics

Gather to discuss ways of measuring societal impact and how we can leverage university-community resources for public good. We will also learn about the U’s new Service Corps Program, which seeks to connect undergraduate students to service-oriented internships with community-based organizations. We will be joined by two guest speakers:

We hope that you will join us in a morning of conversation and connecting over coffee and breakfast goodies! Please RSVP by Monday, September 23rd at 5:00 PM. This event is open to nonprofit leaders and practitioners as well as faculty, staff, and students with nonprofit interests.

Following last month’s call for faculty fellows and distinguished visitors, the University of Utah One-U Responsible Artificial Intelligence Initiative (One-U RAI) is excited to launch a postdoctoral fellows program.

Each year, One-U RAI will select three to five postdoctoral fellows based on the alignment of a submitted project proposal with initiative goals and thematic areas. Postdocs will be supported by two faculty mentors with domain and methodological expertise. Awardees will receive a salary of $70,000 per year for two years, plus benefits and retirement. Applications will be reviewed quarterly, starting in October. University of Utah faculty interested in mentoring a One-U RAI postdoctoral fellow can complete this form.

Read more and apply by Oct. 1

Reminder: the One-U RAI Inaugural Symposium is coming up on Monday, Sept. 23. Registration via lu.ma/rai2024 is now closed, but if you didn’t sign up there and want to attend, please email One-U RAI Research and Science Director Penny Atkins at penny.atkins@utah.edu. You can also email Penny if you have questions about any of the One-U RAI programs.

SPUR 2025 faculty mentor applications are open and the deadline to apply is October 4th, 2024 at 5PM (MT). For more information or to submit an application, please visit the OUR website. 

If you have any questions on how to apply or about the application process, please view the SPUR 2025 faculty mentor info session. You can also find more information on the OUR website. 

 

 

Nominations due for University Distinguished Teaching Award: September 20

Applications due for University Teaching Grants: October 2, January 27, March 7

Nominations due for Calvin S. and JeNeal N. Hatch Prize in Teaching: October 14

Applications due for John R. Park Teaching Fellowships: November 11
Nominations due for Community Engaged Teaching and Scholarship Award: November 11

Nominations due for Early Career Teaching Awards: December 6