Call for Applications
Faculty Fellows Positions
California Community Colleges and the California State University
Faculty Collaboratives Project
Association of American Colleges and Universities
California is one of five states taking the lead in a new project that will create a state-based, faculty-led
“innovation hub” to build faculty capacity to advance curricular reforms that promote student learning,
persistence and completion. Organized by the Association of American Colleges and Universities
(AAC&U) with a grant from Lumina Foundation, the Faculty Collaboratives project (2014-2017) aims to
develop a multi-state network of resource and innovation hubs and a learning community of faculty
fellows focused on large-scale, proficiency-based projects related to AAC&U’s Liberal Education and
America’s Promise (LEAP) initiative.
Five (5) California faculty fellows, a hub director, and a state liaison will work together to create a
sustainable statewide community of practice through digital networks and in-person events to help
faculty learn about the projects and contribute in creative ways to change. The resource hub will provide
open source materials and access to the national learning community of fellows. The project seeks to
engage and reach out to all educators, whatever their position, type of contract, or institutional type.
Phase I of the project (2014-2016) will involve five states who are affiliated with LEAP. The California
State University (CSU) adopted the LEAP Essential Learning Outcomes as the framework for its general
education (GE) breadth curriculum in 2008. The other phase I states are Indiana, Texas, Utah, and
Wisconsin. The other five LEAP states will join the project in phase II (2015-2017).
The proficiency-based projects include the Degree Qualifications Profile, Tuning, LEAP VALUE rubrics,
MSC: A Multi-state Collaborative to Advance Learning Outcomes Assessment, and General Education
Maps and Markers (GEMs). The California collaborative will also work with the Interstate Passport
Initiative of the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (WICHE).
We are seeking applications from faculty in the California Community Colleges (CCC) and California
State University (CSU) for five (5) faculty fellows to participate in the Faculty Collaboratives project
from February, 2015, through September, 2016.
All CCC and CSU faculty (full- or part-time) are eligible to apply. Candidates should have a strong interest
in faculty development and in the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL).
Faculty fellows will receive a modest stipend or honorarium ($4000 for each of the first two years) and
will also receive travel support to attend project convenings. They will also receive recognition through
AAC&U and the California collaborative and be encouraged to develop publications and other scholarly
materials based on their work.
The faculty fellows will have five areas of activity:
1. Study one proficiency-based project. Each fellow will investigate the initiative, including what it
is, where it is being implemented, what evidence exists about its efficacy, and its implications for
policy and practice, especially in California. The fellow’s key responsibility will be to provide
leadership for learning and communication about one of the five:
Degree Qualifications Profile
Tuning
LEAP VALUE rubrics
MSC: A Multi-state Collaborative to Advance Learning Outcomes Assessment
General Education Maps and Markers (GEMs)
2. Locate or create useful materials. The fellow will look for available resources, such as studies,
practical tools, video clips, and websites developed elsewhere through or for the initiative. The
fellow will also offer recommendations to the hub director concerning the design and content
features of the hub and be creative in assembling and disseminating materials that will be
interesting and useful to colleagues throughout California.
3. Collaborate with the state team. The fellows will work with the state team to organize and
participate in activities and convening for outreach and social networking to faculty in the state.
The team will determine how to create an effective website and communication hub and how
the hub can function as a leadership center for faculty learning and outreach.
4. Join a national network. Each fellow will participate in a national network with fellows in other
states working on the same initiative, sharing strategies on a bi-monthly basis (organized by
AAC&U staff).
5. Help with project assessment. The fellows will contribute to state and national assessment
activities.
For more information about the Faculty Collaboratives project and related initiatives, see
http://leap.aacu.org/toolkit/projects/faculty-project.
Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae and letter of interest describing their academic experience,
faculty development work, and scholarship of teaching and learning. Familiarity with LEAP and
experience with assessment of student learning, educational technologies, and web design are helpful.
Finalists will be asked to provide two professional references. Send the letter to Debra David, California
state liaison, at ddavid@calstate.edu by January 30, 2015.