University Teaching Fellows Program
offering $25,000 Doctoral Student Stipends
Academic Year 2015-2016
Program Description
The 2015-2016 University Teaching Fellows Program is an opportunity for doctoral students to develop their
teaching and other academic skills while providing service to their departments and the university as a whole.
The $25,000 award provides support for one academic year (fall 2015 through spring 2016). Fellows will have
a 50% appointment as a Graduate Assistant and be expected to devote 20 hours a week to their professional
development and service.
This year’s program will include the following components:
Department Service
Approximately 15 hours per week
1. Fellows will use the knowledge and skills they have acquired through the seminar series to provide
service to their own department. The department chair will outline in detail how the applicant will
work within the department to advance the quality of undergraduate teaching. Service might include
the transfer of practical skills such as creating quizzes in Blackboard or other course management
systems, or more involved projects such as transforming a course with a faculty member.
Teaching and Learning Activities
Approximately 5 hours per week
2. Fellows will attend a teaching/learning seminar series featuring multiple UTSA units and
nationally/internationally known speakers, designed to expose students to both theoretical knowledge
and practical skills related to exemplary teaching and becoming an academic professional.
3. Fellows will contribute to service-related projects, programs, and initiatives such as classroom
observations, focus groups, and Quick Course Diagnoses (QCDs), as well as university-wide service such
as support for teaching awards and faculty teaching initiatives.
University Teaching Fellowship – Selection Criteria
Preference will be given to students who:
 provide a well-outlined, meaningful strategy for advancing the teaching mission of the department;
 are seeking doctoral or other terminal degrees;
 intend to enter academia upon degree completion;
 articulate an interest in promoting undergraduate teaching excellence; and
 communicate how their participation will contribute to the teaching mission of both the department
and UTSA.
University Teaching Fellows Program - 2
University Teaching Fellowship – Eligibility and Requirements
The University Teaching Fellows must:
 be full-time students seeking a terminal degree;
 have a minimum of 18 hours completed toward the doctorate or other terminal degree by the start of
the applicable academic year; and
 not be defending a dissertation during the appointment year.
The University Teaching Fellows will have a 50% appointment as a Graduate Assistant. As a Graduate
Assistant, the Fellow must:
 be enrolled in 9 hours in the fall semester, 9 hours in the spring semester, and 3 hours in the summer
semester;
 not exceed 99 doctoral hours during the year of the fellowship (hours attempted count as doctoral
hours);
 refrain from accepting outside employment during the fall and spring academic semesters or from
accepting additional departmental responsibilities such as teaching a course;
 remain in compliance with UTSA policies and procedures, including the student code of conduct; and
 remain in “good standing” academically as defined by the Graduate Student Handbook, p. 16.
Application Procedure
1. Applicants must submit the following materials to their department chair:
a. Completed application form (the last page of this packet)
b. Curriculum Vitae
c. Essay of 200-400 words describing their interest in teaching and what they expect to learn in the
program
d. A letter of recommendation from their department chair
2. The department chair, or the chair’s representative, will review applicant packets and add a letter of
recommendation that includes:
a. a description of the applicant’s department teaching project; and
b. a description of their qualifications as a University Teaching Fellow.
3. The chair will forward the completed packet to Dr. Lucretia Fraga, Teaching & Learning Consultant,
UTSA Libraries, JPL 4.04.03 by November 14, 2014.
4. The University Teaching Fellows will be selected by a committee and announced by December 15,
2014.
More Information
If you have questions about this program, please contact Dr. Lucretia Fraga, Teaching & Learning Consultant at
(210) 458-6685, or via email at lucretia.fraga@utsa.edu
University Teaching Fellows Program - 2
University Teaching Fellows Program
offering $25,000 Doctoral Student Stipends
Academic Year 2015-2016
NAME: ________________________________________________________________________
MAJOR/DEPARTMENT: ___________________________________________________________
COMPLETED CREDIT HOURS: _______ (must have completed 18 credit hours prior to Fall 2015)
Application Checklist
_______ Curriculum Vitae
_______ Essay of 200-400 words
Describe your interest in teaching and what you expect to learn in the program.
_______ Submit this application and the above items to your department chair for a letter of recommendation
Applicant Acknowledgement Statement
I have read, understand, and agree with the University Teaching Fellowship Expectations as outlined above.
_____________________________________________
Printed Name
___________________
Date
___________________________________________________________________
Signature
Applicant: Forward this application, your curriculum vitae and essay to your department chair.
Department Chair: Forward this packet and your letter of recommendation to Dr. Lucretia M. Fraga,
Teaching and Learning Consultant JPL 4.04.14A, or via email to lucretia.fraga@utsa.edu by
November 14, 2014.
Notification of award will be received the beginning of December.