Faculty Fellowship for Sustainability – 2011-2012
Application and Information – DEADLINE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29th
On January 22, 2008, President Michael J. Graham, S.J., signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. The commitment focuses on achieving climate neutrality by reducing carbon emissions. Xavier’s voluntary participation in this program both reaffirms and redefines the University’s longstanding dedication to responsible stewardship of resources. In March 2008, President Graham created a campus-wide Sustainability Committee in response to the requirements of the Presidents Climate Commitment. The committee is charged with the long-term goal of developing a comprehensive plan for achieving climate neutrality and the short-term goal of initiating tangible actions to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. The Sustainability Committee has completed an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions and is currently completing a draft of a Campus Action Plan.
The Academic Section of the Xavier University Campus Action Plan (www.xavier.edu/green) clearly identifies the significant contributions of faculty in moving Xavier’s sustainability commitment forward. As stated in the Plan, the long-term vision is to create an academic curriculum that introduces every Xavier student to ideas and issues of sustainability from a variety of perspectives in many different classes and to become a dynamic research center for interdisciplinary collaboration working toward sustainable solutions to environmental and societal problems.
Through their teaching and scholarship, Xavier faculty can actively advance the Campus Action Plan and provide students with models of engaging in crafting solutions rather than merely defining problems.
One of the major initiatives of the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE), which officially opened in the new Conaton Learning Commons in fall 2010, is the Faculty Fellow Program. Fellows spend a summer and one semester working on a project that will significantly impact curriculum, teaching, scholarship, and/or other academic activities at Xavier and within the field of higher education. In addition to furthering specific efforts in their respective areas, the fellows will be leaders in engaging other faculty members in constructive dialogue about Xavier’s future. For 2011-2012, the CTE is designating three faculty fellows, including a Faculty Fellow for Sustainability. Building on the momentum gained at the 2009 Sustainability Day events, the Fellow will work collaboratively with the Sustainability Committee on a project that advances the Campus Action Plan.
Faculty Fellow Program (Summer 2011 and Fall 2011 or Spring 2012)
With support from the offices of the President, Provost and AVP, and Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, the Faculty Fellow for Sustainability will receive a summer stipend for 2011 and release from all teaching responsibilities during one semester of the 2011-2012 academic year. It is expected that the Faculty Fellow will disseminate results of the project internally, across faculty and academic departments, as well as externally, where appropriate. Proposed projects should be clearly linked to one or more goals of the Academic Section of the Campus Action Plan. A successful application will propose a major strategic initiative likely to make a significant positive impact on sustainability at Xavier. Proposals should outline ambitious goals while providing evidence of feasibility. Initiatives extending beyond a single course and a single department are particularly welcome, as are projects whose effects will extend well beyond the fellowship period.
The major strategic initiative undertaken by the Faculty Fellow may include components such as the following:
· Increasing faculty involvement in sustainability efforts
· Generating new courses related to sustainability; these can include courses taught by the fellow as well as courses the fellow assists others in creating
· Creating and implementing opportunities, including experiential activities, to increase awareness around environmental issues and promote behavior changes that promote responsible stewardship of resources
· Developing local partnerships to promote sustainability on campus and in the community; these can help facilitate curricula, research, and other efforts
· Developing or improving curricular resources available for teaching sustainability-related issues or courses
· Developing sustainability-related research activities on campus that provide opportunities to engage other faculty and students
Fellowship projects will enhance the curriculum, learning environment, and students’ academic experience consistent with Xavier’s Catholic, Jesuit values and academic vision so that graduates are inspired and prepared to:
· Understand and think critically about the environmental issues confronting society locally, nationally, and globally
· Make choices in their careers and personal lives that promote sustainability
· Make positive contributions to addressing societal problems related to the environment
Expectations
The Faculty Fellow for Sustainability agrees to:
· Undertake a major strategic initiative that advances the Academic Section of the Campus Action Plan
· Attend at least one national conference or training on sustainability (at the Sustainability Committee’s expense), and become knowledgeable about relevant literature, research and practices in the field
· Assist the Sustainability Committee on an event or other relevant activity
· Disseminate the project results both internally and externally as appropriate
Support
The Faculty Fellow will receive:
· A summer stipend of $10,000. It is expected that the Fellow will be working full-time on the project during the summer months and will not be teaching.
· Release from all teaching responsibilities during one semester of the following year, either fall 2011 or spring 2012, to be determined by applicant. (Funding will be available to the department toward the cost of hiring a replacement for the semester.)
· Expenses up to $5,000, as appropriate to the project, to be used within the time-frame of the project.
· Office space within the Center for Teaching Excellence in the Learning Commons.
· Consultation and assistance from the Sustainability Committee and appropriate staff in the CTE.
Application
All full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty from all disciplines are eligible to apply. Applicants must submit proposals following the format outlined below. The application must concisely describe a plan for advancing the Academic Section of the Campus Action Plan. Applications will be reviewed by a three-person panel (a representative from the Sustainability Committee, a representative from the Faculty Development Committee, and representative of the Center for Teaching Excellence). The panel will provide its own judgment regarding priority among the applications it reviews. The Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and co-chairs of the Sustainability Committee will have the final voice in selecting the Faculty Fellow for Sustainability.
The following must be sent electronically to the Center for Teaching Excellence () by: Monday, November 29, 2010.
1) The application in the form outlined below
2) Curriculum vitae (abbreviated, no more than three pages)
3) A supporting letter from the Department Chair (can be an e-mail)
4) A supporting letter from the College Dean (can be an e-mail)
Applicants should carbon copy their Department Chair and Dean on this application.
The award will be announced in early December 2010.
For assistance with project questions, contact Kathleen Smythe (). For assistance with application questions, contact Mary Kochlefl ().
APPLICATION FORMAT - not to exceed 6 pages
Cover Page (titled: “Sustainability Fellow Application”)
1. Name of applicant
2. Rank
3. Department
4. Semester requested (fall 2011 or spring 2012, in addition to summer 2011)
5. Title of project
6. Abstract (150 words or less)
Project Description (1-3 pages)
Describe, in detail, your project including the impact it will have at Xavier - for your students, courses, curriculum, college, and/or University – as well as other educational communities and networks. The narrative should address the following questions:
· Why is this project needed?
· What is your interest and experience with the proposed pedagogical issue?
· How does this project, explicitly, relate to the Campus Action Plan?
· How will you define and evaluate the success of this project?
· Is this project feasible, given the amount of time and budget provided by the fellowship?
· What are the short and long term impacts of the project?
Dissemination Plan
Describe plans for communicating your findings/outcome within the Xavier campus and externally.
Preliminary Schedule
Describe the anticipated sequence of project activity and responsibilities within the 2011 summer and following semester timeline.
Project Expenses (if appropriate, up to $5,000)
Describe need for project expenses within the time-frame of the project (with consideration to the dissemination plans as well).
Other (if appropriate)
If the project is successful, would continuation funds be necessary to sustain the impact? If so, please explain and suggest sources from which you might seek such funding.