Northern Essex Community College Guidelines for Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Project: Spring 2008-Spring 2009

Please review the guidelines carefully.
You may then submit your application electronically
by visiting the following link: SoTL Application Form

Please note: Faculty who participate in this project are eligible for one course re-assignment in the Fall 2008 and one course re-assignment in the Spring 2009 semesters.

Please discuss your application with your Dean. It will be necessary for your Dean to approve your course re-assignments should your proposal be selected. Your Dean MUST complete the Dean Comments Form by Friday, November 16, 2007. Click here to access this form and send the link to your Dean.

The application deadline date is Friday, November 16, 2007.

Aligning SoTL with Achieving the Dream

Lee Schulman, President of the Carnegie Foundation describes the scholarship of teaching and learning as an activity that must manifest at least three characteristics: “it should be public, susceptible to critical review and evaluation, and accessible for exchange and use by other members of one’s scholarly community.”

The 2008-2009 SoTL project is designed to create an opportunity for faculty to examine critically their teaching practices and student learning and align this scholarly work with the NECC institutional mission of “Achieving the Dream”.

“Achieving the Dream is a multiyear national initiative to help more community college students succeed. The initiative is particularly concerned about student groups that have traditionally faced the most significant barriers to success, including low-income students and students of color.”

"Achieving the Dream" SoTL projects should reflect the following:

• Complete developmental courses and move on to credit-bearing courses
• Enroll in and complete gatekeeper courses, such as introductory math and English
• Complete the courses they take, earning a grade of C or higher
• Re-enroll from one semester to the next
• Earn certificates and degrees

Achieving the Dream Principles and Values:

• Student Centered Vision: Includes student involvement
• Culture of inquiry, evidence and accountability: Decisions based on evidence
• Equity and excellence: Close the gap and increase overall success

Proposals will be reviewed and selected by a SoTL Review Committee which includes the following people:

• Amy Callahan, Professor English
• Judith Kamber, Dean of Professional Development
• Richard Lizotte, Professor of Developmental Education
• Steve Mathis, Professor of English
• Jim Sullivan, Professor of Developmental Math
• Marcy Vozzella, Professor of Earth Sciences

We highly recommend that you discuss your project with one of the members of the Review Committee prior to submitting it. In addition, there are a number of SoTL books and resources available in the Teaching & Learning Center (B-136) that you may wish to look at before you complete your proposal.

Time Line for Submission:

• Proposals must be submitted electronically for review by Friday, November 16, 2007. REMEMBER: Please review the project with your Dean and have them submit their comments by visiting the Deans Comments Form. The direct link is: http://cit.necc.mass.edu/ofsd/sotlcomments_dean.php
• Applicants will be notified by the week of November 26, 2007.

Requirements for SoTL Proposal:

1. Applicants must be a full-time NECC faculty member
2. Participants must complete an application including Deans approval for course re-assignments should the proposal be selected by the SoTL Review Committee
3. Applicants will begin the SoTL project in spring 2008, attend monthly SoTL meetings and begin literature review and refining of the SoTL project description
4. Faculty will continue the project work in fall 2008 and spring 2009 including attendance at SoTL meetings, participate in relevant professional development and submit a project report by July 30, 2009
5. Projects must reflect the institutional goals of “Achieving the Dream”
6. Past participants may apply, but priority will be given to new participants
7. The project is limited to eight (8) participants
8. Final project report: SoTL fellows must complete a report that will be posted on our website by Wednesday, July 30, 2008

If you have any questions, please contact Judith Kamber, Dean of Professional Development at 978-556-3955 or via e-mail at jkamber@necc.mass.edu.

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