Global to Local: Call for Applications

Community-engaged scholars gain insights into community systems that address community needs
using informed and authentic methods. These insights can be applied in local and global communities. The University of North Georgia is inviting papers on local and global community engagement to be published in an open-access compendium. Please see the announcement from the compendium organizers below.   

Community Engagement Compendium: Local is Global

The University of North Georgia is issuing a Call for Papers for an open access community engagement compendium. This compendium will undergo rigorous blind peer review to ensure the quality of the scholarship.

The focus of this compendium is the linkage between local, regional, national, and international engagement. How does local engagement impact national engagement? How can lessons learned from international engagement activities cross over to local engagement projects?

The editors encourage submissions related to the following:

· Outcomes of regional engagement initiatives

   International impact of local and regional engagement projects

   Mandatory vs. Volunteer Engagement

   How to measure scholarly engagement

   Community Engagement and P&T

Please submit all papers to upng@ung.edu.

Proposal Criteria:

All submissions must be original unpublished work.

Papers must be between 5,000-9,000 words in length.

Citations must follow MLA or APA standards.

Call for Papers issued by:

 Donna Gessell

Corey Parson

Course Redesign Call For Applications - Problem-Based Learning

Course Redesign for Effective Learning (CREL) –

Problem-Based Learning Institute

The Office of Faculty Enhancement (OFE), in collaboration with Undergraduate Studies, invites full-time faculty to participate in a summer course redesign institute focused on problem-based learning. The purpose of this institute is to provide faculty with the time, resources, information, and collaborative support needed to revise and redesign a selected Fall 2015 or Spring 2016 course (or design a new course) in ways that will maximize student learning.

Deadline for Applications: Tuesday, February 3rd, 2015  

Interested faculty should complete the online application at: http://unf.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_3sXvOhEs6L0V7q5

The focus of this year’s course redesign program will be Problem-based Learning (PBL). Problem-based learning is a teaching strategy in which students are presented with problems and issues that need to be resolved. As part of the learning process, students work actively in collaborative teams to address the issue. As a result, students not only learn broad-based content knowledge but develop deep, authentic critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

OFE invites UNF faculty who are interested in integrating problem-based learning into their course or to enhance the problem-based learning already implemented to apply for the CREL-PBL program. Such proposals could include student projects, research activities as part of a course, community-based learning, or other forms of group projects.

The UNF faculty selected to participate in the CREL and who produce a redesigned product will receive a $500 stipend. In addition, OFE will cover travel to the Worchester Polytechnic Institute’s 2015 Problem-Based Learning Institute, scheduled for June 25^th-27^th (travel starting on June 24^th). Faculty must participate in the WPI Institute to receive the stipend.

For information about the Problem-Based Learning Institute, visit the institute webpage at: http://wpi.edu/+2015institute

The Review Process

The proposals will be reviewed by the OFE Director in consultation with the Faculty Association’s Faculty Enhancement Committee.

Applications will be reviewed according to the following criteria:

• The proposed change represents a significant change to the structure, organization, or activities associated with the course.
• The proposed change is reasonable given the time constraints.
• The proposed change is likely to affect student learning positively.

Faculty members who have been awarded summer research and teaching grants are eligible to participate in CREL.  For those who have received a summer teaching grant, the CREL project proposal should involve a different course than that on which the summer teaching grant is based.  Preference will be given to first-time participants in OFE’s course redesign workshops. Preference will be given to faculty teaching lower division courses and for courses offered as part of the General Education program. Applications from a variety of perspectives and methods are encouraged. Selection of proposals will ensure a broad participation across disciplines on campus.

  

Preparing the CREL-PBL Project Proposal Application

Interested faculty should complete the online application at:

http://unf.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_3sXvOhEs6L0V7q5

The deadline for applications is February  3^rd.

Networking Event - International Education Week

Global Engagement Faculty Network
Monday, November 17th, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
International Center, Building 58E, Room 2300
RSVP to ofe@unf.edu
The International Center and the Office of Faculty Enhancement would like to invite faculty from around the campus to come and share ideas on study-abroad courses and international research over some wine and cheese. This event is part of International Education Week. Faculty will share advice and experiences from past study-abroad and international activities. Faculty interested in study-abroad or who would like to know more are welcome to attend. Bring a friend, mingle and enjoy a happy-hour and a half.
Monday, November 17th, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
International Center, Building 58E, Room 2300
RSVP to ofe@unf.edu

Collaborative and Project-Based Learning Workshop

Making Connections: Collaborative and Project-based Learning Workshop 
Monday, November 17th, 12:00-1:30 p.m.
Building 2, Room 2002RSVP to ofe@unf.edu
Have you ever been disappointed in the amount or level of student learning in your course? Have you been frustrated by the apparent lack of motivation and engagement among your students?
Active and collaborative learning strategies have been shown to increase student learning (as compared to lecture formats) and to increase student enjoyment and persistence. Implementing such strategies, however, especially in large classes, can be challenging. Join faculty from across the campus in sharing ideas about implementing collaborative and project-based learning strategies in this interactive session. Bring your best ideas and biggest challenges with collaborative learning and gain insights into addressing these challenges and finding opportunities for success in the classroom. Lunch will be provided to those who RSVP to ofe@unf.edu.
Monday, November 17th, 12:00-1:30 p.m.
Building 2, Room 2002

Engagement Scholarship Program - Call for Proposals

The Center for Community-Based Learning and the Office of Faculty Enhancement have announced a new program for community engagement research. See the announcement below.

The Engagement Scholarship Program is a multidisciplinary, professional community of practice focusing on the scholarship of engagement and concentrating on two specific categories of the scholarship of engagement: community-based research and the scholarship of teaching/learning relating to community-based pedagogy. For more information, including eligibility and the application, visit the website. The application deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21.

Contact: Heather Burk at hburk@unf.edu or (904) 620-3549

Website: http://www.unf.edu/ccbl/Engagement_Scholarship_Program.aspx

Community Partnership Conference

Community-engaged research and community-based learning require robust partnerships to support the shared work in the community. Campus Community Partnerships for Health is co-sponsoring an upcoming conference, the C2UExpo, that will highlight campus-community partnerships. Please see the announcement and call for proposals below.

Proposals due Nov 28 for C2UExpo! C2UExpo (Community, College, University-Exposition), is a bi-annual 3-day conference, showcasing the best practices in community-campus partnerships worldwide. C2UExpo 2015 will take place May 26-29, 2015 in Ottawa, Ontario. Click here for information on submitting a proposal. The theme for this conference is Citizen Solutions for a Better World, with a specific focus on community-campus partnerships as key drivers for policy change. As we did in 2013, CCPH is supporting C2UExpo in lieu of our own conference next year. CCPH members will receive a 15% discount on registration fees. If you're planning to attend C2UExpo and aren't a CCPH member, join today.

Frankly Friday - Your Best Students

Are the best students in your classroom?
Friday, November 14th, 2014

9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Faculty Lounge, Building 16, Room 4201
RSVP ofe@unf.edu

The University of North Florida has been ranked as one of the best colleges in the South by US News and World Report. The report identifies UNF as relatively selective, admitting only 53% of applicants. Despite the desirability of UNF and the recognition it receives nationally, students often see UNF as a second choice. For first-time-in-college students at UNF, according to institutional data, less than 50% graduate from UNF in 6 years. According to a report by the UNF Retention and Graduation Committee, 20% of Freshmen who leave UNF transfer to another state university. These student transfers tend to have high GPAs. This high-performing students might be leaving UNF to have a different experience at another university. The student experience at UNF might be a factor as well. A recent MIT survey asked students why they did not attend class. The students reported not attending class mostly because of unclear or low engagement lectures. Other factors included students pursuing other class-related deadlines and having poor sleep.

Come  and discuss what factors might prevent the best students from being in your classroom. Should students be required to attend class? How would this affect the student experience and student retention of top students? Dr. Albert Colom, Associate Vice President of Enrollment Services, and Dr. Jeff Coker, Dean of Undergraduate Studies, will discuss enrollment trends and student engagement at UNF. OFE will provide the coffee and pastries. 

Friday, November 14th, 2014

9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Faculty Lounge, Building 16, Room 4201
RSVP ofe@unf.edu

ISQ Online: Response Rates and Instructor Ratings

ISQ Online: Response Rates and Instructor Ratings
Wednesday, November 19th, 1:30 - 2:45 p.m.
Faculty Lounge, Building 16, Room 4201
RSVP to ofe@unf.edu

UNF moved to a fully online Instructional Satisfaction Questionnaire (ISQ) process in the Fall of 2013. Response rates through the online ISQ administration were lower than response rates using the face-to-face administration of the ISQ in previous years. Response rates for the face-to-face administration of the ISQ tended to range around 70%. The online ISQ in the Fall of 2013 and Spring 2014 had response rates in the 50-60% range. Faculty expressed concerns that lower response rates might affect the overall scores and subsequent interpretation of ISQ results. In this session, results and recommendations from the Provosts' ISQ Task Force will be presented. Faculty are encouraged to come and discuss the results and implications for instructional satisfaction ratings in their departments and colleges.

ISQ Online: Response Rates and Instructor Ratings
Wednesday, November 19th, 1:30 - 2:45 p.m.
Faculty Lounge, Building 16, Room 4201
RSVP to ofe@unf.edu

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference - Call for Proposals

Faculty can be as scholarly about their teaching practices as they are scholarly about their disciplinary research. An upcoming conference supports the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). Please see the call for proposals below. 

From Dr. Diana Sturges Conference Chair sotlcommons@georgiasouthern.edu

I invite you to submit a proposal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Commons Conference (SoTL Commons) hosted by the Center for Teaching at Technology at Georgia Southern University. The conference brings together people engaging in SoTL and anyone wanting to improve student learning outcomes in higher education today. The conference epitomizes that college teaching is intellectual work that is enhanced both by disciplinary scholarship and the scholarship on teaching the disciplines(SoTL).

The 8th SoTL Commons Conference will be held in Savannah, Georgia, United States, March 25 - 27, 2015. 

Proposal submission opened September 8, 2014 and will close November 15, 2014 and is available at http://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/sotlcommons/

The conference will include several tracks: teaching with technology; online learning; assessment of student learning; academic and professional development; learning theories and pedagogy and student led SoTL research.

You can find more information about the conference on a. the conference website http://academics.georgiasouthern.edu/ce/conferences/sotlcommons/

b. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sotlcommons

c. Twitter: https://twitter.com/sotlcommons

To register for the conference, go to

http://academics.georgiasouthern.edu/ce/conferences/sotlcommons/sotlregistration/

Keynote speakers include:

T. Dary Erwin

Professor of Leadership and Psychology, School of Strategic Leadership Studies James Madison University

James Rhem

Executive Editor

The National Teaching and Learning FORUM

Delena Bell Gatch

Associate Professor of Physics and Interim Director of Assessment Georgia Southern University

The conference’s venue, Coastal Georgia Center, is located within walking distance to the historic downtown, the City Market and River Street. Come enjoy Savannah when it is most beautiful - in the spring, as azaleas and dogwoods bloom and the temperatures stay comfortable in the low 70s. The city offers activities for everyone to enjoy: shopping, dining, boat cruises and horse carriage tours and was voted the second friendliest city in US by Conde Nast Traveler's Annual Readers' Choice Survey.

You can find more information about the conference on a. the conference website http://academics.georgiasouthern.edu/ce/conferences/sotlcommons/  

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Diana Sturges Conference Chair sotlcommons@georgiasouthern.edu

Frankly Friday Discussion - Metrics Mania in Florida

Friday, October 10th, 2014

9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Faculty Lounge, Building 16, Room 4201
RSVP ofe@unf.edu

In January 2014, the Florida Board of Governors, a ruling body over the Florida State University System, established a set of performance metrics upon which all colleges and universities will receive future funding. A summary of these metrics can be seen at this website, http://www.flbog.edu/about/budget/performance_funding.php 

The move to performance metrics was a dramatic shift from previous state funding models, which primarily used student enrollment as the basis of funding. Since that time, universities around Florida, including UNF have been investigating ways to meet these new standards. Several universities are making changes to policies and reporting practices to meet the demands of this new funding system. Many of the metrics relate to student performance and success, which will impact what faculty do in the classroom and beyond in the coming years. Come  and discuss how these changes will impact faculty at UNF and statewide. OFE will provide the coffee and pastries. 

Friday, October 10th, 2014

9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Faculty Lounge, Building 16, Room 4201
RSVP ofe@unf.edu

Assessment of Transformational Learning Experiences

Manageable and Meaningful Assessment of Transformational Learning Experiences

Friday, October 03, 2014
1:00pm-2:30pm

Location: Founder’s Hall, Building 2 Room 2002

RSVP @ ofe@unf.edu
UNF Faculty who apply for TLO funding design a wide variety of truly transformational learning experiences for students. Designing an assessment plan both enhances the TLO application and provides an important way to maximize student benefit from the experience.  Yet assessing transformational learning objectives can be difficult because the objectives can be difficult to define, and because TLOs may not include graded assignments in the same way as other classes do. This workshop will help participants define transformational learning objectives and develop manageable assessment strategies for determining the impact of the TLO experience. Faculty and staff interested in applying for Transformational Learning Opportunity (TLO) funds are especially encouraged to attend.

Friday, October 03, 2014
1:00pm-2:30pm

Location: Founder’s Hall, Building 2 Room 2002

RSVP @ ofe@unf.edu

Faculty Development Teaching Grants Panel

Faculty Development Teaching Grant Panel

Thursday, October 2, 2014, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Student Union, Building 58W, Room 3805

RSVP to ofe@unf.edu

Applications for Summer 2015 funding for Faculty Development Teaching Grants are due on October 17, 2014.  To assist faculty in preparing grant applications, the Faculty Enhancement Committee and the Office of Faculty Enhancement will host a Teaching Grant Panel to answer questions regarding the review process and evaluation criteria for the program. Faculty interested in submitting a Faculty Development Teaching Grant are encouraged to attend. For more information on faculty development grants , visit the website below.

http://www.unf.edu/acadaffairs/development_grants/Faculty_Summer_Development_Grants_Program.aspx
Faculty Development Teaching Grant Panel

Thursday, October 2, 2014, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Student Union, Building 58W, Room 3805

 RSVP to ofe@unf.edu

Report on Recognizing Community-Engaged Scholarship

Image: Loyola.edu

One of the sticky problems with advancing community-based learning at institutions of higher education is that faculty have difficulty finding reward structures that support their important community-based work. Many faculty have mentioned the need for change in the reward structures, but university-wide systems have been resistant to such change. The New England Resource Center for Higher Education (NERCHE) has recently released a report that addresses these issues in the University of Massachusetts system and provides some guidance for universities who are interested in changing the reward structures on their campuses.

One of the guiding statements from the report is that the, "... policies and cultures that
shape faculty behavior for career advancement have not kept pace with changes in
knowledge production and dissemination."   Please see the note below from the authors of the report. The hyperlink below provides access to the full report.

"It is our pleasure to send you the report The Challenges of Rewarding New Forms of Scholarship: Creating academic cultures that support community-engaged scholarship (http://www.nerche.org/images/stories/working_papers/Challenges_of_Rewarding_New_Forms_of_Scholarship_FINAL.pdf),

which is the result of a meeting of that took place on May 15, 2014 involving over 30 faculty and staff from all five campuses of the University of Massachusetts system. The seminar was funded with a grant from Bringing Theory to Practice and was hosted by the New England Resource Center for Higher Education (NERCHE) and Boston URBAN (Urban Research-Based Action Network).

"The purpose of the seminar was to examine a wide range of faculty rewards (including promotion criteria, awards, faculty development support, and policies at various levels) that provide incentives and rewards for faculty to undertake community-engaged scholarship. Community-engaged scholarship focuses academic knowledge to address real-world issues through mutually beneficial, reciprocal collaboration with peers outside the university who have locally grounded knowledge and experience.

"The report provides a set of findings and concrete recommendations for both the system office and the individual campuses for measures that can be implemented to advance community-engaged scholarship.

"Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.  It is our hope that the report can serve as a tool for catalyzing a deeper conversation on campus about supporting and advancing community engaged scholarship. 

Sincerely,

John Wooding and John Saltmarsh

John Wooding

Professor

Department of Political Science

University of Massachusetts, Lowell

John Saltmarsh

Director

NERCHE

University of Massachusetts, Boston"

Lilly Conference on Teaching and Learning

The National Lilly Conference for Teaching and Learning will be held in Austin, TX, on January 4th-7th, 2015. The deadline for proposal submission is July 30th. See the conference announcement below, or visit the conference website http://lillyconferences.com/tx/

For 34 years, the Lilly Conferences on College and University Teaching and Learning have been known as exceptional places to present and to learn from faculty colleagues on effective teaching and learning.  This interdisciplinary teaching conference includes faculty, administrators, and graduate students from across the United States and abroad. Participants are given the opportunity to exchange ideas, build a repertoire of skills that can be put to immediate use, and to network with colleagues. The overall conference theme for the Lilly Conference series is “Evidence-Based Teaching and Learning.” Each of the Lilly Conferences are unique, but they all share the same great Lilly community spirit.

Lilly National Conference – Austin, TX
Jan 4 - 7 2015 http://lillyconferences.com/tx/ 

The Call for Proposals closes July 30. Following the blind review process you will be notified about your proposal submission by August 30. 

UNF Innovation Symposium Call for Proposals

Photo by Alvimann

The Center for Instruction and Research Technology (CIRT) at the University of North Florida (UNF) has
called for proposal submissions to the 2nd annual UNFIS Innovation Symposium. The theme for this year's conference is Digital Living.

Please see the information below from Deb Miller, Director of CIRT.
The deadline for submissions is August 22nd, 2014.
Find out more information at the conference website: http://unfis.org


UNF Academic Technology Innovation Symposium
2014 Call for Proposals

You are invited to submit an abstract to the 2014 University of North Florida Academic Technology Innovation Symposium. The symposium will be held on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 in the Student Union Building of the University of North Florida. The Academic Technology Innovation Symposium highlights innovative practices by UNF faculty and offers a forum for interactive learning and thought-provoking discussion on both current use and potential for academic technology to support teaching, learning, and research.

Presentations provide the opportunity to share teaching or scholarship practices that make use of information technologies to solve problems in interesting or original ways. New and unique accomplishments, projects, ideas, and initiatives that demonstrate an innovative approach to teaching and scholarship are sought. Research with student co-authors is welcome.

Conference Theme and Topics
The theme of the 2014 Academic Technology Innovation Symposium is Digital Living: Work and Play in Blended Realities. The organizers encourage submissions that approach this theme from a variety of perspectives under three major topic tracks: (1) teaching and learning (2) creativity, innovation, and change (3) academic research.

Abstract Submission Guidelines
Submit an abstract (200 words maximum) at this link http://digitalcommons.unf.edu/unfis/ by August 22, 2014 and indicate your presentation type preference. You will receive notification of status via email by September 9, 2014. A double-blind review process will be utilized for all submissions. Selection of an abstract for presentation will be based on quality of the submission, originality, topicality, relevance and advancement of current thinking on the subject. If you have any questions regarding your submission, please contact: cirtlab@unf.edu

Conference website: http://unfis.org

Transforming STEM Education Conference

Faculty in the STEM and STEM related fields may be interested in an upcoming Association of American
Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Academic Renewal Conference focusing on Transforming STEM Education. Such conferences provide opportunities for networking and for being inspired around teaching and learning. See the details below or follow the conference link to learn more.

Transforming STEM Higher Education
A Network for Academic Renewal Conference

November 6-8, 2014
Atlanta, Georgia Register by September 24 for best conference rates.


The Association of American Colleges and Universities and Project Kaleidoscope invite you to attend the Transforming STEM Higher Education Conference. The conference will address both the importance of increasing the number of STEM baccalaureate degree earners who master complex STEM content and competencies and also the importance of enhancing STEM literacy for all students. To these ends, the conference will strategically address several dimensions of STEM higher education reform, including innovative and effective approaches to undergraduate STEM teaching and learning; strategies for measurement and evaluation; inclusive excellence; faculty professional development; and advancement of effective institutional change strategies. 

Place Matters Partnership Conference

Faculty interested in community-based learning may be interested in an upcoming conference on campus community partnerships hosted in part by the Pennsylvania Campus Compact and Albright College. See the details below.

Place Matters: Partnerships Between Institutions of Higher Education and their Local Communities

September 12, 2014

Albright College, Reading, PA

To celebrate the opening of its new Center for Civic and Global Engagement, Albright College, in partnership with PA Campus Compact, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of University Partnerships, and the Federal Reserve Bank, will be hosting a conference to explore how colleges and universities can work with local partners to positively impact the quality of their communities and provide transformative learning opportunities for their students. This one-day conference will include a keynote speaker, panel discussion, workshops, poster session, and networking. Please plan to join participants representing higher education, government, NGO’s, and economic development entities.

Registration opens July 15, details forthcoming.

To learn more, visit: http://www.huduser.org/portal/pdf/SaveTheDate_sheet_2b.pdf

Difficult Conversations: Starting a Dialogue Across Difference

Join faculty from different disciplines for a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) panel discussion on 

Difficult Conversations: Starting a Dialogue across Difference

Wednesday, April 16th, 12:00-1:30 p.m.

Talon Room, Building 16, Room 4202

RSVP for lunch: ofe@unf.edu

Faculty from different disciplines will address how to help students have some of the most difficult conversations across differences, including those tense conversations about group work and the lack thereof, and about differences across social divides. UNF faculty will share research and tips about facilitating these discussions and the potential long-term impact of engaging students in dialogue across difference. Lunch will be provided for those who RSVP at: ofe@unf.edu

Frankly Fridays - Who owns course content?

Frank Conversation about
Faculty Issues

Topic: Who owns course content? Intellectual Property in the Digital Age

Friday, April 4^th, 9:30-10:30 AM, Osprey Commons Faculty Lounge (Building 16, Room 4201)

Let us know you will be there: ofe@unf.edu

When a faculty member and a university enter into a relationship (based on a faculty hire), both parties typically intended for the relationship to be one with longevity. Both parties benefit from each others' success. Recent technological innovations, like Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and social media, have challenged the nature of the relationships between faculty and universities and between faculty and students. Recent conversations around copyright of MOOCs has started a broader conversation about how the intellectual contributions of faculty are attributed and protected.  As Cary Nelson, a former president of the American Association of University Professors, explains, this "is not just the ability of faculty members to profit from their own writings or inventions, but the future of their profession." As faculty and universities engage in conversations about intellectual property, students have inadvertently joined the discussion. In a recent debacle over the posting of a course lecture through social media, faculty members and the university joined sides to combat students' posting of a lecture that was not intended to be distributed outside of the classroom. Digital advantages and innovations are providing some unique challenges to faculty and universities across the nation. UNF has a couple of policies that address copyright and intellectual property rights. 

Copyright policy at UNF
Intellectual Property Guidelines at UNF

Come discuss how these issues impact UNF and faculty across the nation.

We will meet in the Faculty Lounge on the 4^th floor of the Osprey Commons.

OFE will provide the coffee and pastries.

Let us know you will be there: ofe@unf.edu

Funding Available through the William T. Grant Foundation

Please see the message below from John Kantner, Assistant Vice President for Research, about funding
opportunities for early career faculty (within 7 years of their terminal degree).

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) would like to present the following limited submission program:

William T. Grant Foundation
William T. Grant Scholars Program
Limited Submission Program (an internal selection process is required)
 
The William T. Grant Foundation has an open solicitation for the William T. Grant Scholars Program, which awards early-career researchers up to $350,000 over five years to enable them to expand their expertise and to do work that benefits youth. The 2014 focus is on reducing inequality, and projects must address issues that have compelling relevance for theory, programs, polices, or practices affecting youth ages 5 to 25 in the U.S. Projects also must be consistent with the Foundation’s Current Research Interests:

http://www.wtgrantfoundation.org/funding_opportunities/fellowships/william_t__grant_scholars

UNF will be able to submit proposals from only one applicant from each college. Therefore, to begin the internal selection process, ORSP is inviting interested applicants to reference the attached procedure to review eligibility criteria and to submit a pre-proposal. 

The deadline to submit a pre-proposal to ORSP is Monday, April 28, 2014 by 6:00 p.m. The submission deadline to the Foundation is July 9, 2014.

To Share or Not to Share: The Open Syllabus Project

In a recent Chronicle article, Mark Parry discusses the benefits and challenges associated with gathering and sharing syllabi via web based databases. In particular he looks at the Open Syllabus Project,  an online database similar to MIT Open CourseWare and Syllabus Finder, meant to be used “as a platform for the development of new research, teaching, and administrative tools.”  

Of course there are several arguments against sharing syllabi including legalities such as copyright and ownership but by simply acknowledging the original author some of those concerns are usurped. In a 2012 Chronicle article entitled, "Forking Your Syllabus" by Brian Croxall, the author states, "When you’re beginning to plan something new, you can always benefit from seeing what others before you have done."

Would you agree that sharing syllabi in an open database is beneficial to the collective higher ed body or are the legal ramifications of copyright infringement and plagarism to great? Share your comments below.

To read the full articles click below:

Mark Parry, "New Syllabus Archive Opens the 'Curricular Black Box'

Brian Croxall, "Forking Your Syllabus"

Promotion and Tenure Panel

Please join faculty from across the campus for the annual Promotion and Tenure Panel discussion. Dr. Earle Traynham, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, along with faculty from a variety of disciplines, will discuss the criteria for the awarding of promotion and tenure and will address the many factors that are involved in successfully navigating the tenure and promotion process. Assistant, Associate and new faculty members are especially encouraged to attend.

Promotion and Tenure Panel
Wednesday, April 9, 2014, 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Talon Room, Building 16, Room 4202
RSVP at ofe@unf.edu
Reception at 4:30 p.m., Faculty Lounge

FLOWHE Quarterly Meeting

FLOWHE, the Florida Office of Women in Higher Education, the Northeast Chapter, will hold their quarterly meeting on Friday, April 11th, 2014.

What Your Wardrobe Says about You - with Gari Greenwald
Friday, April 11, 2014, 11:45-1:00 p.m. 
Talon Room, Building 16, Room 4202
 Click here to register!

Gari Greenwald is a wardrobe consultant who moved to Jacksonville from Atlanta in 1996.  She has a degree in Fashion Merchandising from the Art Institute of Atlanta and has established her own business working with individuals on developing their own personal style and learning what works best for their body type.  Her presentations include “How to Dress for an Interview”, “How to Dress for Your Body Type” and “How to Dress for the Workplace”.  As an expert in the field, she has appeared on WJXT’s The Morning Show and several other media outlets  in Florida.  She is also a former instructor at the John Casablanca’s Modeling and Career Center and has published articles for Women’s Digest and Senior Times.  Visit her website at www.wardrobemaven.com for more information.  

Brought to you by the Florida Office of Women in Higher Education(FLOWHE). 
Attendance is free but you must reserve your spot!
You can also order lunch in advance for only $15 – Click here to register!

For more information, contact Karen Arlington at 904-997-2645 or karen.arlington@fscj.edu or Dr. Christine Holland at(904) 620.3823 or cholland@unf.edu 

Scholarly Ventures: Applying for a Fulbright Scholar Award

The Fulbright Scholar Program offers teaching, research or combination teaching/research awards in over 125 countries for the 2015-2016 academic year. UNF faculty who are past recipients of Fulbright Awards will share their experiences in applying for the award and how they benefited from the program. UNF faculty and professionals interested in the program are encouraged to attend the presentation and learn more about core Fulbright Scholar opportunities. 

Scholarly Ventures:
Applying for a Fulbright Scholar Award

Wednesday, April 9, 2014, 12:00 noon – 1:30 p.m.

Student Union, Building 58W, Room 3804

RSVP at ofe@unf.edu

The event is sponsored by the International Center and the Office of Faculty Enhancement. 

Bring your lunch. Beverages and deserts will be served.

University Press of Florida Presentation

Meredith Babb, Director of the University Press of Florida, will discuss the academic book publishing
process and how publishing has changed in the last two decades.  She will give guidance on how to prepare proposals and manuscripts. RSVP with Wendy Rahman at wrahman@unf.edu.  A light lunch will be served.

University Press of Florida Presentation
Thursday, March 27, 2014, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Sociology Conference Room, Building 51, Room 2121
To register, contact Wendy Rahman, wrahman@unf.edu

Transforming STEM Higher Education Conference

The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) provides academic renewal conferences to connect educators and researchers from across the nation to discuss and advance STEM education. The November 2014 conference in Atlanta, GA, will focus on Transforming STEM Higher Education. The deadline for proposals is Monday, April 7, 2014. Find more details below. 

A Network for Academic Renewal Conference
November 6-8, 2014
Atlanta, Georgia
Proposals Due Monday, April 7, 2014
The Association of American Colleges and Universities and ProjectKaleidoscope are pleased to announce the Call for Proposals for the TransformingSTEM Higher Education conference.  Proposals are invited and encouraged to showcase evidence-based practices that reflect any of the themes below, and that are poised for immediate uptake and adaptation in a wide range of institution types, including community colleges and minority-serving institutions.  Of particular interest will be proposals that effectively integrate two or more of the conference themes.
We look forward to your proposals in the context of the four themes listed below.

• Research, Development, and Assessment of Undergraduate STEM Teaching and Learning: This theme will include presentations and sessions that describe innovative approaches for enhancing undergraduate STEM learning through implementation of engaged pedagogies and high-impact practices including, but not limited to, integrative, interdisciplinary, and discovery-based learning. 
   
• Inclusive Excellence in STEM Higher Education: This theme will include presentations and sessions that highlight theory-driven models and innovations directed toward the recruitment, retention, and persistence of students from underrepresented groups in the STEM disciplines. 
   
• Recruiting, Supporting, and Rewarding STEM Faculty: This theme will focus on sessions and presentations that provide faculty with knowledge, materials, and strategies for revising STEM curricula and enhancing teaching and high-impact practices, as well as innovative mechanisms for acquiring necessary resources (if applicable) for implementing new strategies.
   
• Advancing Institutional Change Strategies for STEM Reform: This theme will include presentations and sessions related to campus-wide institutional change efforts toward undergraduate STEM education reform.  While there is a pervasive need to provide opportunities for students to participate in research, collaborative assignments, and other innovative engagement practices, oftentimes the culture of STEM departments is not conducive to the implementation of modern pedagogies

Visit the Call for Proposals to find out how to submit a proposal to share your work at this conference.
For more information, please call 202.387.3760, or write to Siah Annand at network@aacu.org. 

Higher Education Teaching and Learning Conference

Conferences on teaching and learning can opportunities for reflection and rejuvenation, as one interacts with colleagues from across the country who are engaged in similar teaching and learning efforts. The International Higher Education Teaching & Learning (HETL) Association will be hosting their annual conference at Utah Valley University in January, 2015. See the details below.

Call for HETL Conference Proposals
https://www.hetl.org/events/2015-hetl-sote-utah-conference/.

Join us for the 2015 HETL - SoTE Conference at Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah, USA on January 20 – January 22, 2015 (Tues., Wed., Thurs.).

The conference proposal deadline is April 11, 2014.
Submit proposals at https://www.hetl.org/2015-utah-valley-conference-submission-form/ .

Theme: Reaching the Summit: Explorations in Meaningful Learning through Community Engagement.

https://www.hetl.org/events/2015-hetl-sote-utah-conference/.

Call for Proposals: Research on Service-Learning and Community-Engagement

Reaping What We Sow:
Growing a Culture of Community Engagement

Call for Proposals:
The International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community-Engagement (IARSLCE) Conference

The IARSLCE annual research conference is targeted to scholars, practitioners, students, and community partners interested in research on service-­‐learning, community-­‐based research, campus-­‐community partnerships, and civic learning outcomes in education. Attendees include faculty, administrators, and scholar-­‐practitioners in higher education, community partners, educators and professionals and leaders in educational policy and community development.

Deadline for submissions: March 21, 2014, 5:00 p.m. (CST)
To submit a proposal, please visit: http://precis2.preciscentral.com/Public/UserLogin.aspx?P=D805325BAA88D2EADA8DFAF6817C8741 &Reload=True&ID=37E2FAE49617DEB0.


Detailed information about the registration process is available on the IARSLCE website: http://www.researchslce.org.

STARS Poster Competition Available

2014 STARS
Faculty Research Poster Competition Announcement

Talon Room, Bldg. 16, 4^th floor

Monday, April 14, 2014

3:30 – 5:00pm

**Online registration form**: Poster competition

Scholars Transforming Academic Research Symposium (STARS) is a showcase of research excellence highlighting faculty, staff, administrator, and graduate student research across all disciplines within the university community.  The theme for this year’s symposium is Crossing Borders.

Assistant Professors at UNF are invited to submit a poster for the 5th Annual STARS event, held on Monday, April 14, 2014. An award amount of $5,000 will be presented to the faculty research poster winner. Award winners will be selected by a consensus of faculty and staff attending the STARS reception and awards ceremony. 

Using a crowd-sourcing model, attendees of the faculty and staff reception will be provided a token at the beginning of the poster competition.  Each attendee will have the opportunity to select the poster they feel best demonstrates excellence in presentation, content, and impact of research. The poster participant with the most tokens at the end of the competition will be announced as the winner during the STARS faculty and staff reception and awards ceremony.

This event is free to the UNF community. Pre-registration is required.

Symposium Agenda

11:30am - 12:00pm    Registration

12:00pm - 1:30pm      Roundtable Discussions (Lunch will be served)

3:30pm -  5:00pm       Faculty Poster Competition & Faculty and Staff Reception & Awards Ceremony

Important Dates

March 28, 2014, 5:00 pm -Deadline for poster title and abstract submission (guidelines listed below): Poster competition.

March 28, 2014, 5:00 pm - Registration deadline for events at STARS: roundtable discussions, poster competition, and reception & awards ceremony.

April 4, 2014, 5:00 pm - Deadline for submitting materials to the Center for Instruction and Research Technology (CIRT) for poster printing.

*Please note: Individuals registered for the poster competition must also register for the symposium using the STARS registration.

STARS Guidelines for Poster Competition

**Registration is limited to the first 20 participants**

Online Registration: Poster competition

• Subject of Presentation: Any basic or applied research that will promote sponsored activities or lead to fundable research is acceptable for entry in the poster competition. The poster presentation may contain information that has been presented at local, regional, or national meetings or conferences.
• Deadline for Entry: Registration at the following web address must be received by Monday, March 28, 2014 at 5:00 pm @ Poster competition. All participants are responsible for registering and uploading their abstract on the website. Participants must submit his/her name, title, department, poster title, poster author(s), and an abstract not more than 250 words. Participant information and abstracts will be published in the symposium brochure. An email confirmation will be sent to the entrant to acknowledge receipt of registration and acceptance of the abstract.
• Time: Posters may be set up starting at 9:00 am on April 14, 2014.  Posters will be displayed in the Talon room, Bldg. 16, 4^th floor. Access to the area will be from 9:00 am to 3:00 p.m. Posters should remain up until 5:00pm. Posters must be removed immediately following the faculty and staff reception and awards ceremony.
• Eligibility: Competition is open to any assistant professor at the University of North Florida. Posters should present original research with potential to lead to fundable sponsored activities. Each entrant may present only one poster. Individuals registered for the poster competition must also register for the symposium using the STARS registration.
• Awards:. The first-place winner will receive seed funding of $5,000 to conduct research activities. Funds can be used for activities that promote sponsored activities, such as proposal development, travel to conferences, student wages, equipment, and supplies. The winner will be announced the same day during the STARS faculty and staff reception and awards ceremony.
• Evaluation: Award winners will be selected by a consensus of faculty and staff attending the STARS reception and awards ceremony. Using a crowdsourcing model, attendees of the faculty and staff reception will be provided a token at the beginning of the poster competition. Each attendee will have the opportunity to select the poster they feel best demonstrates excellence in presentation, content, and impact of research. The poster participant with the most tokens at the end of the competition will be announced as the winner during the STARS faculty and staff reception and awards ceremony. Should there be a tie, the funds will be distributed evenly amongst the winners.
• Poster Size: One sided: no larger than 42" x 56" displayed horizontally or vertically. Poster participants are encouraged to visit CIRT by April 4, 2014 to assist with printing posters:

Center for Instruction & Research Technology (CIRT)

J.J. Daniel Hall, Building 1, Room 1801

www.unf.edu/cirt/

Phone: (904) 620-3927                                   E-mail: cirtlab@unf.edu

Hours of Operation 

8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. , Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday

·         Format: Posters should include:

1.             Title Banner - with title, author(s), and department(s) - Entrant must be first author.

2.             Abstract - a maximum 250-word summary of the study.

Some suggestions for poster content:

a.       Introduction - a clear and concise statement of the rationale, hypothesis, and justification for the project, the objectives of the research, and general approach.

b.      Materials and Methods - an outline of the key materials and methods defining how the experiment or study was conducted.

c.       Results - tables, figures, photos, etc., showing and documenting experimental findings and analyses.

d.      Conclusions and Discussion - statement of the conclusions from the study results and a brief explanation of the study's scientific rigor, discoveries and their significance, and congruence or lack of with the body of scientific knowledge.

e.      Acknowledgments and References - brief acknowledgment of other contributors who are not authors, and key literature references to the study, if required.

·         Legibility: All text and figures should be readable from a distance of 1 meter, including captions and figure legends. Illustrations should be relatively large with heavy lines. Colors may be used to accent features or visibility. The diversity of the audience at this symposium should be considered when designing posters. Abbreviations should be kept to a minimum.

·         Continuity: The presentation should be a coherent series of statements and supporting illustrations, with each leading to the next, which show the flow of the presentation and the progression of the study.

·         Attendance: Participants are required to be in attendance at his/her poster to answer questions of symposium participants during poster viewing times on April 14: 3:30 - 4:00 p.m.   Poster participants are also encouraged to attend the faculty and staff reception & awards ceremony immediately following the competition, where the poster winner will be announced.