Teaching Centre

Criteria and Terms of Reference for TEACHING FELLOWS

I. General Qualifications

Teaching Fellows will be academic staff members with tenured, tenure-track or continuing appointments who have demonstrated both commitment to excellence in their own teaching and willingness to champion the importance of teaching development in the university community.

II.Roles and Responsibilities of Teaching Fellows

Teaching Fellows will contribute directly to the achievement of the Teaching Centre’s primary objectives to:

• Foster a community of practice in which teaching and learning are enriched and celebrated.
• Extend the University’s commitment to a scholarship of teaching.
• Lead the integration of best teaching practices with new technology.
• Establish a process of generative evaluation that will inform, guide, and justify the continuing activities of the Centre.

In reaching these objectives, Teaching Fellows are expected to be involved in some or all of the following Teaching Centre activities:

• workshop planning and organization of Teaching Centre seminar series
• individual consultation with faculty members
• mentorship of small groups of new professors
• research into teaching and learning
• classroom observation
• presentations at provincial, national, and international conferences
• other activities, as agreed upon in negotiation with the Chair, Manager, and/or Advisory Council

III. Term of Appointment

Teaching Fellows will be appointed for a one-year term.  Normally, two Fellows will be appointed to commence their terms in July 1 of each year, and two will be appointed to commence their terms in January 1 of each year. An appointment as Teaching Fellow carries a one course teaching relief to be applied during the term of appointment; the timing of the course relief is to be negotiated with the Dean of the Faculty/School.    

IV. Application Procedures

In acknowledgment of the fact that academic planning cycles vary among faculties, applications for teaching fellows may be made up to two years in advance of the proposed term of appointment. The call for applications, identifying Teaching Fellow expectations and available terms of appointment, will normally be made in November of each year (example attached). Candidates must apply by January 4th through their respective Faculties/Schools, which will develop and follow nomination and initial review procedures as appropriate.  Faculty members may apply for terms to commence on any of the following:

• July 1st – June 30^th  (i.e., 6 months from application date)
• January 1^st – December 31 (i.e., 1 year from application date)
• July 1^st – June 30^th of the (i.e., 18 months from application date)
• January 1^st – December 31^st (i.e., 2 years from application date)

Nominations and original application package from all Faculties/Schools must be forwarded to the Administrative Assistant of the Teaching Centre Advisory Council in L1126, no later than March 1; in the case of multiple candidates from a single faculty, the Faculty would rank the nominations and include any information related to timing of appointment that may be relevant. From this list of nominees, the Advisory Council will select up to four Teaching Fellows for each academic year. Final decisions will be communicated to the Deans and applicants no later than the end of March.

Candidates for a Teaching Fellowship must submit an application package including four components:  

1) A current curriculum vitae.

2) A letter of application, not to exceed 3 pages, including:

i) A statement of the candidate’s philosophy of teaching;

ii) A brief self-assessment of the candidate’s record in teaching and contributions to teaching development;

iii) A rationale for the candidate’s interest in serving as a Teaching Fellow, including anticipated contributions to the work of the Centre; and

iv) The dates of the proposed term of appointment.

3) A representative sample of other evidence for teaching excellence, including student evaluations from at most 5 courses; and

4) A letter of support from the Dean of the Faculty. 

Candidates whose applications are forwarded to the Teaching Centre from their Faculty/School may also be asked to meet with the Teaching Centre Advisory Council for a brief presentation and discussion to further explore possibilities for the position.

The Teaching Centre Advisory council decision categories:

Upon final review of applications the review committee may recommend an applicant be:

1. Approved for the period requested;
2. Approved with a recommendation for an alternative term;
3. Asked to resubmit in a subsequent competition; or
4. Denied a teaching fellowship position.

The Advisory council may fill all teaching fellowship positions available within the two-year application period.

Teaching Centre Teaching Fellow Possible Terms

Applications that are accepted will be one-year Teaching Fellow positions for the following terms:

• July 1^st, 20__ – June 30^th 20__
• January 1^st 20__ – December 31^st 20__
• July 1^st 20__ – June 30^th 20__
• January 1^st 20__ – December 31^st 20__

The Teaching Centre will appoint up to two Teaching Fellows for each of the available terms.

To apply to become a teaching fellow, use the application form If you have questions please call 403.380.1856.