IMPROVE YOUR KNOWLEDGE and EFFECTIVENESS in ENGAGING CONTROVERSY in the CLASSROOM!
APPLY NOW for the FORD FOUNDATION FACULTY FELLOWS PROGRAM NEW GRANT OPPORTUNITY START TALKING SERIES SPRING SEMESTER 2009
Fridays: January 30, February 6, 13, 20, 27 March 20 & 27 Times 1-2:30 The first meeting will be at the Consortium Library Other meetings will be at Library 302 or APU TBA
Click Here for Spring Series Schedule
Limited Number of $200 Stipends for Library Purchases Available: Apply Now! The Ford Foundation has awarded UAA and APU one of only 13 two-year joint renewal grants nationwide to continue our work with the national Difficult Dialogues project. One aspect of that grant offers faculty the opportunity to participate in a Spring '09 faculty development series centered around the recently published book, Start Talking: A Handbook for Engaging Difficult Dialogues in Higher Education. Start Talking is based on the experiences of UAA and APU faculty who participated in the first Ford Foundation's national Difficult Dialogues initiative. The book, which has achieved national recognition, addresses themes of academic freedom; classroom safety; rhetoric and debate; race, class and culture; science and religion; and business, politics and social justice and is designed to serve as a manual for professors who wish to strengthen their teaching and engage students more effectively in conversations about the most important issues of our time.
Ford Foundation Fellows will meet seven times over spring semester 2009 to discuss strategies and techniques for introducing controversial topics in the classroom and ensuring productive discussions. Fellows must attend at least five of the seven sessions to participate in the Ford grant, and a limited number of applicants will receive $200 stipends for UAA/APU Consortium Library materials purchases for their participation in all aspects of the program.
Faculty who do not wish to be part of the Ford Foundation Fellowship but wish to improve their skills at introducing difficult dialogues in the classroom are welcome to attend individual sessions on a “drop-in” basis.
Participation is limited. Applications are due by Monday January 19, 2009 at 5 pm. Please see detailed information below.
ELIGIBILITY
All UAA and APU faculty are eligible to apply, with the understanding that you must be able to:
- Read and actively discuss the text Start Talking: A Handbook for Engaging Difficult Dialogues in Higher Education;
- Attend at least five of the seven sessions;
- Apply at least one strategy in the classroom during Spring or Fall semesters 2009 and submit a brief assessment of the outcome of your efforts.
Application Instructions
Please follow these instructions in creating and submitting the Ford Foundation Start Talking application. An electronic copy of your application (e.g. Microsoft Word file) must be submitted to John Mouracade afjmm2@uaa.alaska.edu or Tracy Stewart tstewart@alaskapacific.edu by Monday January 19, 2009 at 5 pm. This application must include:
1. Name of Applicant, Contact Phone, Contact Email, UAA/APU Identification Number
2. Academic Department/Program/Faculty Status
3. Professional Goals (1/2- 1 page) Describe what it is you hope to accomplish by participating in the program and how you hope to apply new skills in the classroom.
4. Leadership Potential (1/2 page or less): Please describe ways in which your participation in the program might broadly impact teaching in your department/program, or be used as a model by other faculty members.
5. Areas of Particular Interest
6. Optional Letters of Support
SELECTION CRITERIA
Priority will be given to:
- Faculty occupying roles or positions which require skills for engaging controversy
- Faculty who have not yet had the opportunity to participate in previous Engaging Controversy faculty development intensives
- Ranked or term faculty at APU or UAA
- Adjunct faculty with a six- or more year history with UAA or APU
- Appropriate ratios of faculty across disciplines and between campuses
For more information:
Libby Roderick, UAA Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence
786-4605 or aner@uaa.alaska.edu
Tracy Stewart, Ford Faculty Associate, Alaska Pacific University
564-8358 or tstewart@alaskapacific.edu
John Mouracade, Ford Faculty Associate, University of Alaska Anchorage
786-4437 or afjmm2@uaa.alaska.edu
