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Call for Proposals: 2026 – 2027 SoTL Scholars Fellowship

Digitally generated image shows an open book that reads "Teaching Learning" with a tree emerging from the pages. People stand around the tree, talking. The text at the top of the image reads "SoTL Scholars Fellowship Rutgers". The image text indicates that it was generated by ChatGPT in April 2026.

Introduction 

The Institute for Teaching, Innovation, & Inclusive Pedagogy (TIIP) at Rutgers University-New Brunswick is pleased to announce the second year of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Scholars Fellowships for full-time instructors.   

This fellowship celebrates instructors who are passionate about exploring big questions in teaching and learning. Whether you’re just beginning to explore SoTL or have years of experience conducting teaching and learning research, we’re looking for instructors who are curious, forward-thinking, and ready to shape the future of higher education. By building a vibrant community of SoTL scholars, we aim to spark innovation, share meaningful practices, and make a real impact on student learning, both on our campus and beyond.  

The fellowship will award $2,000 ($1000 in December 2026; $1000 in June 2027 at the completion of fellowship requirements) to three instructors who demonstrate a strong commitment to the scholarship of teaching and learning. Ideal candidates should bring thoughtful project ideas and a passion for sharing their insights to enhance our culture of teaching excellence. No prior SoTL experience is required; we welcome applicants at all stages of their SoTL journey. 

Aims of the Fellowship 

The SoTL Scholars Fellowship is designed to: 

  • Celebrate curiosity in SoTL: Recognizing instructors who are making meaningful contributions to the scholarship of teaching and learning. 
  • Inspire a culture of inquiry: Encouraging thoughtful exploration of innovative teaching practices and their impact on student learning. 
  • Build a connected community: Creating space for collaboration, mentorship, and sharing among faculty who are passionate about teaching. 
  • Share what works: Supporting the dissemination of SoTL research both within our university and across the broader academic community. 
  • Improve student learning: Investigate innovative teaching approaches and inclusive pedagogical practices that enhance learning for all students. 

Expectations of the Fellows 

SoTL Scholars Fellows will be expected to: 

  • Conduct a SoTL project: Carry out the research project outlined in their proposal within the fellowship period (typically one academic year). SoTL Scholars must complete CITI Training and obtain IRB approval of the study prior to implementing their project. 
  • Attend regular support meetings: Meet with the Assistant Director of Teaching & Learning Scholarship and your fellow cohort members on a regular basis (e.g., monthly for 1 hour) to discuss your project and get feedback. 
  • Engage with the SoTL community: Participate and contribute to TIIP-supported meetings and events such as the Office of Teaching Evaluation and Assessment Research (OTEAR) SoTL Roundtable and the SoTL Faculty Affinity Network (FAN), sharing updates on your project and engaging with other scholars. 
  • Share project findings: Present your research at least once in a campus presentation open to the Rutgers community by the end of May 2027 (e.g., Student Success Conference, Online Teaching Conference, Rutgers Active Learning Symposium). 
  • Reflect and report: Submit a final report (1-3 pages, traditional research structure) by the end of May 2027 documenting your research process, findings, and implications for teaching and learning at Rutgers. 
  • Support future scholars: Serve as an encouraging resource for future cohorts of SoTL Scholars. 
  • Share beyond Rutgers (aspirational): Present or publish your findings at disciplinary or teaching and learning conferences or in a peer-reviewed journal. 

Fellowship Timeline  

  • June 1, 2026: Applications due 
  • Week of June 22, 2026: Fellows notified; begin planning fall project 
  • June-August 2026: CITI training & IRB approval of project (if needed) 
  • September 2026: Fellowship begins; monthly meetings start 
  • December 2026: Conduct preliminary data analysis; first stiped disbursed  
  • January 2027: Submit progress report; begin Spring project (if needed) 
  • February 2027: Explore presentation opportunities 
  • March 2027: Option to practice presentation with SoTL FAN 
  • May 2027: Final presentations; reflections due  
  • June 2027: Second stipend disbursed upon completion of fellowship 

Eligibility 

  • This fellowship is open to all full-time tenure-track, tenured, and non-tenure track instructors at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. 
  • All departments and schools within Rutgers University-New Brunswick are eligible. 
  • We welcome applicants at all stages of their SoTL journey: from those just getting started to those with prior research experience. A strong, thoughtful research plan matters more than an extensive SoTL background. 

Evaluation Criteria 

We’re looking for applications that are thoughtful and specific. Strong proposals will address: 

  • Course information and your rationale for choosing that course for your project 
  • The strengths and perspectives you bring to the SoTL fellowship 
  • How this fellowship connects to and supports your teaching goals 
  • A detailed description of your proposed SoTL project 

How to Apply 

  1. Download the application form and prepare your responses in advance. 
  2. Have a conversation with your department chair or program director and let them know you’re applying. They will receive an automated email from Qualtrics to confirm their endorsement. A formal letter is not required. Please note: applications will be reviewed once the endorsement is received. 
  3. Submit your completed application electronically via the Qualtrics application form by Monday, June 1, 2026. 

Before you submit, Crystal Quillen, the Assistant Director for Teaching and Learning Scholarship, would be happy to schedule a one-on-one consultation to make sure everything you need is included. She is also happy to work through any methodological or general study questions you might have as you develop your project. Don’t hesitate to reach out! 

Apply

Questions? 

Have questions? Reach out to Crystal Quillen, Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning Scholarship at crystal.quillen@rutgers.edu. She’s happy to help! 

Citations 

This call for proposals was adapted and edited using the following resources:  

Anthropic. (2026, April). Claude [Large language model]. https://claude.ai/ 

Google. (2025, April). Gemini [Large language model]. https://gemini.google.com/  

Kent State University Center for Teaching and Learning. (2025). Teaching Scholars 2025 Cohort Application. https://www.kent.edu/ctl/teaching-scholars  

Taggart, J., & Wheeler, L. B. (2024, December 1). University of Virginia Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Programming Resources. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/NZFDT  

Taggart, J., Wheeler, L. B., & Dela Cruz, K. (2024). Supporting faculty with SoTL through an intensive SoTL Scholars program. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 2024, 23–34. 

University of Baltimore Center for Excellence in Learning, Teaching, and Technology. (2024, October). Teaching Scholars in Residence (TSiRs) Program. https://blogs.ubalt.edu/celtt/2024/10/14/join-the-celtt-teaching-scholars-in-residence-program/