We have been thrilled at the level of interest in the 2027 CIEL SoTL Fellowship initiative so far. The project ideas coming forward through initial discussions have been timely, innovative, and very VIU-centric.\u00a0 These ideas demonstrate a thoughtful commitment to advancing teaching excellence and enriching student learning across VIU, and it is exciting to see such creative research proposals taking shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you finalize your materials, this is a friendly reminder that the deadline to submit your application for the 2027 CIEL SoTL Fellowship is approaching on October 1, 2026<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are planning to apply, please keep the following key details and requirements in mind as you prepare your submission package:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Submission and Cover Sheet Requirements<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Your complete application package must be submitted via email directly to Kathleen Bortolin<\/strong> (Chair of the SoTL Fellowship Committee) at kathleen.bortolin@viu.ca<\/a>. Please ensure your package includes a signed Cover Page<\/strong>, which must be signed by your Dean to articulate approval for release from specific work or courses. More comprehensive details of the application, and a downloadable version of the cover page is a available here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Research Design vs. Course Design<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Please note that the SoTL Fellowship is fundamentally a research design project<\/strong>, not strictly a course-design opportunity. The goal of the fellowship is to support formal, systematic inquiry into teaching practices and gather evidence on teaching and learning. Your proposal should reflect clear, focused, inquiry-driven research questions and systematic data collection methods rather than just routine instructional development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Project Timeline (6 Months)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure your application reflects a 6-month timeline<\/strong>. Your detailed timeline and project scope should map out realistic, manageable steps across a 6-month period for a 2-course\/0.25 FTE release (to be taken in Spring 2027, Intersession 2027, or another suitable timeframe agreed upon with your Dean). The committee will be considering the feasibility of your project, so this timeframe should be considered carefully when applying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Research Ethics Board (REB) Considerations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Because SoTL involves systematic research on human participants (such as collecting data from students or analyzing classroom intervention outcomes), Research Ethics Board (REB) approval will need to be considered<\/strong>. Please account for REB review, data collection ethics, and consent procedures within your 6-month project timeline and methodology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Key Application Components<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As detailed in the full post, please ensure your package covers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have any questions or would like feedback on your research design before the October 1 deadline, please reach out to the CIEL team. We look forward to receiving your applications!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Need More Inspiration or SoTL Guidance?<\/strong> Here are some of our go-to SoTL Resources: <\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. University of British Columbia (UBC)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. University of Calgary (UofC)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Mount Royal University (MRU)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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