Oregon Tech Excellence in Teaching Innovation Grant

The Commission on College Teaching (CCT) is charged with promoting teaching and learning, which in the most comprehensive sense includes any projects, studies, or activities that promote the learning climate, foster a spirit of critical inquiry in students and faculty alike, stimulate the intellectual life at Oregon Tech, or support the integration of the arts and sciences with the technologies at Oregon Tech.

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CCT provides the opportunity for faculty to submit Excellence in Teaching Innovation Grant Request each term. The Commission reviews all grant proposals and decides on awards. The Commission has identified the following categories for which we welcome grant requests:

I. INNOVATIVE TEACHING METHODS

Funds may be used for course-related materials or instructor time. Any request for stipend or release require provost approval and will be reduced by OPE. Projects may fit within one or more of the following areas:

Incorporation of innovative teaching techniques and/or technologies that have the potential to enhance student learning.
Projects that emphasize critical thinking/learning.
Projects that will result in improved teaching ability.
Interdisciplinary projects that capitalize on connections between disciplines.
Interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary team teaching.

II. EDUCATION RESEARCH

to encourage faculty to pursue scholarship of teaching and learning (SOTL) and/or discipline-based education research (DBER) projects. Educational research projects with relevance for Oregon Tech students and faculty are particularly encouraged. Funds may be used for research materials or instructor time. Any request for stipend or release require provost approval and will be reduced by OPE. Projects may include, but are not limited to, topics such as: a. The impact of particular pedagogies, assignments, resources, projects, or other interventions on students/faculty b. Changes in student cognition (attitudes, self-confidence, metacognition, learning gains, career goals, etc) or behaviors (engagement, retention, attendance, etc) c. Student/faculty understanding of particular concepts or topics d. Investigations into particular subgroups of students/faculty (e.g., veterans, minorities, first generation college students, etc).

III. ON-CAMPUS WORKSHOPS/SEMINARS

to encourage faculty to organize and lead seminars and workshops on campus. Presentations could include a variety of subjects such as the philosophy of teaching, the use of instructional technology, techniques of teaching, or more specific subjects within academic disciplines.

IV. TEACHING WORKSHOPS/CONFERENCES

for attendance at a workshop/conference or teleconference for the purpose of broadening instructional techniques and improvement of teaching. Workshops/Conferences that primarily expand the instructor’s knowledge of subject matter are not funded by CCT, but workshops/conferences whose main focus is on teaching in a particular discipline may well be appropriate. In evaluating workshop/conference proposals, CCT will look particularly for the potential of a workshop/conference to have transformative impacts on the attendee’s teaching. Including specific plans for course improvements and/or dissemination of teaching-related knowledge gained at the workshop/conference will greatly strengthen a conference funding proposal. Conference attendance to present research will generally not be considered.

Note for applicants requesting release/reassigned time: You and your department chair will be required to verify that the course you are being released from will be covered by someone else, and that you will not be carrying over 12 WLU (including release/reassigned time from CCT in the term in which you use this grant).

Decision Rubric