WESTERN UNION FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES NEW SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES
Deadline: February 5, 2010
The Western Union Foundation’s (http://foundation.westernunion.com/) Family Scholarship Program is a new educational initiative for migrants, immigrants, and their families in the United States. The Family Scholarship Program is intended to help two members of the same family move up the economic development ladder through education. Scholarships may be used for tuition for college/university education language acquisition classes, technical/skill training, and/or financial literacy. All applicants must be 18 or older. The country of origin for at least one of the applicants must be outside the U.S. Scholarships will only be made to nonprofit accredited higher education institutions and nonprofit training/educational providers. Recipients are eligible to receive scholarships in amounts of $1,000 to $5,000 per family. Visit the Western Union Foundation Web site for complete program information.

Nathan J. Stark Internship for Non-Profit Development
Deadline: March 1, 2010
The Nathan J. Stark Internship for Nonprofit Development will provide two students with the opportunity to learn about nonprofit organizations, how they work, how they raise funds, and how they make a difference. Interns will be based at the National Academy of Social Insurance or another nonprofit organization, the National Health Policy Forum.

Each summer, two students interested in a career in the nonprofit sector will be awarded an internship. The interns come to Washington, D.C., for twelve weeks during the summer semester. The internship includes a $3,000 honorarium and the opportunity to participate in a series of seminars and programs. Complete program information is available at the National Academy of Social Insurance website (http://www.nasi.org/ ).

C O L L A B O R A T I O N N E W S B Y T E S
Volume 6, Number 1
August 20, 2007

IN THIS ISSUE:
1. Headlines & Deadlines
2. Save the Date! Upcoming Events
3. Movers & Shakers

1. Headlines & Deadlines:

Back-to-School Mailing packages value & savings

Attention Faculty Development Coordinators, CAOs, CSAOs, and other campus leaders: Watch your mailboxes for information on The Collaboration’s 2007-08 programs and services, and be sure to pass along these key messages to colleagues:

· The Collaboration has more than 25 years of expertise in delivering value through professional development and institutional capacity building.

· The value of membership is best realized by broad campus involvement.

· We are a collaborative organization and rely upon you—your participation in all programs contributes to their vitality and relevance.

· Start the academic year on a positive note by making concrete plans to improve the teaching and learning experience at your institution.

· Student retention and success are vital to your institution’s success and long-term viability. A good way to enhance these areas is to commit to excellence in teaching and learning.

Visit our website at www.collab.org to get the latest updates on programming, including complete concurrent session abstracts for the November conference.

“PROMOTING DEEP LEARNING; CULTIVATING INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY, CREATIVITY, AND ENGAGEMENT IN COLLEGE”

Join your colleagues for The Collaboration’s fall 2007 conference, taking place November 16-17, 2007, at the Bloomington Sheraton Hotel, Bloomington, Minnesota. With two outstanding plenary speakers, more than thirty concurrent sessions, and five preconference workshops, this conference focuses on one of the most critical issues in higher education today—STUDENT engagement and success. You’ll learn about current research and best practices in plenary sessions led by:

Ken Bain, author of “What the Best College Teachers Do” (Harvard University Press, 2004) and Vice Provost for Instruction and Director of the Teaching and Learning Center at Montclair State University. Bain’s highly interactive session will explore the practices and insights of educators with phenomenal success in helping students achieve remarkable learning results.
Jeanette Norden, Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, one of the outstanding educators featured in Ken Bain’s book and an award-winning teacher recognized for integrating “humanity” into basic science courses.

With so many sessions to choose from—including a concurrent session with Ken Bain, a preconference with Jeanette Norden, and a conversation with both—the November conference provides a breadth and depth of topics with something for everyone.

Members can take advantage of the group discount to save an additional $15-25 per person—a total savings of $100 per person off the nonmember rate. And don’t forget to register by the October 23 Early Bird Registration deadline to save $45. Registration information and a detailed brochure are online at www.collab.org.

REGISTER FOR THE FACULTY DEVELOPERS’ BREAKFAST SESSION

Faculty Developers can register for a special feature of the November conference—the FD Breakfast Session. This informal discussion on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) will be facilitated by Marion Larson, Bethel University, and Stuart Ross, Minnesota State University–Mankato. Learn more about resources and strategies that you can use to help faculty on your campus who hope to connect their scholarly and teaching lives, share your experiences with colleagues, and develop next steps to best meet your campus needs.

PROPOSALS DUE SEPTEMBER 21 FOR FEBRUARY 2008 CONFERENCE: “Critical THINKING IN THE AGE OF THE INTERNET”

Educating students to be critical thinkers has long been a goal of colleges and universities and the focus of many faculty development programs. However, higher education institutions are facing significant new challenges addressing the critical thinking needs of the Net Generation. Many of today’s college students have the latest technologies at their fingertips. Yet the growing social, economic, political, health, and environmental challenges we face demand that their abilities to research effectively, think critically, and communicate clearly need to be nurtured more urgently than ever before. These challenges and opportunities are the focus of the Collaboration’s February 15-16, 2008, conference, “Critical Thinking in the Age of the Internet.”

We’re seeking a broad range of strong proposals that share successes, highlight innovations, and address challenges. The Call for Proposals can be found online at www.collab.org. Questions? Contact us at collab@collab.org or (651) 646-6166.

TRAVEL GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR MEMBER HBCUs & TCUs

Travel grants of up to $1,800 for two or more participants are available to tribal and private historically black colleges and universities that are 2007-08 Collaboration members and have a history of Bush Foundation funding. Applications for the November conference must be submitted by the campus Faculty Development Coordinator and received at the Collaboration office by September 28, 2007. Applications for remaining funds, if available, are due by October 12, 2007. To review the guidelines and download application materials, please visit our website at www.collab.org.

COLLABORATION STAFF ATTEND 2007 INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR NEW FACULTY DEVELOPERS

Lesley K. Cafarelli, President & Chief Executive Officer of The Collaboration, and Tim Barrett, Program Director, joined more than 100 other faculty developers in June at the 2007 International Institute for New Faculty Developers in Ottawa. The Institute was sponsored by the Institute for the Advancement of Teaching in Higher Education (IATHE), the University of Ottawa, the Professional and Organizational Development (POD) Network in Higher Education, and two other institutions. The Collaboration has been selected by POD, the national professional association for faculty developers, to co-sponsor and host the next Institute, to be held in Minnesota in June 2009.

2. Save the Date! Upcoming Events

STEWART BELLMAN AWARD WINNER TO BE HONORED AT FALL CONFERENCE

Be sure to attend the Friday night reception during our November 2007 conference to help us in honoring the first recipient of the Stewart Bellman Award for Exemplary Leadership for the Advancement of College Teaching and Learning. A short program will be followed by appetizers, music, a cash bar, and the chance to connect with friends and colleagues.

3. Movers and Shakers

THE COLLABORATION WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS FOR 2007-08

The Collaboration is delighted to welcome ten new member institutions:

Des Moines Area Community College (Ankeny, IA)
Institute of American Indian Art (Santa Fe, NM)
Loyola University New Orleans (New Orleans, LA)
Minot State University (Minot, SD)
Mississippi Valley State University (Itta Bena, MS)
Sisseton-Wahpeton Community College (Sisseton, SD)
Stillman College (Tuscaloosa, AL)
University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX)
Wagner College (Staten Island, NY)
York College of Pennsylvania (York, PA)

As of August 15, 2007-08 Collaboration membership comprised 63 Regional, 26 Affiliate, and 3 Associate Members. For more information on our current members and the benefits of membership, visit our website at www.collab.org.

COLLABORATION COMMITTEE MEMBER CICCONE JOINS CARNEGIE FOUNDATION STAFF

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has named Tony Ciccone, director of the Center for Instructional and Professional Development at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, as the new director of the Carnegie Academy for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (CASTL) effective August 1, 2007.

CASTL, a program of the foundation since 1998, involves faculty members in efforts to foster significant, long-lasting student learning, enhance the practice and profession of teaching, and bring to faculty members' work as teachers the recognition and reward afforded to other forms of scholarly work. The goal of CASTL is to develop a cadre of teachers committed to documenting what they are doing in their individual classrooms in ways that other teachers and education researchers can build on.

As director, Ciccone will lead efforts to facilitate collaboration among colleges and universities committed to assisting faculty members to share experiences, solve problems, and discover new ideas and approaches to teaching. Ciccone is a member of The Collaboration’s Faculty Developers’ Network Leadership Committee, contributing his commitment and expertise to that enterprise. Please join us in congratulating him on his new role with the Carnegie Foundation!

EXPERIENCE AND INSIGHT guide planning for February conference

Faculty, staff, and administrators from seven institutions around the region bring their expertise and enthusiasm to planning The Collaboration’s February 2007 conference, “Critical Thinking in the Age of the Internet.”

Lois Bollman, Vice President for Strategy, Planning and Accountability, Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Krisma DeWitt, Associate Professor of Chemistry, Mount Marty College
Joan Hawthorne, Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs, University of North Dakota-Grand Forks
Mark Johnson, Vice President for Academic Affairs, North Iowa Area Community College
Doug Noyes, Instructor, Department of Applied Sciences, Oglala Lakota College
Dean Pape, Assistant Professor of Communication, Ripon College
Debra Pitton, Professor of Education, Gustavus Adolphus College

The committee met recently to discuss the vision for the conference and brainstorm ideas for plenary sessions. Thanks to them for this important service!

NEW LEADERS TAKE THE HELM ON the Collaboration's Board of Directors

Leadership for The Collaboration’s Board of Directors changed July 1 as we bade farewell to Board Chair Miriam Luebke, Concordia University–St. Paul. Karen Whitehead, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, has assumed the position of Board Chair for the year, while Steve Lyons, College of St. Scholastica, has stepped into the role of Vice Chair. Committee chairs include:

Bob Anderson, Wisconsin Lutheran College: Membership and Advocacy Committee
Mark Braun, Augustana College: Finance Committee
Steve Griffith, Simpson College: Nominating Committee
Larry Lundblad, Central Lakes College: Board Development Committee

The Collaboration also welcomes Kevin Fiene, Wartburg College, to the Board for a 2007–10 term.

NEW FACES AT THE COLLABORATION OFFICE

The Collaboration is pleased to announce two new additions to The Collaboration staff. Tim Barrett, our new Program Director, joined the staff in June 2007. Before that, he served as Senior Educator at the Bakken Museum, where he worked with K-12 and especially K-8 children and teachers, created and managed an innovative Bush Foundation-funded school program, and oversaw a unique Science Theatre program. With a Bachelor of Arts from the University of St. Thomas and a Master of Arts from North Dakota State University, Barrett has a background in theatre, with an emphasis on acting and technical production.

Lisa Guyott also joined us in June 2007. Our new Director of Marketing and Special Projects worked most recently as Communications and Marketing Director for International Programs at the University of California—Berkeley Extension. She has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities and a Master of Liberal Studies in Writing from Hamline University.

For more information about Collaboration staff, please visit our website at www.collab.org/staff.

Do you have a new position or honor to share with your Collaboration colleagues? If so, please send a short announcement to lguyott@collab.org for inclusion in the next “Newsbytes.”

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The Collaboration for the Advancement of College Teaching & Learning is an alliance of colleges and universities that supports and promotes outstanding college teaching and learning. We can be reached at: 2356 University Ave. West, Suite 230, St. Paul, MN 55114, Phone: (651) 646-6166, Fax: (651) 646-3162, Email: collab@collab.org, Web: www.collab.org.

C O L L A B O R A T I O N N E W S B Y T E S
Volume 5, Number 7
April 2007

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Headlines & Deadlines
2. Save the Date! Upcoming Events
3. Funding Opportunities

NOMINATIONS DUE MAY 1 FOR NEW STEWART BELLMAN AWARD FOR EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP

The Collaboration invites nominations of individuals or groups of faculty, staff, or administrators at current Collaboration member institutions who have demonstrated their ability to inspire collaborative engagement and foster changes in higher education that result in measurable improvements in teaching and student learning. The recipient of this new award—The Stewart Bellman Award for Exemplary Leadership for The Advancement of College Teaching and Learning—will be announced in fall 2007 and the award presented at The Collaboration’s November 16-17, 2007, conference. Nominations must be supported by at least three individuals from the nominee’s own campus or another Collaboration member institution.

Award winners will be recognized at The Collaboration’s fall conference, where they will receive a cash award of $1,000. For the conference at which the presentation takes place, The Collaboration will also provide:

a complimentary registration for each individual awardee or two complimentary registrations for each group of awardees
travel support and hotel accommodations up to $1,000 per award

The award is named in honor of Stewart Bellman, Professor and Faculty Development Coordinator, Black Hills State University, and faculty development consultant to the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, who served on The Collaboration’s Board of Directors from 1990–96.

For the full guidelines and nomination cover sheet, see our web page at www.collab.org.

PROPOSALS DUE MAY 16 FOR NOVEMBER 2007 CONFERENCE ON PROMOTING DEEP LEARNING

The Collaboration’s November 16–17, 2007, conference, “Promoting Deep Learning: Cultivating Intellectual Curiosity, Creativity, and Engagement in College,” focuses on what college and university educators can do to foster deep, meaningful learning. What are the characteristics of such learning, and how can we know it when we see it? What learning environments support it? What learning experiences generate it? How do disciplinary differences affect it? And how do curriculum and instruction, advising, student support services, faculty and staff development, space planning, and other aspects of the educational enterprise need to change to foster it?

We invite proposals for concurrent sessions that disseminate and model effective practice; promote stimulating dialogue, inquiry, and problem-solving; or engage participants in exploring opportunities for post-conference inter-institutional collaboration.

For the Call for Proposals, see our website at www.collab.org. Printed copies were also sent a few weeks ago to faculty development coordinators, chief academic officers, department chairs, and past participants on Collaboration member and many nonmember campuses.

WHAT MOTIVATES COLLABORATION CONFERENCE PRESENTERS TO PROPOSE THEIR SESSIONS?

The Collaboration values the perspectives of our program participants about their experiences and uses their input regularly to work to improve our efforts. Conference presenters are key to our success, so we invite them to provide additional feedback separate from our regular participant evaluations. One question we ask regularly: “How important was each of the following factors in your decision to submit a proposal for this conference?” Here are the top responses from presenters from our last three conferences who responded to our survey. Numbers signify the percent of total respondents (N=103) who reported that each factor was important, very important, or extremely important.

Sharing my knowledge and expertise: 95%
Interest in the conference theme: 92%
Opportunity for professional growth: 84%
Personal encouragement from someone to present:: 61%

Half of all respondents hadn’t attended a previous Collaboration conference before they presented. But of those who had attended previously, 76% said that the quality of previous Collaboration conferences was important, very important, or extremely important to their decision to submit a proposal. A number of those attending for the first time also reported that the reputation of Collaboration conferences was an important factor.

To a separate question about how they first learned about the Call for Proposals, a significant number of respondents (49%) said, “Someone drew it to my attention.” Most often, this was a faculty or staff colleague, with chief academic officers (dean or vp) and faculty development coordinators also key. Some presenters reported that an announcement made on their campuses got their attention.

In a separate set of surveys—evaluations completed by conference participants in 2006-07—94% of presenters (compared with 69% of other participants) said that they planned to cite their participation in their curricula vitae or reports of professional activity, and 50% (compared with 26% of other participants) said that their institutions considered their participation as part of their eligibility for promotion, tenure, merit pay, or other forms of recognition. (Some participants responded “don’t know” to the latter question.)

Take-away ideas for Newsbytes readers?

Submit your own proposal.
Think now about “good prospects” among your colleagues for November 2007 conference presenters and encourage them to submit.

Deadline reminder: May 16.

TRAVEL GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR CONFERENCE PRESENTERS FROM MEMBER HBCUs & TCUs

Need yet another reason to submit a proposal? Those whose session proposals are accepted for The Collaboration’s November 2007 conference will be given top priority for Travel Grants next fall. Grants of up to $1,800 for two or more presenters per session or up to $900 for a single presenter are available to tribal and private historically black colleges and universities that are 2007-08 Collaboration members and have a history of Bush Foundation funding. Application materials will be distributed to campus Faculty Development Coordinators in August and will be due in late September.

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

The Collaboration seeks experienced candidates for two full-time positions:

Program Director

Director of Marketing & Special Projects

Application review begins April 23, 2007. For details, go to www.collab.org.

PRESENTATION SLIDES AVAILABLE FROM CONFERENCE ON “TRANSFORMING STUDENT LEARNING FOR A GLOBAL SOCIETY”

Thanks again to all those who participated in The Collaboration’s February 2007 conference on “Transforming Student Learning For A Global Society!” For a copy of the conference program, including abstracts for all the sessions, and for slides from Caryn Musil’s plenary presentation, “From Global Rhetoric to Global Citizens,” see our website at www.collab.org.

MEMBERSHIP PLEDGES DUE NOW FOR 2007–08

The Collaboration’s 2007-08 Membership Campaign is off to a strong start, with renewals from 29 member institutions received in the past month. With the new membership year starting July 1, pledges are now at 32% of our $225,000 goal for the coming year. Membership fees provide critical support for The Collaboration’s mission and programs, making up about half of earned income and 29% of all income including grants.

Collaboration membership offers cost-effective programs that provide faculty and staff with the knowledge and skills needed to promote student learning and build institutional capacity to address current and future challenges. Past participants are encouraged to share testimonials about their Collaboration experiences with their chief academic officers and presidents, who will make the membership decision. For more information, visit our website at www.collab.org or contact us at collab@collab.org or (651) 646-6166.

2. Save the Date! Upcoming Events

SAVE THESE DATES FOR UPCOMING COLLABORATION CONFERENCES

November 16-17, 2007
February 15-16, 2008

STLHE HOSTS ANNUAL CONFERENCE JUNE 13-16, 2007

The Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education announces its annual conference, “Evolving Scholarship,” which will take place June 13-16, 2007, at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. This conference explores scholarship about teaching and learning in the post-secondary context.

For information, visit www.mcmaster.ca/stlhe/events/national.html.

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR NEW FACULTY DEVELOPERS

The 2007 Institute for New Faculty Developers will be held June 24-29, 2007, on the campus of the University of Ottawa, with accommodations in campus student residences or in hotels near campus. The principal co-sponsors of the 2007 Institute include the POD Network in Higher Education, the University of Ottawa, the University of Waterloo, and the Institute for the Advancement of Teaching in Higher Education.

The five-day intensive and hands-on program is designed to:

help new faculty developers feel at ease in their positions
provide a theoretical and practical framework for effective instructional design and consulting
guide those responsible for establishing and managing centers for teaching and learning
assist in planning for program, professional development, and administrative needs.

Registration is available online with an Early Bird registration deadline of May 1. Fees are $900 USD (Early Bird rate) or $1,100 USD (after May 1) for five days of programming; three dinners; breakfast and lunch each day of the conference; and session materials.

For more information, go to www.iinfd.org.

3. Funding Opportunities

Institute of International Education's Scholar Rescue Fund Supports Scholars Under Threat—Deadline: Rolling

The Institute of International Education's ( http://www.iie.org/) Scholar Rescue Fund offers fellowships for scholars whose lives and work are threatened in their home countries. Scholars from any country and any discipline may apply for fellowships to support temporary stays at institutions worldwide. Fellowships are for established academic professionals under threat and not students. Applications are reviewed for academic qualifications, the quality/potential of the candidate's work, and the urgency of the risks faced. Preference may be given to established scholars with a Ph.D. or other advanced degree who have been employed at a college or university for an extended period; however, junior, independent, and non-traditional scholars, writers, and artists will also be also considered.

Awards are made to host institutions to support a specific scholar and are matched in full or in-kind by host institutions. Scholars work in safety at the host institution—teaching, lecturing, researching. and publishing. Fellowships range from three months to one year. Renewal will be considered in special circumstances. The amount of the award will reflect the scholar's need, the cost of living, and visit duration.

Candidates may apply directly or be nominated by a third party. Applications and nominations are accepted at any time throughout the year on a rolling basis. Non-emergency applications are reviewed three times a year according to the following deadlines: April 1, September 1, and January 1. Emergency applications will be considered earlier if a candidate's circumstances do not permit waiting for the next regular meeting of the selection committee.

Visit the IIE Web site for complete program information and application procedures.

Social Science Research Council Offers Collaborative Grants in Media and Communications—Deadline: April 22, 2007 (Letters of Inquiry)

The Social Science Research Council (http://www.ssrc.org/) is accepting applications for large grants through its Collaborative Grants program for academic-advocacy partnerships in media and communications.

The program provides one-year grants of up to $30,000 each for support of academic-advocacy research collaborations designed to change media/telecommunications infrastructure, practices, or policies. Projects must involve substantive collaboration between a researcher based at a university, college, or other academically oriented research institution, and a U.S.-based nonprofit advocacy, organizing, or community group working on media and/or telecommunications issues.

The program also offers small grants of up to $7,500 for short-term academic research in support of advocacy and activism in media and communications. Applications are accepted approximately every four months. For application procedures, deadlines, and other details, see the Small Grants section on the SSRC Web site.

Community Colleges Helping Older Adults Prepare for Second Careers—Deadline: May 1, 2007

Civic Ventures (http://civicventures.org/), a think tank and program incubator that aims to help society achieve the greatest return on experience, has announced a new partnership with the MetLife Foundation ( http://www.metlife.org/ ) to explore how community colleges can help those in the second half of life pursue new purpose-driven careers for the greater good.

Through the MetLife Foundation/Civic Ventures Community College Encore Career Grants program, Civic Ventures will provide up to ten one-year grants of $25,000 each to community colleges that develop innovative ways to attract, prepare, or place adults age 50 and over in new careers in education, health care, social services, and similar fields. Although grants may complement existing community college resources and build on community connections, funds cannot be used for traditional older adult offerings that focus on cultural, recreational, or personal enrichment activities.

For complete program details or to apply, visit the Civic Ventures Web site.

American Psychological Foundation Invites Applications for the Pre-College Grant Program—Deadline: May 1, 2007

The American Psychological Foundation ( http://www.apa.org/apf/ ) is a nonprofit philanthropic organization that advances the science and practice of psychology as a means of understanding behavior and promoting health, education, and human welfare.

APF is seeking proposals for programs that support the science and application of psychological science among talented high school students. More than two hundred thousand students are currently enrolled in high school psychology, and APF wants to support high-quality education in the field and to nurture the next generation of psychologists.

Up to $30,000 will be available for projects. Applicants must be educational institutions or 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, or affiliated with such an organization. For more information, visit the American Psychological Foundation Web site.

Lumina Foundation for Education and the Association for the Study of Higher Education Announce Fellowship Program—Deadline: May 10, 2007

With support from Lumina Foundation for Education (www.luminafoundation.org), the Association for the Study of Higher Education (www.ashe.ws) announces the ASHE/Lumina Foundation Fellowship Program. The key objective of this initiative is to promote innovative scholarship by creating an intergenerational community of scholars who will examine social, institutional, and policy barriers to opportunity and student success. The grant will fund eight to 10 dissertation fellowships a year for a three-year period. For more information visit www.ashe.ws.

Earth Island Institute Accepting Applications for Brower Youth Award—Deadline: May 15, 2007

A program of the Earth Island Institute ( http://www.earthisland.org/), the Brower Youth Award is an annual national award that recognizes six young people for their outstanding activism and achievements in the fields of environmental and social justice advocacy.

The awards recognize young people between the ages of 13 and 22 (as of July 1, 2007) living in North America who have shown outstanding leadership on a project with positive environmental and social impact. The winners of the award receive a $3,000 cash prize, a trip to California for the award ceremony and a wilderness camping trip, and ongoing access to resources and opportunities to further their work at Earth Island.

Program information and application materials are available on the Earth Island Web site.

NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education Accepting Applications for Learning & Leadership and Student Achievement Grants Programs—Deadline: June 1, 2007

The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education ( http://www.neafoundation.org/ ) is accepting applications for its Learning & Leadership and Student Achievement Grants Programs.

Learning & Leadership Grants provide opportunities for teachers, education support professionals, and higher education faculty and staff to engage in high-quality professional development and lead their colleagues in professional growth. The grant amount is $2,000 for individuals and $5,000 for groups engaged in collegial study.

Student Achievement Grants provide $5,000 to improve the academic achievement of students by engaging in critical thinking and problem solving that deepen knowledge of standards-based subject matter. The work should also improve students' habits of inquiry, self-directed learning, and critical reflection. (These grants replace the foundation's Innovation Grants program, which has been discontinued.)

Applicants for both programs must be practicing U.S. public school teachers in grades K-12, public school education support professionals, or faculty and staff at public institutions of higher education. Preference will be given to members of the National Education Association (http://www.nea.org/). The NEA Foundation encourages grant applications from teachers with less than seven years of experience in the profession and education support professionals.

Visit the NEA Foundation Web site for complete program guidelines.

William T. Grant Foundation Invites Applications for Early Career Scholars Program—Deadline: July 11, 2007

The William T. Grant Foundation ( http://www.wtgrantfoundation.org/ ) supports research to improve the lives of young people. The foundation has announced its annual competition for the William T. Grant Scholars Program, which supports promising early career researchers from various disciplines.

Through this program, the foundation supports research to understand and improve the settings of youth between the ages of 8 and 25 in the United States. Important settings include schools, youth-serving organizations, neighborhoods, families, and peer groups. The foundation's interest in youth settings extends to two areas: 1) studies that strengthen the understanding of how settings work, how they affect youth development, and how they can be improved; and 2) studies that strengthen the understanding of how and under what conditions research is used to influence policies and practices that affect youth's settings.

Every year four to six scholars are selected to receive $350,000, distributed over five years. Awards are made to the applicant's institution, providing support of $70,000 per year.

Applicants at all nonprofit institutions, both in the United States and abroad, are eligible. International applicants should be pursuing research that has clear, compelling policy or practice implications for the settings of young people between the ages of 8 and 25 in the United States. Any discipline is eligible.

The award is designed for early career researchers. Applicants must have received their terminal degree within seven years of submitting their application.

For complete program information, eligibility restrictions, and application procedures, visit the Grant Foundation Web site.

Nonprofit Sector Research Fund Invites Applications for William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fellowship for Minority Students

The Nonprofit Sector Research Fund, a grantmaking program of the Aspen Institute in Washington, D.C., offers the William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fellowship three times annually. The fellowship is open to both undergraduate and graduate students who are members of minority groups.

The Hearst Fellow serves as an intern with the Nonprofit Sector Research Fund. Through this program, the fund seeks to introduce a diverse group of students to issues relating to philanthropy, volunteerism, and nonprofit organizations. Recipients may arrange with their colleges or universities to receive academic credit for this experience. Visit www.nonprofitresearch.org for more information.

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C O L L A B O R A T I O N N E W S B Y T E S
Volume 5, Number 6
March 2007

Greetings! Here is your new issue of Collaboration Newsbytes, the e-bulletin published monthly by The Collaboration for the Advancement of College Teaching & Learning. Each issue contains important news and updates about upcoming programs and professional development opportunities.

You are receiving this message because you have expressed an interest in Collaboration programming in the past, because you subscribed to Newsbytes through our web page www.collab.org, or because you are designated as a contact person at your institution to disseminate Collaboration information to your colleagues. To unsubscribe, send an email message to crofford@collab.org with the following in the body of the message: unsubscribe newsbytes <your email address>. Contact The Collaboration at collab@collab.org if you have questions or need assistance.

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Headlines & Deadlines

2. Save the Date! Upcoming Events

3. Movers & Shakers

4. Funding Opportunities

PROPOSALS DUE MARCH 26 FOR 2007 SUMMER INSTITUTE ON ENGAGED LEARNING

Make 2007 your year to submit a proposal to participate in The Collaboration's 18th annual Summer Institute! The institute will be held from June 4-8, 2007, on the campus of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota.

The Summer Institute is a unique program of professional development and individualized consulting for groups of college and university faculty, staff, administrators, and students involved in:

* designing programs for greater student persistence and success

* using assessment data to enhance teaching and learning

* building faculty/staff engagement and collaboration

* integrating scholarship and teaching, including projects in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

* and other collaborative ventures to enhance college teaching and learning

An intensive, residential program for groups of faculty, administrators, and staff, the institute provides an integrated system of interactive sessions, individualized consulting, and team meeting time designed to enable each group to complete a realistic and persuasive project plan by week's end.

Over the years, the institute has supported dozens of campus teams involved in designing programs to enhance college teaching and learning. New this year is the opportunity for groups to attend to work on the integration of scholarship and teaching, including projects in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). Groups may be composed of educators from one or more institutions; they may be engaged in a single collaborative project or, in the case of SoTL projects, in collaborating across individual scholarly efforts that share one or more common goals. All projects must address an identified need for greater student engagement in learning.

Core faculty for the 2007 Summer Institute include:

* Lesley K. Cafarelli, President & Chief Executive Officer, The Collaboration

* Marion Hogan Larson, Professor of Writing, Faculty Development Coordinator, and Director of the Honors Program, Bethel University

* Russ Lee, Professor of Psychology, Bemidji State University

* Karl A. Smith, Morse-Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and Cooperative Learning Professor of Engineering Education and Fellow in the Discovery Learning Center, Purdue University West Lafayette

Additional resource consultants may be added based on team proposals.

Past participants have described The Collaboration's Summer Institute as having a unique design that is both effective and cost-effective in supporting personal renewal, relationship building, and collaborative work on critical issues in teaching and learning. Member fees are $4,250 or $4,750 (depending on membership category) for a team of five, including all sessions, meals, materials, and consulting services, and $700 or $800 for each additional team member. The program is also open to nonmember institutions. For more information and proposal guidelines, see the brochure online at www.collab.org or call The Collaboration at (651) 646-6166.

NOMINATIONS DUE MAY 1 FOR NEW STEWART BELLMAN AWARD FOR EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP

The Collaboration invites nominations of individuals or groups of faculty, staff, or administrators at current Collaboration member institutions who have demonstrated their ability to inspire collaborative engagement and foster changes in higher education that result in measurable improvements in teaching and student learning. The recipient of this new award-The Stewart Bellman Award for Exemplary Leadership for The Advancement of College Teaching and Learning-will be announced in fall 2007 and the award presented at The Collaboration's November 16-17, 2007, conference. Nominations must be supported by at least three individuals from the nominee's own campus or another Collaboration member institution.

Award winners will be recognized at The Collaboration's fall conference, where they will receive a cash award of $1,000. For the conference at which the presentation takes place, The Collaboration will also provide:

* a complimentary registration for each individual awardee or two complimentary registrations for each group of awardees

* travel support and hotel accommodations up to $1,000 per award

For the full guidelines and nomination cover sheet, see our web page at www.collab.org.

FEBRUARY CONFERENCE ON "TRANSFORMING STUDENT LEARNING FOR A GLOBAL SOCIETY" A GREAT SUCCESS

Thanks to the nearly 300 participants and 82 presenters for their many wonderful contributions to The Collaboration's February 2007 conference on "Transforming Student Learning For A Global Society!" Our plenary presenters-Dr. Janet Bennett, Executive Director, The Intercultural Communication Institute, and Dr. Caryn McTighe Musil, Senior Vice President, Association of American Colleges & Universities-as well as special guest presenter Lee Mun Wah were impressed by the engagement of this diverse group in working to advance the theme of the conference.

Participants in our 25th anniversary gala celebration helped to recognize The Collaboration's Charter and other long-term member institutions, each of which received a special certificate for framing, and the dozens of higher education leaders who have served over the years as The Collaboration's conference keynoters and consultants. Participants received the first release of a new brochure featuring quotes from national leaders about The Collaboration's distinctive value and guidelines for our new Stewart Bellman Award for Exemplary Leadership for the Advancement of College Teaching and Learning. The conference included more than 30 preconference and concurrent sessions on cross-cultural pedagogy and curriculum development, global citizenship and social justice, assessment of global learning, and other topics.

For a copy of the conference program, including abstracts for all the sessions, and for slides from Caryn Musil's plenary presentation, see our website at www.collab.org.

COLLABORATION AWARDS $21,293 IN TRAVEL GRANTS FOR MEMBER HBCUs AND TRIBAL COLLEGES

The Collaboration has awarded a total of $21,293 in Travel Grant funding during 2006-07 to support 41 faculty and staff from 13 Collaboration member institutions to attend our November and February conferences. Institutions receiving grants for these events are:

* Blackfeet Community College

* Cankdeska Cikana Community College

* Claflin University

* College of Menominee Nation

* Fort Berthold Community College

* Fort Peck Community College

* Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College

* Oglala Lakota College

* Rust College

* Sinte Gleska University

* Sitting Bull College

* Turtle Mountain Community College

* Xavier University of Louisiana

All funds are expended for the current year. Watch for information on 2007-08 funding when the November conference brochure becomes available this summer.

We are grateful to the Bush Foundation of St. Paul, Minnesota for providing funds to The Collaboration to support this program.

2007-08 MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF

The Collaboration has kicked off its 2007-08 Membership Campaign with renewal letters to current members and invitations to nonmember institutions to join for the new year, which begins July 1. With 108 member institutions, system offices, and other nonprofit organizations, The Collaboration continues to support a unique community of educators committed to student success.

Collaboration membership provides cost-effective programs that provide faculty and staff with the knowledge and skills needed to promote student learning and build institutional capacity to address current and future challenges. Past participants are encouraged to share testimonials about their Collaboration experiences with their chief academic officers and presidents, who will make the membership decision. For more information, visit our website at www.collab.org or contact us at collab@collab.org or (651) 646-6166.

2. Save the Date! Upcoming Events

SAVE THESE DATES FOR UPCOMING COLLABORATION CONFERENCES

* November 16-17, 2007

* February 15-16, 2008

STLHE HOSTS ANNUAL CONFERENCE JUNE 13-16, 2007

The Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education announces its annual conference, "Evolving Scholarship," which will take place June 13-16, 2007, at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. This conference explores scholarship about teaching and learning in the post-secondary context.

For information, visit www.mcmaster.ca/stlhe/events/national.html.

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR NEW FACULTY DEVELOPERS

The five-day intensive and hands-on program is designed to:

* help new faculty developers feel at ease in their positions

* provide a theoretical and practical framework for effective instructional design and consulting

* guide those responsible for establishing and managing centers for teaching and learning

* assist in planning for program, professional development, and administrative needs.

For more information, go to www.iinfd.org.

3. Movers and Shakers

COLLABORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTS FIVE NEW MEMBERS

The Collaboration welcomes five new members to its Board of Directors for a three-year term beginning July 1, 2007:

* Linda B. Duckett, Professor of Music and Faculty Fellow, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Minnesota State University, Mankato

* Steven J. Griffith, Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs, Simpson College

* Bruce A. King, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer, University of South Dakota

* Douglas D. Knowlton, President, Dakota State University

* Mary Maus Kosir, Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Program, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

FAREWELL, MARGARITE!

Margarite Crofford, Administrative Secretary for The Collaboration, is heading off for a new technical career opportunity in the financial sector. Margarite has been the front-line contact for The Collaboration, managing program registrations and our database and welcoming participants to our semiannual conferences. We wish her well in her new endeavors!

4. Funding Opportunities

INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION'S SCHOLAR RESCUE FUND SUPPORTS SCHOLARS UNDER THREAT-DEADLINE: ROLLING

The Institute of International Education's http://www.iie.org Scholar Rescue Fund offers fellowships for scholars whose lives and work are threatened in their home countries. Scholars from any country and any discipline may apply for fellowships to support temporary stays at institutions worldwide. Fellowships are for established academic professionals under threat and not students. Applications are reviewed for academic qualifications, the quality/potential of the candidate's work, and the urgency of the risks faced. Preference may be given to established scholars with a Ph.D. or other advanced degree who have been employed at a college or university for an extended period; however, junior, independent, and non-traditional scholars, writers, and artists will also be also considered.

Awards are made to host institutions to support a specific scholar and are matched in full or in-kind by host institutions. Scholars work in safety at the host institution-teaching, lecturing, and researching, and publishing. Fellowships range from three months to one year. Renewal will be considered in special circumstances. The amount of the award will reflect the scholar's need, the cost of living, and visit duration.

Visit the IIE Web site for complete program information and application procedures.

INDIAN LAND TENURE FOUNDATION SEEKS PROPOSALS FOR COLLEGE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM-

DEADLINE: APRIL 2, 2007

The Indian Land Tenure Foundation http://indianlandtenure.org is implementing a College Internship Program to create opportunities where tribal people can become involved in land-tenure issues. The purpose of the program is to offer college students internship opportunities working with tribal offices dealing with land-tenure issues on specific, identified projects for college credit.

ILTF seeks to fund programs that place highly motivated undergraduate and graduate students who have a demonstrated interest in Indian land-tenure issues into reservation-based tribal land and land-related offices to participate in activities addressing a variety of issues.

ILTF will target up to fifteen tribal colleges or universities and five mainstream college or university Indian Studies programs for funding of one intern per semester, allowing up to $8,000 per internship (including stipend, college credit scholarship, travel, supervising stipulations, or housing); a minimum of three semesters and no more than nine credits total; with a maximum of $24,000 per educational institution.

Visit the Indian Land Tenure Foundation's Web site for complete program guidelines and application procedures.

STUDENTS INVITED TO APPLY FOR NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM CENTENNIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM-DEADLINE: APRIL 13, 2007

In honor of the National Wildlife Refuge System Centennial, the Walt Disney Company http://www.disney.com, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation http://www.nfwf.org are supporting the 2007 National Wildlife Refuge System Centennial Scholarship Program. The NWRS Centennial Scholarship Program seeks to support students whose research will contribute toward improved management and understanding of the diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources found on National Wildlife Refuges http://refuges.fws.gov.

Under this competitive scholarship program, a minimum of ten one-year scholarships will be awarded to support students' research expenses, tuition, fees, books, and room and board.

Undergraduate, master's, and juris doctorate students are eligible to receive a one-time award of $5,000; Ph.D. and D.V.M. students are eligible to receive a one-time award of $15,000.

To be eligible, a student must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident enrolled in an accredited institution of higher education in the U.S. pursuing a graduate or undergraduate degree (sophomores and juniors in the current academic year only) in environmental science, natural resource management, biology, public policy, education, geography, political science, or related disciplines. Only those students working on a National Wildlife Refuge or whose work is directly applicable to resource management on a National Wildlife Refuge(s) are eligible.

Visit the NFWF Web site for complete program details and application instructions.

SOCIAL SCIENCE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM TO SUPPORT COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS IN BRITAIN AND THE AMERICAS-DEADLINE: APRIL 16, 2007

The Economic and Social Research Council http://www.esrc.ac.uk and the Social Science Research Council http://www.ssrc.org have announced a fellowship for scholars from the Americas (North, Central, South, and the Caribbean) to visit and engage in collaborative activities with members of ESRC-supported projects in Britain, or for British scholars at ESRC-supported projects to visit collaborators in the Americas, between June 2007 and September 2008.

ESRC and SSRC have a common mission of promoting, funding, and disseminating important and socially useful knowledge in the social sciences. The fellowship program is designed to encourage communication and cooperation between social scientists in Great Britain and the Americas, and to explore and develop possibilities for future exchanges to be organized by the two organizations.

Applicants from the Americas should have received a PhD in one of the social sciences (including history) by the time the proposed visiting fellowship is scheduled to start. They also should have been based in the country from which they are applying for at least two years. The fellowship program is open to scholars from universities, colleges, independent research organizations, and public agencies in the Americas and to scholars at ESRC-supported centers, programs, groups, networks, as well as holders of Large Grants awards or Professorial Fellowships in Britain.

Approximately eighteen research fellowships of up to $9,500 will be awarded. Funds may be used for transportation, accommodation, living expenses, and, exceptionally, to cover salary costs for the duration of the visit.

Complete program information, including a list of eligible countries, is available at the SSCR Web site.

AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL FOUNDATION INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR THE PRE-COLLEGE GRANT PROGRAM-DEADLINE: MAY 1, 2007

The American Psychological Foundation http://www.apa.org/apf is a nonprofit philanthropic organization that advances the science and practice of psychology as a means of understanding behavior and promoting health, education, and human welfare.

LUMINA FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION AND THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF HIGHER EDUCATION ANNOUNCE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM-DEADLINE: MAY 10, 2007

With support from Lumina Foundation for Education www.luminafoundation.org, the Association for the Study of Higher Education www.ashe.ws announces the ASHE/Lumina Foundation Fellowship Program. The key objective of this initiative is to promote innovative scholarship by creating an intergenerational community of scholars who will examine social, institutional, and policy barriers to opportunity and student success. The grant will fund eight to 10 dissertation fellowships a year for a three-year period. For more information visit www.ashe.ws.

EARTH ISLAND INSTITUTE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR BROWER YOUTH AWARD-DEADLINE: MAY 15, 2007

A program of the Earth Island Institute http://www.earthisland.org, the Brower Youth Award is an annual national award that recognizes six young people for their outstanding activism and achievements in the fields of environmental and social justice advocacy.

Program information and application materials are available on the Earth Island Web site.

NEA FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR LEARNING & LEADERSHIP AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT GRANTS PROGRAMS-DEADLINE: JUNE 1, 2007

The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education (http://www.neafoundation.org) is accepting applications for its Learning & Leadership and Student Achievement Grants Programs.

Applicants for both programs must be practicing U.S. public school teachers in grades K-12, public school education support professionals, or faculty and staff at public institutions of higher education. Preference will be given to members of the National Education Association (http://www.nea.org). The NEA Foundation encourages grant applications from teachers with less than seven years of experience in the profession and education support professionals.

Visit the NEA Foundation Web site for complete program guidelines.

WILLIAM T. GRANT FOUNDATION INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR EARLY CAREER SCHOLARS PROGRAM-

DEADLINE: JULY 11, 2007

The William T. Grant Foundation (http://www.wtgrantfoundation.org) supports research to improve the lives of young people. The foundation has announced its annual competition for the William T. Grant Scholars Program, which supports promising early career researchers from various disciplines.

Every year four to six scholars are selected to receive $350,000, distributed over five years. Awards are made to the applicant's institution, providing support of $70,000 per year.

The award is designed for early career researchers. Applicants must have received their terminal degree within seven years of submitting their application.

For complete program information, eligibility restrictions, and application procedures, visit the Grant Foundation Web site.

NONPROFIT SECTOR RESEARCH FUND INVITES APPLICATIONS FOR WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST ENDOWED FELLOWSHIP FOR MINORITY STUDENTS

C O L L A B O R A T I O N N E W S B Y T E S
Volume 5, Number 5
February 2007

You are receiving this message because you have expressed an interest in Collaboration programming in the past, because you subscribed to Newsbytes through our web page (www.collab.org), or because you are designated as a contact person at your institution to disseminate Collaboration information to your colleagues. To unsubscribe, send an email message to crofford@collab.org with the following in the body of the message: unsubscribe newsbytes <your email address>. Contact The Collaboration at collab@collab.org if you have questions or need assistance.

FEBRUARY 16-17 CONFERENCE: “TRANSFORMING STUDENT LEARNING FOR A GLOBAL SOCIETY”

Join us for The Collaboration’s winter 2007 conference, taking place February 16-17, 2007, at the Bloomington Sheraton Hotel, Bloomington, Minnesota. Plenary sessions will be facilitated by Dr. Janet Bennett, Executive Director, The Intercultural Communication Institute, and Dr. Caryn McTighe Musil, Senior Vice President, Association of American Colleges & Universities. The conference also includes more than 30 preconference and concurrent sessions on cross-cultural pedagogy and curriculum development, global citizenship and social justice, assessment of global learning, and other topics. You’re also invited to join us in celebrating The Collaboration’s long-term member institutions at our 25^th anniversary at our gala reception Friday night!

The Early Bird Registration deadline (January 22, 2007) has passed, but there is still time to register if you act quickly. Registration information and the conference brochure are online at http://www.collab.org.

FEBRUARY 17: FACULTY DEVELOPERS’ BREAKFAST SESSION ON “DEVELOPING PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE”

Faculty developers are invited to join colleagues from other institutions for an informal discussion on program development that focuses on increasing intercultural competence among your faculty. Dr. Lynda Milne, System Director for Faculty Development, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, and Kimberley A. Johnson, Assistant Professor, Second Language Teaching and Learning, Hamline University, will share strategies to improve cross-cultural communication in the classroom and to increase the engagement and learning of students from diverse cultural backgrounds. This session will also include time to share your own experiences and develop next steps that best meet your campus needs.

Registration, including the program and a full breakfast, is free for faculty developers from Collaboration member institutions and available at cost for nonmembers. To register, see the conference brochure online at http://www.collab.org.

february 15: MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTION ROUNDTABLE

Participants from Historically Black, Tribal, and Hispanic-Serving Institutions are invited to attend this informal gathering to socialize and discuss issues of common concern to your institutions. The event will take place on Thursday, February 15, from 7:30 – 9:00 p.m., and will be held in conjunction with our February conference on global learning. There is no separate fee to attend, but we ask that you indicate your plans to join us by checking off the Roundtable on your conference registration form. Conference registration materials are available at www.collab.org.

COLLABORATION TRAVEL GRANTS FUND HBCU AND TRIBAL COLLEGE MEMBER INSTITUTIONS TO ATTEND THE FEBRUARY CONFERENCE

The Collaboration has awarded $8,260 in Travel Grant funding to support 15 faculty and staff from six 2006-07 Collaboration member institutions to attend the February conference, “Transforming Student Learning for a Global Society.” Institutions receiving grants for this event are:

Claflin University
College of Menominee Nation
Fort Peck Community College
Rust College
Sinte Gleska University
Xavier University of Louisiana

Eligibility is limited to participants from tribal and private historically black colleges and universities that are current Collaboration members and have a history of Bush Foundation funding. Grants cover registration fees (including meals and materials), airfare, hotel, and ground transportation. The Collaboration has awarded a total of $21,293 during 2006-07. This program is made possible with support from the Bush Foundation.

PROPOSALS DUE MARCH 26 FOR THE COLLABORATION’S 2007 SUMMER INSTITUTE ON ENGAGED LEARNING

Make 2007 your year to submit a proposal to participate in The Collaboration’s 18th annual Summer Institute! The institute will be held from June 4-8, 2007, on the campus of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota.

The Summer Institute is a unique program of professional development and individualized consulting for groups of college and university faculty, staff, administrators, and students involved in:

·          designing programs for greater student persistence and success
·          using assessment data to enhance teaching and learning
·          building faculty/staff engagement and collaboration
·          integrating scholarship and teaching, including projects in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
·          and other collaborative ventures to enhance college teaching and learning

Core faculty for the 2007 Summer Institute include:

Lesley K. Cafarelli, President & Chief Executive Officer, The Collaboration
Marion Hogan Larson, Professor of Writing, Faculty Development Coordinator, and Director of the Honors Program, Bethel University
Russ Lee, Professor of Psychology, Bemidji State University
Karl A. Smith, Morse-Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, and Cooperative Learning Professor of Engineering Education and Fellow in the Discovery Learning Center, Purdue University West Lafayette

Additional resource consultants may be added based on team proposals.

Past participants have described The Collaboration’s Summer Institute as having a unique design that is both effective and cost-effective in supporting personal renewal, relationship building, and collaborative work on critical issues in teaching and learning. Member institutions save 30% to 45% off the nonmember fee for a team of six, even more for larger teams. For more information and proposal guidelines, see the brochure online at www.collab.org or call The Collaboration at (651) 646-6166.

2007-08 MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN kick-off

The Collaboration will be kicking off its 2007-08 Membership Campaign later this month with renewal letters to current members and invitations to nonmember institutions to join for the new year, which begins July 1. With 108 member institutions, system offices, and other nonprofit organizations, The Collaboration continues to support a unique community of educators committed to student success.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS, PRESENTERS, AND ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED US

Thanks to the 349 participants and presenters who helped make The Collaboration’s November conference on “Motivating Students for Better Retention, Learning, and Achievement” such a great success! Our plenary presenters—Vince Tinto, Marilla Svinicki, and Kathleen Cushman—were all struck by the energy and engagement of this diverse group and our participants’ clear commitment to improving student learning.

Our 25th anniversary celebration in November included special recognition of:

the Bush Foundation for its sustained support for faculty development and the improvement of college teaching and learning in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota and at HBCUs and tribal colleges around the country
the Minnesota Private College Research Foundation for its support of The Collaboration’s development into a successful independent nonprofit
Dr. Lesley K. Cafarelli, President & Chief Executive Officer of The Collaboration, for her accomplishments and years of service

The Collaboration also announced the inauguration of the Stewart Bellman Award for Exemplary Leadership for the Advancement of College Teaching and Learning. Guidelines for this award, named in honor of a former faculty development coordinator at Black Hills State University and the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, will be released soon.

SAVE THESE DATES FOR UPCOMING COLLABORATION CONFERENCES

November 16-17, 2007
February 15-16, 2008
November 21-22, 2008
February 20-21, 2009

STLHE HOSTS ANNUAL CONFERENCE JUNE 13-16, 2007

For information, visit www.mcmaster.ca/stlhe/events/national.html.

In Memoriam

The Collaboration was saddened to learn of the recent passing of two of our active participants and supports. We send our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of:

Elizabeth (Libby) Rankin, Director of Instructional Development and Professor of English , University of North Dakota–Grand Forks
Shelby Boardman, Professor of Geology and former Dean of the College, Carleton College

Lumina Foundation for Education and the Association for the Study of Higher Education Announce Fellowship Program

Nonprofit Sector Research Fund Invites Applications for William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fellowship for Minority Students

Students Invited to Apply for National Wildlife Refuge System Centennial Scholarship Program—Deadline: April 13, 2007

In honor of the National Wildlife Refuge System Centennial, the Walt Disney Company (http://www.disney.com/ ), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ( http://www.fws.gov/ ), and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation ( http://www.nfwf.org/ ) are supporting the 2007 National Wildlife Refuge System Centennial Scholarship Program. The NWRS Centennial Scholarship Program seeks to support students whose research will contribute toward

improved management and understanding of the diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources found on National Wildlife Refuges ( http://refuges.fws.gov/ ).

Under this competitive scholarship program, a minimum of ten one-year scholarships will be awarded to support students' research expenses, tuition, fees, books, and room and board.

Undergraduate, master's, and juris doctorate students are eligible to receive a one-time award of $5,000; Ph.D. and D.V.M. students are eligible to receive a one-time award of $15,000.

To be eligible, a student must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident enrolled in an accredited institution of higher education in the U.S. pursuing a graduate or undergraduate degree

(sophomores and juniors in the current academic year only) in environmental science, natural resource management, biology, public policy, education, geography, political science, or

related disciplines. Only those students working on a National Wildlife Refuge or whose work is directly applicable to resource management on a National Wildlife Refuge(s) are eligible.

Visit the NFWF Web site for complete program details and application instructions.

C O L L A B O R A T I O N N E W S B Y T E S
Volume 5, Number 4
December 2006–January 2007

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Collaboration sends you best wishes for a happy and healthy new year. See you in 2007!

JANUARY 22, 2007: THIRD ANNUAL ASSESSMENT WORKSHOP

Assessment of student learning has become a central component of higher education’s efforts to document and improve student learning, as well as to achieve reaccreditation. This annual Collaboration event is dedicated to keeping our campuses up-to-date on the issues and to promote practical and effective assessment practice.

Plenary presentations:

Dr. Charles Blaich, Director of Inquiries at the Center of Inquiry in the Liberal Arts, Wabash College, will lead an opening plenary session highlighting longitudinal research on practices and conditions that predict student learning

Dr. Velma Lashbrook, Assessment Consultant, Augsburg College, will facilitate a closing plenary on effectively implementing institutional change.

The workshop will also include breakout sessions on:

Classroom Assessment
Program/Department-level Assessment
Assessment of General Education
Foundations of Assessment (basics)

We encourage campuses to send teams to this interactive workshop focused on using assessment data to inform change and improve student learning. The workshop will be held at the Hotel Sofitel in Bloomington, Minnesota. The brochure was sent by mail to campus faculty development coordinators in December and is online at www.collab.org.

FEBRUARY 16-17 CONFERENCE: “TRANSFORMING STUDENT LEARNING FOR A GLOBAL SOCIETY”

Join your colleagues for The Collaboration’s winter 2007 conference, taking place February 16-17, 2007, at the Bloomington Sheraton Hotel, Bloomington, Minnesota. Plenary sessions will be facilitated by Dr. Janet Bennett, Executive Director, The Intercultural Communication Institute, and Dr. Caryn McTighe Musil, Senior Vice President, Association of American Colleges & Universities. The conference also includes more than 30 preconference and concurrent sessions on cross-cultural pedagogy and curriculum development, global citizenship and social justice, assessment of global learning, and other topics. You’re also invited to join us in celebrating The Collaboration’s member institutions at our 25^th anniversary at our gala reception Friday night!

Early Bird Registration deadline: January 22, 2007. This is also the deadline for The Collaboration’s room block discount at the conference hotel. In addition to the regular member discount, members can take advantage of the group discount to save an additional $15 or $25 per person off the nonmember rate. Registration information and the conference brochure is online at www.collab.org and has been mailed in bulk to campus faculty development coordinators.

FEBRUARY 17: FACULTY DEVELOPERS’ BREAKFAST SESSION ON “DEVELOPING PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE”

Join your colleagues for an informal discussion on program development that focuses on increasing intercultural competence among your faculty. Dr. Lynda Milne, System Director for Faculty Development, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, and Kimberley A. Johnson, Assistant Professor, Second Language Teaching and Learning, Hamline University, will share strategies to improve cross-cultural communication in the classroom and to increase the engagement and learning of students from diverse cultural backgrounds. This session will also include time to share your own experiences and develop next steps that best meet your campus needs.

JANUARY 12 PRIORITY DEADLINE FOR TRAVEL GRANTS FOR MEMBER HISTORICALLY BLACK AND TRIBAL INSTITUTIONS

Travel grants of up to $1,800 for two or more participants are available to support attendance at The Collaboration’s February conference, “Transforming Student Learning for a Global Society,” by participants from tribal and private historically black colleges and universities that are 2006-07 Collaboration members and have a history of Bush Foundation funding. Grants cover registration fees (including meals and materials), airfare, hotel, and ground transportation. Applications for the February conference must be submitted by the campus faculty development coordinator and received at the Collaboration office by January 12, 2007, for priority consideration. Applications for remaining funds, if available, are due by January 26, 2007. These grants are made possible with the generous support of The Bush Foundation.

THE COLLABORATION SENDS A SPECIAL THANKS TO CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS, PRESENTERS, AND ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED US

Our 25th anniversary celebration on Friday evening included special recognition of:

the Bush Foundation for its sustained support for faculty development and the improvement of college teaching and learning in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota and at HBCUs and tribal colleges around the country
the Minnesota Private College Research Foundation for its support of The Collaboration’s development into a successful independent nonprofit
Dr. Lesley K. Cafarelli, President & Chief Executive Officer of The Collaboration, for her accomplishments and years of service

february 15: MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTION ROUNDTABLE

JUNE 4-8: SEND A TEAM TO THE COLLABORATION’S 2007 SUMMER INSTITUTE

The Collaboration will soon be inviting proposals for its 18th annual Summer Institute from teams of faculty, staff, administrators, and students working on campus projects focused on improving college teaching and learning. The institute will be held from June 4-8, 2007 in Northfield, Minnesota, just south of the Twin Cities. This is an extremely cost-effective program, offering customized consulting for colleges and universities from a team of outstanding educators.

An intensive, residential program for campus teams, the institute provides an integrated system of interactive sessions, consulting, and team meeting time, enabling each group to complete a realistic and persuasive project plan by week's end. Watch for the Call for Proposals in January!

WISHING FAREWELL TO CHERYL HILINSKI

Cheryl Hilinski, Vice President for The Collaboration, left The Collaboration’s staff in December to begin a new position at Questar Educational Systems. Cheryl has contributed to our work and the growth of The Collaboration in a wide variety of ways over the last four years. We wish her well in her new endeavors!

BUSH FOUNDATION’S NOVEMBER AWARDS BENEFIT COLLABORATION MEMBERS

The University of Minnesota received $48,167 for a planning grant to develop a project to ease students’ transitions from high school to college. The Foundation also funded faculty development at the following Tribal Colleges: Dine College in Tsaile, AZ, and Blackfeet Community College in Browning, MT.

ST. OLAF AND CARLETON COLLEGES HOST SCHOLARSHIP OF TEACHING & LEARNING CONFERENCE IN NORTHFIELD, MINNESOTA, FEBRUARY 16-18, 2007

The Center for Innovation in the Liberal Arts at St. Olaf College and the Perlman Center for Learning and Teaching at Carleton College will co-host their second national conference on the scholarship of teaching and learning as it is practiced at liberal arts colleges. The Early Bird Registration deadline is January 8, 2007.

For more information visit: www.stolaf.edu/depts/cila/InnovateConf/Innovations.htm.

The Collaboration has extended a special discount to participants of this “Innovations in SOTL” conference to join The Collaboration’s own “Transforming Student Learning for a Global Society” conference on Friday, February 16 before heading on to Northfield. To take advantage of this discount, check off Friday only on The Collaboration’s conference registration form, along with discount for the “Innovations in SOTL conference,” under the appropriate Collaboration member or nonmember column, attach a copy of your “Innovations” registration form, and send your Collaboration registration to The Collaboration with full payment. These instructions are for the Collaboration conference only; send your “Innovations” conference registration in according to the instructions on the St. Olaf website.

STLHE HOSTS ANNUAL CONFERENCE JUNE 13-16, 2007

For information, visit www.mcmaster.ca/stlhe/events/national.html.

Lumina Foundation for Education and the Association for the Study of Higher Education Announce Fellowship Program

Nonprofit Sector Research Fund Invites Applications for William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fellowship for Minority Students

Native Americans in Philanthropy Seeks Nominations for Awards—Deadline: January 15, 2007

Native Americans in Philanthropy, a national nonprofit membership organization whose mission is to engage Native and non-Native peoples in understanding and advancing the role of philanthropy through practices that support Native values for current and future generations, is accepting nominations for the following awards:

· Flying Eagle Woman Community Based Philanthropy Award: Nominees must be an Indigenous person (i.e., American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian) who clearly demonstrates that they are guided by Indigenous thinking and philosophy, including a holistic, community-centered approach to living and giving.

· Louis T. Delgado Distinguished Grantmaker Award: Nominees must fulfill the criteria of understanding and advancing the role of philanthropy between Native Indigenous communities and mainstream philanthropy.

For nomination criteria and further information about the awards, visit the Native Americans in Philanthropy Web site at www.nativephilanthropy.org.