Faculty Fellowship Program

The Centre for Community Partnerships (CCP) Community-Engaged Learning (CEL) Faculty Fellowship Program recognizes and supports innovative instructors across the University of Toronto who plan to develop new (or enhance existing) CEL and/or community-engaged research (CER) courses. Our fellowship also recognizes and draws upon the contributions of experienced CEL instructors, who are invited to participate in our fellowship as senior faculty fellows. The fellowship activities include peer learning, mentorship, an engagement with CEL/CER scholarship, and hands-on course development support. 

Applications for the 2023/24 Faculty Fellowship Program are now closed. Applications for the 2024/25 cohort will open in spring 2024. 

Fellows 

6 – 8 fellowships are available for the 2023-2024 academic year. Fellows meet regularly throughout the year to learn from each other, and from experienced faculty and community guest speakers, about CEL/CER course design, community partner stewardship and community-university engagement more broadly.   

Senior Fellows 

4 senior fellowships are available for the 2023-2024 academic year. Senior fellows are experienced CEL faculty who have demonstrated both excellence in community-engaged learning and in supporting colleagues new to CEL/R. Senior fellows provide mentorship to fellows and support the delivery of fellowship workshops.

Requirements 

Fellows are expected to participate in all aspects of the program. During the fellowship year, fellows: 

  • Attend 1-hour monthly workshop/fellowship meetings (8 hours in total) 
  • Meet with CCP staff and assigned senior fellow for a 1-hour consultation to integrate the pedagogy and practice of CEL into their syllabus and course objectives 
  • Consult with assigned senior fellow and CCP staff as needed 

After offering their first CEL course fellows: 

  • Submit a short final report with a copy of the final syllabus and associated assignments  
  • Support future fellows by attending at least one meeting with a subsequent cohort of fellows 
  • Present on course design and delivery process at a future CCP Faculty Institute on CEL 

Senior fellows are expected to: 

  • Attend and support the delivery of one 1-hour monthly workshop/fellowship meeting during the fellowship year 
  • Meet with CCP staff and 1 – 2 fellows for a 1-hour one-on-one consultation (per fellow), designed to support fellows with the integration of CEL/CER pedagogy and practice into their syllabus and course objectives 
  • Check-in with the assigned fellow(s) during the semester that the fellow is teaching their course, and be available for additional consultation throughout the academic year 

Eligibility, Application & Selection Processes 

All applications will be assessed by a committee comprised of experienced CEL/CER faculty and staff from the Centre for Community Partnerships. 

The fellowship program is open to any faculty member with a continuing appointment at the University of Toronto who is/will be scheduled to teach a new or existing CEL or CER course in the 2024-25 academic year. Of the 6 – 8 fellowships per year there will be a preference for diverse representation by discipline, division, intersectional identity.  

The senior fellowship program is open to experienced CEL/CER faculty who have demonstrated both excellence in CEL/R and in supporting colleagues new to CEL/CER. 

Application Packages:   

Fellows

  • Current Curriculum Vitae 
  • Cover letter outlining instructor’s interest in CEL/CER along with a short description of the proposed course design/redesign.   
  • Letter of support by the head of the academic unit, which affirms that the CEL/CER course will be scheduled for 2024-25* 

*Head of the academic unit includes a Principal, Dean, Chair or Academic Director as appropriate 

Senior Fellows 

  • Current Curriculum Vitae 
  • A brief statement outlining the instructor’s experience and commitment to CEL/CER and to supporting colleagues with CEL/CER, as well as how participation in the program can enhance this experience and commitment. 

Selection Criteria 

Fellows 

  • Identity and position of faculty member: the fellowship program strives for diversity in terms of identities, disciplines, divisions, and approaches to teaching CEL/CER courses 
  • Course creation/redesign rationale including potential impact on student development and learning 
  • Potential of course being mutually beneficial to the community and the University  
  • Commitment to the pedagogy of community-engaged learning/service-learning and future innovative community-engaged teaching 

Senior Fellows 

  • Demonstrated leadership in the area of CEL at the University of Toronto
  • Commitment to mentoring and supporting instructors newer to CEL teaching 

Applications should be sent to Heather Hermant, Lead Coordinator, Academic Initiatives at heather.hermant@utoronto.ca.  

Applications due: Friday, July 7, 2023 

Successful applicants notified: Friday, July 21, 2023

General Fellowship Timeline 

Fall 2023-Winter 2024:

Fellows  

  • Attend 1-hour monthly workshop/fellowship meetings (8 hours in total) 
  • Meet with CCP staff and assigned senior fellow for a 1-hour consultation to integrate the pedagogy and practice of CEL into their syllabus and course objectives 
  • Consult with assigned senior fellow and CCP staff as needed 

Senior Fellows  

  • Attend and support the delivery of one 1-hour monthly workshop/fellowship meeting during the fellowship year 
  • Meet with CCP staff and 1 – 2 fellows for a 1-hour one-on-one consultation (per fellow), designed to support fellows with the integration of CEL/R pedagogy and practice into their syllabus and course objectives 

Fall 2024/Winter 2025:

Fellows 

  • CEL/CER course offered by instructor  
  • Submit a short final report with a copy of the final syllabus and associated assignments  
  • Support future fellows by attending at least one meeting with a subsequent cohort of fellows 

Senior Fellows 

  • Check-in with the assigned fellow(s) during the semester that the fellow is teaching their course, and be available for additional consultation throughout the academic year 

Spring 2025

Fellows  

  • Presentation on course design and delivery process at CCP Faculty Institute on CEL 

Accommodations and Inquiries 

If you require any accommodations during the application process, or have any further inquiries about the fellowship, please contact Heather Hermant, Lead Coordinator, Academic Initiatives at heather.hermant@utoronto.ca.