Faculty Professional Enhancement Program

The Faculty Development Committee invites proposals from long-term faculty members for the Faculty Professional Enhancement Program. Long-term is defined as tenured, tenure-track, or other contract faculty members who have completed two or more years of service at The University of Montana and who anticipate being on contract during the project year. The committee considers proposals for the Instructional Development, Mini-Sabbatical, Short-Term Academic Enrichment, and Visiting Scholar Programs. The proposed activity must begin after January 1, 2014 and the bulk of the activity must take place between January 1 and June 30, 2014. The programs are competitive and the maximum amount of funding per award is $1,500.

• The Instructional Development Program is intended to help faculty members develop new courses, develop new pedagogical skills, or incorporate new technologies into teaching. Proposals might also include travel to a special seminar or workshop on instructional methods or sponsorship of a faculty-development workshop or seminar series at UM.

• The Mini-Sabbatical Program offers faculty an opportunity to acquire new skills in research, creative activity, and teaching by traveling off-campus for a period no shorter than five working days (excluding travel) and up to one semester. Proposals are encouraged in which the applicant works in a specialized laboratory, takes a course at another university, works with a master artist or scholar, attends a workshop or seminar, or undertakes similar efforts of a professional nature. Note that the committee will not support attendance at routine association meetings.

• The purpose of the Visiting Scholar Program is to bring distinguished scholars to UM to conduct workshops or seminars, to give lectures or performances, or to otherwise work with UM faculty and students. Visits supported as part of this call must be during regular University sessions.

• The purpose of the Short-Term Academic Enrichment Program is to assist long-term faculty members in research and creative activities on and off campus in areas that fall outside the other categories of Instructional Development, Mini-Sabbatical, and Visiting Scholar.

There are two calls for proposals each year, one in the fall semester and one in the spring. The next deadline for proposal submissions is 5:00 PM on Friday, October 18, 2013. Original proposals should be sent to the Faculty Professional Enhancement Program, Office of the Provost, University Hall 126. No copies need be submitted, although applicants should keep a copy for their records. Please note that the application form requires a commitment from the department or academic unit granting the release time where applicable. If applicants have questions, please call Amy Kinch at 243-5897.

Other Information

UM faculty from outside the applicant's area of expertise will review the application. Avoid technical jargon and make certain the terminology and concepts are understandable to those who work outside the applicant's specialty field.

Successful applicants are required to submit a brief report regarding their experience within one year of the date of the event. This report shall be addressed to the Provost, and sent to the Office of the Provost. The report shall include a brief description of the project, the applicable dates, and an assessment of the impact on the faculty member's development as a teacher or scholar. In addition, anyone applying for an award who was the recipient of a Faculty Professional Enhancement Program award in the past three (3) years, shall attach a copy of that report(s) to the current application.