Fellowship Focus: Belonging & Inclusive Teaching Foundation

Program Description

This eight-week summer fellowship program invites you to explore evidence-based teaching practices that support student success by shaping the learning environment to recognize and build on the diverse experiences and strengths of all students.

As a member of a virtual community of practice, you’ll share ideas and feedback with peers as you practice inclusive teaching strategies and reflect on their impact. Through learning by doing and experience-sharing, you’ll develop your teaching capabilities with techniques that engage students and help them to feel seen, respected, and included as capable partners in the learning process. Expert community facilitators guide you to identify your strengths and discover additional areas to grow. 

The fellowship experience includes:

• 8-week virtual community of practice with faculty peers, focused on foundational principles of inclusive teaching
• Weekly activities to explore, apply, and reflect on effective teaching practices (~2 hours/week) 
• Build on your strengths and develop skills to expand your teaching repertory
• Work asynchronously in a virtual platform (website) to fit your own schedule 
• Earn a Lumen Circles Fellowship Certificate in Effective Teaching Practice

Who Should Apply?

Lumen Circles work well for any faculty member, in any discipline, at any stage of career.

To get the greatest benefit from this fellowship program, you should participate during term(s) when you are actively teaching students, so that you can expand your capabilities through cycles of practice, reflection, and feedback as you teach.

Interested? Apply for a Lumen Circles Fellowship

Complete the form below if you're interested in this Lumen Circles Fellowship summer program focused on Belonging & Inclusive Teaching. Application deadline is Friday, May 21, 2021. A limited number of seats are available, so apply now!

The information you provide in this form will be shared with our point of contact at your institution. From time to time, we may also send  you information, invitations to webinars and other events related to Lumen Circles.

How does Lumen Circles Support Faculty? 

FAQs: What is the Lumen Circles experience like for faculty? 

How does the virtual learning circle work? 

Lumen Circles use a purpose-built platform for professional development through communities of practice. Members of your circle will log into a website. On that site you'll see the members of your circle and participate in activities designed to help you explore evidence-based teaching strategies, share what you're learning, and provide feedback to your peers. A facilitator helps guide circle members, or fellows, through the process. 

How much time does it take? 

Lumen Circles Fellowships take place over nine weeks. When your professional development program is under way, you'll spend on average about 2 hours per week with fellowship-related activities. You'll work asynchronously, fitting the fellowship activities into your own schedule.  On a week where circumstances prevent faculty fellows from participating fully, there is an option to “take a break.”

Who's in my Lumen Circle and how will we interact? 

You'll join a virtual circle of 10-12 professors who have selected the same circle theme, along with an expert facilitator. Where possible we work to align similar disciplines within the circle. Together you reflect on your classroom work, connect it to evidence-based instructional practices, and provide feedback to each other. This supportive community becomes your sounding board, thought partners, and cheerleaders as you make gains in your teaching. 

What do I need to participate?

You need to be teaching a class during the fellowship. You'll also need a computer or mobile device with internet access. 

Who are the facilitators?

Lumen Circles facilitators are current and former college or university faculty members who have a strong interest and expertise in evidence-based instruction. They are trained through a rigorous, community-of-practice based regimen similar to the fellowship experience. Their purpose is to guide the circle through learning and reflection processes as you explore and apply evidence-based teaching practices.