Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) – In-Unit

Program Overview

The In-Unit SoTL awards recognize discovery, reflection, and using evidence-based methods to research effective teaching and student learning. While the implementation of SoTL outcomes may result in teaching excellence and increased teaching effectiveness, this award recognizes scholarly efforts beyond teaching excellence.

Please contact your college/unit for earlier deadlines.

Funding

Regardless of the contract length (9 months through 12 months), award recipients shall receive a one-time award of $5,000 as soon as practicable and a $5,000 increase to their salary effective at the beginning of the succeeding academic year. Employees on non-E & G funding will be eligible for the increase depending on availability of funds.

There are up to 5 new in-unit awards available. Academic Affairs provides the funding for these awards.

Eligibility Criteria

1. All full-time employees in the appropriate discipline with at least four years of continuous, non-OPS service at UCF immediately prior to the current year are eligible. Authorized leaves are not considered a break in service (e.g., sabbaticals, professional development leave, parental leave). Visiting and other temporary appointments are not eligible for incentive awards.
2. No in-unit employee may receive the award more than once every five years.
3. Employees currently on visiting and other temporary appointments and employees on less than full-time appointments are not eligible for this award.

Award Criteria

The criteria for evaluating applicants’ portfolios include the following four major categories (to be applied as is appropriate for a specific discipline):

1. Value or impact of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning efforts both within the discipline and to the teaching and learning community (e.g., serving as an editor or a peer reviewer for a SoTL journal, presenting SoTL research results at professional conferences and other forums within and outside UCF).
2. Peer recognition of research and creative efforts in the same or related disciplines.
3. Publication of research and creative efforts in the same or related disciplines.
4. External grant and contract support for SoTL activities appropriate to the applicant’s discipline.

Application Materials

Applications are submitted through the UCF Awards System. Gathering the following materials prior to the submission date will ease the application process:

• Statement of SoTL (text box 3000 characters – approximately 428-750 words or fewer)
  • Please describe your primary area of SOTL research and its importance to the community.
• Summary of SoTL Accomplishments (text box 3000 characters – approximately 428-750 words or fewer)
• Impact of SoTL Research (text box 3000 characters – approximately 428-750 words or fewer)
  • Describe research methodologies, teaching and assessment innovations,
  • Impact(s) on student learning, dissemination of results, and plans for further action.
• Supporting Materials: Items 1 and 2 must be uploaded as PDF files:
  • Current Curriculum Vitae (Required)
  • Please do not use Adobe Portfolio. 

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning grants and research highlighted, briefly annotated in the CV (may be included). Applicants who have won the SoTL award in previous years should not highlight entries from the previous award period(s).

• Appendices (Required)

Evidence of SoTL accomplishments, include book covers and tables of contents, first two pages of articles or other publications, executive summaries of grants, or other appropriate materials.  Applicants may upload multiple pdf documents.

Evaluation and Award Process

Award winners are selected by the committee. Please see the Collective Bargaining Agreement for committee instruction SoTL: Article 23 Annual Incentive Award Programs.

The provost or his or her designee shall give the final approval for awards and shall notify successful faculty. After approval by the provost or designee, each college/unit shall notify all nominees of the results.

Manuals

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