Walter and Pauline Adams Academy for
Instructional Excellence and Innovation

About | Fellows | Application | Application Cover Sheet

About | Eligibility | Application Materials | Membership Expectations | Criteria for Selection |
Instructions for Submitting Application Materials | Questions

About the Walter and Pauline Adams Academy

The Walter and Pauline Adams Academy for Instructional Excellence and Innovation, now inviting applications for its third cohort, provides a cross-disciplinary cohort of instructors (fixed-term faculty, continuing appointment librarians, and academic specialists) with opportunities to further their development as excellent teachers whose instructional decisions are rooted in the robust research literature on effective teaching and learning. To this end, the Academy provides members with venues to explore the scholarship on effective practices on University teaching and learning, and to participate in a community of teacher-scholars. The Adams Academy will be facilitated by Eron Drake, Associate Director of Faculty and Instructional Development Programs in the Office of Faculty and Organizational Development.

Quotes from the Inaugural Adams Academy Cohort

“This academy has had a profound impact on me both personally and professionally I must say when I reflect back upon my original teaching philosophy that I was lacking in an understanding of scholarly teaching. This experience provided me with an opportunity to develop my critical thinking skills as a teaching scholar and to assist me in becoming and effective teacher in both the classroom and clinical setting. I have plenty of resources to share with other faculty members regarding scholarly works and teaching.”

“It was the best academic experience I've had since coming to MSU six years ago. It was a good kick upside the head that reminded me of what drew me to teaching. You'll have the opportunity to learn about what works in the classroom and why. Support from MSU's Faculty and Organizational Development program is outstanding. You'll meet other faculty members who highly value teaching and are loaded with ideas that work. I expect the relationships I've formed there will continue to inform and support my teaching. And because this group is fixed-term, the members face - and manage - similar frustrations in an academic setting that does not always recognize or even foster quality teaching. This is not a remedial program to help lousy teachers improve. Members of this group are truly some of the best and enthusiastic teachers I have met.”

“I have found my participation in the Adams Academy to be incredibly helpful in terms of thinking about teaching and implementing changes in my teaching. It also has introduced me to colleagues across campus that I likely would never encounter otherwise. I have found our sessions to be engaging and illuminating, and look forward to them each month. I have an array of resources to use as I rethink courses for next year, and also teach new ones.”

Eligibility: Both full-time and part-time fixed-term faculty, continuing system librarians, and academic specialists who will have instructional responsibility as part of their appointments in 2010-2011 are invited to apply for the William & Pauline Adams Academy for Instructional Excellence & Innovation. All applicants must be in at least the third year of their appointment or have worked for MSU for at least three years.

Application Materials:

• Supervisor Endorsement: Applications to the Adams Academy must include an endorsement from the instructor’s department chair(s) or school director(s). This one-page letter of support should address the selection criteria, which include: evidence of the applicant’s interest in and commitment to teaching and student learning, potential to be an excellent teacher, and willingness to advocate for good teaching among his/her peers. The letter should also address the benefits of the applicant’s participation in the Academy as an investment in the teaching mission of the unit. The chairperson’s and/or director’s signature on the application signifies that the applicant’s year of work with the Adams Academy will advance the mission and goals of the unit. Please note that this program is designed to support instructors who demonstrate and pursue instructional excellence; it is not designed as a source for remediation.
• Additional Letter of Support: The additional letter of support may come from an MSU faculty member, student, administrator or academic staff member. This one-page letter of support should address the selection criteria, which include: evidence of the applicant’s interest in and commitment to teaching and student learning, potential to be an excellent teacher, and willingness to advocate for good teaching among his/her peers. Please note that this program is designed to support instructors who pursue instructional excellence; it is not designed as a source for remediation.
• Personal Statement: Please submit a Personal Statement clarifying why you wish to participate in the Adams Academy at this time and how participation will benefit you and/or your unit. The Personal Statement should be no more than one page (approximately 250-300 words).

Adams Academy Membership Expectations:

• Academy applicants must plan to teach one or more courses or have other instructional responsibilities during his/her participation in the Academy.
• Adams Academy members will attend monthly facilitated cohort seminars (September-April) that explore teaching and learning topics to be decided by Adams Academy members. The seminars will meet from 9:00 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. one Wednesday a month.  Each seminar will have required and optional readings and preparatory activities with 3-5 hours of preparation per month.

  Monthly meetings on Wednesdays, 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
  Sept.15, Oct. 20, Nov. 17, Dec. 1, Jan. 19, Feb. 16, Mar. 16, Apr. 20
  Location: Room 10, Nisbet Building

• Participation in campus events on teaching and learning. Adams Academy members will be expected to attend at least four Lilly Seminars, Spring Institute on College Teaching and Learning workshops, or other campus instructional development activities of their choice throughout the academic year. The goal is to expose Adams Academy members to topics and national speakers beyond what they can experience in the monthly meetings and to seed the seminar discussions with their insights on teaching and learning. Information on the Lilly Seminar series can be found at http://fod.msu.edu/lillyseminar/about.asp.
• The cohort will discuss possible additional activities based on the group's interests.

Criteria for Selection of Adams Academy Members:

• The applicant must plan to teach at least one course or provide library instruction as a part of a course during his/her participation in the Adams Academy.
• Quality of endorsement from unit supervisor and reference.
• Evidence of interest in and commitment to improving student learning.
• Evidence of the potential for instructional excellence.
• Willingness to advocate for good teaching among his/her peers.
• Willingness to commit the time needed to benefit from Adams Academy membership and to participate in ALL monthly meetings plus the four additional workshops.

Selection of Adams Academy Members:
Applications will be reviewed by F&OD instructional development staff and two former Adams Academy Fellows. All applicants will be notified by May 7, 2010.  Applicants are encouraged to hold the dates identified for monthly meetings.

Instructions for Submitting Application Materials:Four (4) collated copies of the following supporting materials are required. Please do not put these materials in notebooks or binders. Arrange the materials in the order listed below.

1. Completed application sheet (Download PDF)
2. Two letters of support.
1. The primary letter of support must be from the applicant’s lead chair, director, or dean.
2. The additional letter of support may come from an MSU faculty member, student, administrator or academic staff member.
3. A Personal Statement clarifying why you wish to participate in the Adams Academy at this time and how participation will benefit you and/or your unit. The Personal Statement should be no more than one page (approximately 250-300 words).
4. A current curriculum vitae (double sided is preferred).
5. A list of courses taught at MSU detailing size and type (graduate, undergraduate major, non-major) as well as annual course load and advising responsibilities.
6. Two to three of the applicant’s most recent results of student evaluations of teaching (SIRS, SOCT, or other forms used by your college). You may submit the written comments from one class.

Optional Materials: Other evidence of teaching interest and excellence may be submitted but is not required. Such material should be selective, not exhaustive, and should focus on relevant information that does not fit into categories of evidence provided under the preceding headings. Offprints and books should not be sent unless requested by the Selection Committee.

Submitting Application Materials: Applications without all the required supporting materials will not be considered. Deliver application packets by Friday, April 16, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. to:
Eron Drake
Associate Director of Faculty and Instructional Development Programs
The Office of Faculty and Organizational Development
308 Hannah Administration Building, MSU

Questions About the Adams Academy? If you have questions about the program or the application process, please contact Eron Drake at facdevel@msu.edu or 432-2033.