Student Success Fellows 

Overview

The Early Student Success Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) and Center for Faculty Innovation are excited to announce a call for applicants to join a Student Success Research Fellow pilot program. Faculty and staff are critical drivers of equity, student success, and retention. Whether in our roles as classroom instructors, advisors, mentors, supervisors – we can be important agents in removing institutional barriers to success, supporting students navigate college, and empowering students for their own educational journey.

To encourage evidence-based reflection, experimentation, and innovation toward equitable student success and faculty development:

1. We are seeking applications of individuals faculty/staff and teams (2 to about 5 faculty/staff per team) interested in exploring data-informed questions about equity, student success, and retention. Those selected would spend the remainder of the Spring 2023 semester developing an interdisciplinary research proposal in teams. Selected individual applicants will be placed into a team.
2. Teams that have completed fellow program requirements are eligible and encouraged to apply for implementation grants to carry out their research proposal. Implementation grants can support research during Summer or Fall 2023 and those selected will be expected to participate in Fall 2023 or Spring 2024 showcases.

Spring 2023 Fellow will be selected based on the extent which:

• research interests are aligned with goal of equitable student success and retention
• research interests are issues of scale for JMU or could be scaled up
• team or individual can represent diversity across disciplines, divisions, methods, and experience

Expectations for Spring 2023 semester

• At least one person from each team will participate in two fellow zoom check-in meetings during the Spring 2023 semester.
• Teams will work toward developing a proposal for a project that uses already existing data and research ideas, their own research questions and/or data, or new data collection and analysis that answers important questions about equity, student success, and retention at JMU.
• Each team member will receive up to $500 for their completed participation as a student success fellow; this may be as a direct payment via stipend or professional development funds via department

Teams selected for both the fellow program and implementation grants will receive support from the Early Student Success QEP and Center for Faculty Innovation.

Timeline

March 6th week: applications open

March 31: applications due by 5pm EST

April 3rd week: team awards announced

April 10th week: first cohort meeting

May 1^st week: 2nd cohort meeting

May 15: Team implementation applications due

Application Information

Please note that all applicants need to discuss and have support of their Academic Unit Head (AUH), Director, or Supervisor prior to submitting your application. Their approval is necessary for payment and support & advocacy desired for your and our work on student success. 

Preview of application questions

Link to submit your application Due March 31st by 5pm EST