Applicability
Open to CLAS instructional-track (including practice-track) faculty.
Policy purpose and description
The CLAS Instructional Excellence and Professional Growth Award supports instructional-track faculty who seek meaningful professional development opportunities that enhance teaching effectiveness, advance instructional innovation, strengthen student learning outcomes, and contribute to the educational mission of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Recognizing that professional growth can take many forms, this award provides flexibility for faculty to propose development activities that best align with their career goals, instructional responsibilities, and departmental needs. Examples may include:
- Attendance at teaching and learning conferences
- Discipline-specific pedagogical institutes or workshops
- Professional certifications relevant to teaching and learning
- Instructional leadership development programs
- Training in emerging educational technologies and AI-enhanced teaching
- Curriculum or assessment development institutes
- Inclusive teaching and student success programs
- Professional learning communities, fellowships, or communities of practice
- Faculty exchanges, site visits, or other innovative developmental opportunities
Preference may be given to proposals that demonstrate clear impact on student learning, instructional innovation, curricular improvement, or broader dissemination of knowledge within CLAS. Preference may also be given to applicants who have not received the CLAS Instructional Excellence and Professional Growth Award within the previous two academic years.
Procedure
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Hold a current instructional-track appointment within CLAS.
- Be actively engaged in undergraduate and/or graduate instruction.
- Demonstrate how the proposed activity will contribute to their professional growth and enhance the educational experience of CLAS students.
Funding
Awards of up to $1,500 may be requested for eligible professional development expenses, including:
- Registration and participation fees
- Travel, lodging, and per diem expenses
- Professional certification costs
- Program materials or required resources
- Virtual learning opportunities
Applicants must provide a brief budget and justification for requested funds.
Timeline
- November 2 – December 4, 2026: Application period for January – June 2027 professional development activities
- April 1 – May 7, 2027: Application period for June – December 2027 professional development activities
How to apply
Faculty submit their completed application to clas1@uiowa.edu.
Post-award requirements
Faculty will be required to report on the outcomes of the professional development activity including takeaways from the experience, application to teaching practice, impact on students or curriculum, and future plans for implementation and sharing.
Key contact
If you have questions, please contact the Dean’s Office Faculty Affairs Specialist.
Last date reviewed or updated
October 2026