College Fellows FAQs
Q: I am working on my dissertation right now. Am I eligible to be a Fellow?
A: Yes and no. Faculty writing dissertations or Masters theses are
working to satisfy the requirements of a Ph.D. committee or Master's
requirement. In contrast, College Fellows are faculty who are pursuing a
research idea with immediate application to the classroom. The College gives
leave to faculty in doctoral programs through the Education Leave policies
and procedures. But within your dissertation could be an idea for a project
that might be pursued as a fellows project.
Q: What exactly is research? How does it differ from training?
A: Research involves collecting and analyzing information that is used to
create new and original knowledge. Training involves learning new skills and
applying those skills to the workplace. The College Fellows Program focuses
on faculty research. To clarify, definitions of "research" and "training"
are provided below.
Here is the "web definition" of research: "Research is any systematic
investigation, including research development, testing and evaluation,
designed to develop or contribute to generalized knowledge. The term is used
inclusively to refer to scholarly, empirical, creative, critical, and/or
expressive activities in the sciences, humanities, arts, and other scholarly
fields, which expand, clarify, reorganize, or develop knowledge or artistic
perception."
Here is the "web definition" of training: "[This is an] activity leading
to skilled behavior. It is instruction which emphasized job-specific
learning objectives; traditionally skills-based instruction, as opposed to
education."
Q: Do you have any examples of what a research project might look like?
A: Yes. Below are examples from peer-reviewed articles that appear in
recent issues of professional and trade journals. Completed College Fellows
projects should produce knowledge capable of publication in such journals.
- The role of gender in perceived speaker competence
- Cognitive behavioral techniques to help clients create new habits
that place them in control of their lives/addictions
- Innovative model for scheduling resource planning and cost
optimization for construction or maintenance programs
- Catalog through audio, video and writing the biodiversity of plant
materials in the three plant zones in North Carolina from a
horticulturalist's perspective.
Q: How do I get research ideas?
A: Consult your trade and professional journals for ideas. Online trade
and professional journals can be located in the library. It's important,
though, that you have begun to think about and, hopefully, work on a
research idea. As we all know, beginning a research project with one idea
often changes to another idea as we move deeper into the research.
Q: How much reassigned time will be awarded to me as a Learning Fellow?
A: It depends upon your project. Generally, you can expect anywhere from
half to full release for the semester. You are required to give an estimate
of the time required for your project in the LFP application. The Vice
President for Instruction makes the final award of released time.
Q: Who will be responsible for finding my replacement?
A: Your Division Director is responsible for finding your replacement. Of
course, you may know the best possible people for the job and will likely
make good recommendations.
Q: What about my salary and any extra funds I will need to complete my
project?
A: You will retain your salary and benefits and accrue leave.
Q. How will the fellowships work?
A: This application will ask what the applicant intends to research, the
length and cost of the project and the benefits expected, among other
questions. The applicant will be required to demonstrate familiarity with
the intended area of research and his / her readiness to proceed, how the
project / product will be delivered and the learning outcomes needed to
measure instructional effectiveness.
College Fellows will design proposals that require the acquisition of new
knowledge and strategies for delivering this knowledge. The Faculty Fellow
is responsible for taking the work produced at the end of the fellowship and
disseminating it throughout the college community via workshops, division
meetings, campus kick-offs and professional development activities, etc.
College Fellows are encouraged to go beyond the campus community and reach a
wider audience. For example, a CPCC Learning Fellow could publish findings
in an academic journal, write a League for Innovation abstract, publish
through the CPCC press, or create a program that could be covered by the
Charlotte Observer and other local media.
Q.:I am writing a book. It may be published by the college. Am I eligible to
be a fellow?
A.: Yes and no. The original research that you undertake as a fellow may
result, one day, in a book. The book that you are currently writing may give
you an idea for a project that will be ideal for the Fellows program. It may
also
Q.: Has anyone put together a suggested list of budget items?
A.: Yes. It is a piece of the application. It is not all-inclusive, but
it will be a guide in determining the actual costs of your proposal. There
may be other line items that will require consultation with other CPCC
departments or faculty. The list is based on qualitative- and
quantitative-based research. Experience from previous fellows shows that it
is wise to be as detailed as possible to increase the accuracy of the final
dollar amount.
|
