The PCF program is a two-year commitment to engage in a complete SoTL study from start to finish. Participating Fellows should anticipate dedicating significant time throughout both years to advancing their research with the support of CTL staff. Major milestones are listed in the table below with required deadlines for Fellows to be eligible for ongoing grant funding. Note that these milestones assume projects may involve human subjects research, but we recognize that some eligible projects may not involve engagement with human subjects:
|
Term |
Required Milestones * |
|
Summer 2025 |
Submit research plan and proposed budget |
|
Fall 2025 |
Hire an undergraduate research assistant Submit IRB protocol for approval (including exempt projects) |
|
Spring 2026 |
Data collection (if study pertains to a spring course) Present preliminary findings at Teaching & Learning Conference |
|
Summer 2026 |
Submit budget expenditures and updated Year 2 plan |
|
Fall 2026 |
Data collection (if study pertains to a fall course) |
|
Spring 2027 |
Data analysis (following relevant data collection) Present preliminary findings at Teaching & Learning Conference Submit final grant report |
Year 1 Expectations
Summer 2025 - Fellows will be provided a core text on conducting the work of SoTL and are expected to begin reading this book in dialogue with their assigned CTL mentor and other members of the PCF community. The selected book for the 2025-2027 cohort is SoTL Research Methodologies: A Guide to Conceptualizing and Conducting the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning by Yeo, Miller-Young, and Manarin (2024). With the support of their CTL mentor and other CTL staff, Fellows will develop and submit a feasible and purposeful research plan with supporting budget. This plan will consist of a SoTL literature review, an identified research question and hypothesis, planned research methodology, and timeline for project completion.
Fall 2025 - Grant funds are made available to Fellows following successful completion of the research plan. During the first semester of the PCF program, Fellows continue to develop their research plans in preparation to submit an IRB protocol. Fellows will receive feedback from their mentors and peers through community sessions and monthly check-ins. Fellows are advised to begin the process of hiring an undergraduate research assistant at this stage as well as to plan to attend a SoTL conference to inform their work. IRB protocols must be submitted no later than December 2025.
Spring 2026 - Fellows should continue the process of hiring/onboarding their undergraduate research assistant as well as immersing themselves in the SoTL field through conference engagements and readings. For fellows that plan to study a course that runs only in the spring semester, data collection is expected once the IRB has received approval. IRB approval must be confirmed by the end of this semester; mentor check-ins and community sessions can help Fellows to navigate comments and adjustments to their proposed research plan. All Fellows are expected to attend the annual Teaching & Learning Conference. In Year 1 of the program, fellows may consider presenting a talk or an informal roundtable discussion.
Year 2 Expectations
Summer 2026 - Fellows may choose to take this time as a break, which can be a conversation between mentors and mentees. At some point during the summer, fellows should review their grant spending of the prior year and document their budget for review. Moreover, Fellows should reflect on how their research plan has evolved and pivoted as necessary, and update their Year 2 plan and budget to reflect the evolution of their SoTL study. This budget/research check-in is required prior to the start of the fall semester to secure Year 2 funding.
Fall 2026 Fellows may need to hire/rehire their undergraduate research assistant to continue to support their ongoing work. Moreover, Fellows with preliminary data may consider participating and presenting in SoTL conferences. For fellows that plan to study a course that runs only in the fall semester, data collection is expected with IRB approval. Fellows who conducted data collection in a spring course will be supported as they engage in analysis. Monthly check-ins and community sessions will continue to provide feedback and support.
Spring 2027 - In the final semester of the program, Fellows should wrap up their projects and move towards disseminating their research. Fellows may analyze data collected from fall semester courses, or work to submit abstracts/proposals to SoTL conferences based on their work thus far. All Fellows are expected to attend the annual Teaching & Learning Conference and present their research findings. As Fellows transition into summer, a final grant report must be submitted that documents all spending and notes major impacts/deliverables from the two-year program. Note that any unused grant funds are to be returned to CTL.