2026-27 Teaching Fellows Application

TEACHING FELLOWS PROGRAM

Promoting use of the Center’s collections, the Teaching Fellows Program encourages the development of object-based curricular initiatives that support student engagement and retention by enriching learning experiences and adding depth to student understanding. This program was made possible thanks to the generous support of Dr. Henry Hooper.

AY 2026-27 APPLICATION INFORMATION

INTRODUCTION

The Center of Southwest Studies shares the mission of Fort Lewis College (FLC) to provide inclusive, experiential learning environments that foster innovation, growth, and community engagement. The Center’s Teaching Fellows Program is vital to this process.

Two fellows will be selected for participation in the program. The fellowship is open to FLC faculty and staff, as well as instructors from the broader Four-Corners Region. The fellowship is not limited to those working in postsecondary education; teachers of any grade level are welcome to apply. Likewise, two or more instructors can apply for a joint appointment if they are working on materials for the same class or collaborating across courses.

PROGRAM GOALS

The Fellows Program supports innovative curriculum development and a fuller integration of the Center’s collections into instruction. As an academic museum, archives, and library, the Center of Southwest Studies is a valuable resource for FLC and the broader community. Its collections offer an important starting point for the development of active and enriching learning experiences that encourage dialogue, promote problem-solving and analytical skills, and cultivate an appreciation of the diverse cultures, histories, and environments of the Southwest.

The Teaching Fellows Program promotes the use of the Center’s collections and embraces an object-based approach to learning. Material objects have the power to excite, inspire, challenge, inform, and motivate students when used as tools for active learning and exploration, which are hallmarks of FLC’s commitment to high impact learning practices. Consistent with these institutional goals, the Fellows Program encourages the development of object-based curricular initiatives that support student engagement and retention by enriching learning experiences, making concepts more accessible, and adding depth to student understanding.

For more information on object-based learning, see:

• Object-Based Learning at the Center of Southwest Studies
• Object Based Learning Guide

BENEFITS & STIPEND

Each fellow will be awarded a stipend of $1500, an introduction to the collections by Center staff, and curricular support for participating in the Teaching Fellows Program. If two or more instructors are awarded a joint appointment, the $1500 stipend will be split as appropriate. The fellowship payment will be awarded upon completion of the program and receipt of all required deliverables.

DELIVERABLES

During fall 2026 and spring 2027, the fellows will work closely with Center staff to identify materials relevant to their teaching, develop assignments that make use of the Center’s collections, and implement these projects in the classroom. 

Each fellow will be asked to complete the following by the end of the fellowship period: 

1. One object-based student assignment
2. One of the following:

• A class visit to the Center
• An annotated list of collection materials for class visit(s)
• A second object-based student assignment

Each project must engage with the Center’s museum collections, archival collections, or library resources. We also encourage projects that extend beyond the classroom when appropriate to the course. These might include public readings, student-curated displays or exhibitions, digital projects, or other forms of public-facing scholarship. Center staff are available to provide consultation, logistical guidance, and technical support for instructors interested in developing these kinds of initiatives.

At the end of the year-long fellowship period, documentation of these initiatives will be showcased on the Center’s website, becoming a publicly-accessible resource for other instructors.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Fellows must attend an introductory in-person meeting and a minimum of two subsequent planning sessions. The total time commitment for this fellowship is approximately 40 hours.

SUPPORT FOR APPLICANTS

Application Questions?

We would be happy to help! Please contact Cristie Scott, CSWS's Curator of Exhibitions and Educational Outreach at (970) 247-7333 or cmscott@fortlewis.edu.

Introductory Meeting and Collections Tour

At the beginning of the fellowship period, fellows attend an orientation on object-based learning and research at the Center. At this meeting, fellows will:

• Participate in a tour of the Center’s collections
• Discuss object-based learning with the Center's Curator of Exhibitions and Educational Outreach and/or collections staff
• Receive guidance on the support Center staff can provide (i.e. collections access, digital platform support)
• Review staff availability and discuss check-in dates (online or in-person pedagogical support) and in-person collections research.

Planning Sessions

Fellows will meet with Center staff at least two times during the academic year to engage with topic-specific and course-relevant objects, discuss pedagogical approaches, and explore diversity and inclusion through the Center’s collections.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please compile in this order and submit as a single PDF to cmscott@fortlewis.edu.

1. Completed cover sheet
2. One or two-page proposal explaining your interest in the program and addressing the following questions: 
   1. Which of the Center’s collections are most relevant to your course (environmental policy records, museum textiles, etc.)? Please be as specific as you can regarding the collection objects you would like to access. You can explore the Center's archival collections on the Center of Southwest Studies website. Please contact us for more information about the Center's museum collections.
   2. How does this project support the student learning outcomes of your course?
   3. How will your course teach students to discover, analyze, research, and discuss works in the Center’s collections?
   4. How many class sessions (if any) do you expect to hold at the Center? (All sessions involving collections must be held at the Center).
   5. Do you anticipate any extra costs (e.g. supply or travel expenses) associated with your project?  If so, please include an overview of these expenses..

EVALUATION OF APPLICATIONS

Applications will be evaluated by members of the Center’s Campus Advisory Committee and staff. Projects will be assessed on their:

• Relevance to the Center’s collections
• Creative use of the Center’s collections
• Feasibility
• Alignment with student learning outcomes (as articulated in the applicant's proposal)

TIMELINE