Reframing Institutional Transformation Institute

More and more, enlightened institutions of higher education are recognizing how important it is to meaningfully involve non-tenure track STEM faculty in both institutional policy decision-making processes and the professional development initiatives that can empower them to contribute to the change processes that stem from those decisions. Through generous funding from the National Science Foundation, and in collaboration with researchers at the University of Southern California, this Institute focuses on empowering academic leaders to lead institutional change aimed at addressing the unique needs of our nation’s non-tenure track STEM faculty.

During the Reframing Institute, participating institutional teams of non-tenure track STEM faculty and administrators will partner with national scholars to examine and interrogate root causes of the adverse institutional conditions that disproportionately marginalize non-tenure track STEM faculty. All sessions are grounded in a blended conceptual model for institutional transformation that emphasizes organizational learning and change. This Institute also focuses on cultivating tools for critical self-reflection, mindfulness, and strategic design mapping. As an added benefit, participating teams will be paired with an institutional transformation coach whose expertise and experience will contribute to building team capacity in institutional transformation, broadening participation, organizational change theory, STEM education research, and culturally responsive evaluation.

Through generous funding from the National Science Foundation, all costs associated with participation in this Institute are covered. Additionally, each institution team will receive up to $2,000 to be divided among non-tenure track STEM faculty participants for their participation in the Institute.

To apply, institutions are required to complete a brief application process, which should require no more than 20 minutes. Applications are due on or before April 22, 2024. Notices of acceptance will be released on or before May 15, 2024.

Applications for the Reframing Institute must include brief descriptions of:

• the intention and changes the institution team wishes to see as a result of the self- and institutional reflection and examination that is expected to occur during the Institute. (Maximum 100 words).
• the unique institutional context and major pain points (i.e., institutional values, non-liberatory policies, lack of access to professional development etc.) related to addressing the systemic marginalization of non-tenure track STEM faculty on campus (Maximum 100 words).
• a list of prior initiatives or intervention(s) the institution has already attempted, successful or not (Maximum 100 words)
• a campus administrator endorsing the efforts of the participating institution team

Who Should Apply

• Institution teams of 5, including at least 2 non-tenure track STEM faculty and at least one campus administrator
• Faculty from all professorial ranks
• Faculty and administrators from community colleges and other institution types
• Scholars and practitioners interested in improving institutional conditions for non-tenure track STEM faculty

What Participating Teams Can Expect

• Support for all travel costs through generous funding from the National Science Foundation
• Guidance in making important shifts in institutional systems and structures needed to implement and adjust levers of change
• Capacity building for employing design thinking approaches to unique institutional contexts
• Expert institutional development coaching to build compelling cases for culturally responsive institutional change strategies that impact the quality of the workplace environment for non-tenure track STEM faculty