Overview
The Faculty Fellows Idea Lab is a year-long program aimed at generating actionable ideas for enhancing civic-mindedness among students in Indiana. This program invites faculty from member campuses to collaborate, explore inventive uses of high-impact teaching practices, ideate about new pedagogies, and develop new strategies to provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the classroom and be active citizens in their communities. Through in-person retreats and monthly virtual meetings, faculty fellows work together to explore topics such as technology integration, AI in engaged scholarship, innovative classroom experiences, and the development of new assessment models to measure civic outcomes.
Participants in the program receive a $4,000 stipend, along with collective access to $10,000 in project funds to support their group work. Faculty are encouraged to engage in problem-solving, experimentation, and strategic planning, while also collaborating with experts in their fields. At the end of the program, fellows will produce a research brief with insights and recommendations on cultivating civic-minded graduates, contributing to the advancement of engaged scholarship across Indiana’s colleges and universities.
2025–26 Faculty Fellows Research: Bridging the Gap
What moves students from civic awareness to action?
The 2025–26 Faculty Fellows Idea Lab explored Indiana college students’ perceptions of, barriers to, and experiences with civic engagement. Drawing on responses from more than 700 students, the research found that students broadly recognize civic engagement and are aware of opportunities to participate, yet awareness alone does not lead to action.
Bridging the Gap: Awareness, Participation, and the Conditions of Student Civic Engagement in Indiana Higher Education examines how feasibility, meaning, belonging, campus climate, and institutional design shape student participation and offers important implications for Indiana colleges and universities.
Applicant Qualifications
Faculty members from any rank or discipline at a CEA member campus are eligible to apply. Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to innovative approaches in civic engagement and scholarship. Ideal candidates will have experience fostering collaborative environments that emphasize humility, dissent, and experimentation. Faculty should be dedicated to producing actionable recommendations that enhance civic learning and student engagement, while contributing to the broader landscape of engaged scholarship.
Applicants must also show a willingness to engage meaningfully with both their cohort and community, and be open to exploring new teaching techniques, including the integration of technology and innovative assessment models. Additionally, participants should have a clear interest in expanding their professional knowledge and civic engagement practices to benefit both students and their institutions.
Timeline
The 2026-2027 Faculty Fellows Program begins on June 1, 2026, and concludes on May 31, 2027.
- Proposal Deadline: May 1, 2026
- Program Start Date: June 1, 2026
- Program End Date: May 31, 2027
Fellow Cohort Funding
- Stipend – each applicant selected will be awarded a $4,000 stipend
- Retreat Expenses – CEA will cover retreat expenses such as the facility, lodging and food (mileage not included)
- Project Funds – each cohort will have collective access (along with up to 3 other accepted applicants) to $10,000 to fund the group project implementation.