Provost's office seeks faculty fellow to enhance high-impact practices

The office of the senior vice president and provost seeks a faculty fellow to help develop and promote a shared vision for high-impact educational practices (HIPs) on campus.

The new, half-time position, open to tenured professors, will work with associate provost for academic programs Ann Marie VanDerZanden to enhance and expand opportunities for undergraduate students 

High-impact practices engage students outside the classroom, or as a complement to traditional instruction. Examples of HIPs at Iowa State include learning communities, University Honors, Study Abroad, Program for Women in Science and Engineering, internships/capstones and faculty research projects. Together, these activities help students transition to college life, become more engaged in their education and, ultimately, help achieve higher retention and graduation rates.

To be eligible, applicants must be on full-time appointments, and be employed at Iowa State for at least five years. Interested applicants should submit the following materials to Lori Sutton, lsutton1@iastate.edu, by Friday, Oct. 8:

  • Downloaded application form, including signature of the applicant's department chair
  • Letter of interest focusing on related skills/experience and career goals
  • Current CV
  • Two on-campus references

More about high-impact practices

Student surveys show that nearly 75% of Iowa State undergraduates participate in two or more HIPs during their time on campus, a rate significantly higher than peer institutions. Still, VanDerZanden said, more can be done.

"Many of our current high-impact practices are geared toward first-year students or seniors, but there is more we can do to promote these activities throughout the student life cycle," she said. "It's one more way to create an exceptional educational experience that prepares our graduates for life and career success."

VanDerZanden said the faculty fellow will collaborate with a diverse group of faculty and staff, as well as academic colleges and departments, Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching and Student Innovation Center, to promote interdisciplinary and experiential learning opportunities.

Questions about the position may be directed to VanDerZanden, 515-294-7184 or vanderza@iastate.edu.