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Ursula K. Williams Fellowship

Overview

The Ursula Williams Faculty Fellowship is a one-semester fellowship for Teaching Professors and Professors of the Practice in the College of Arts and Letters that focuses on the application of technology, instructional design, and second language acquisition study to pedagogical practices. The fellowship entails:

  • A course release for the semester of the fellowship. This course-release time, approximately 8-10 hours/week, should be devoted to working on fellowship-related material.
  • Working closely with CSLC and Kaneb Center staff over the course of one semester to assist  the fellow in executing and implementing the proposed project.

Requirements

The following activities will be supported by the CSLC and Kaneb Center for one semester and must be completed (unless otherwise specified) in the Fall Semester:

  • Fellows will propose a scholarly project that will help them to gain knowledge on topics related to the proposed project over the course of the semester. In order to provide flexibility in the pursuit of projects, fellows can choose one of the following options:
    • Producing an e-Portfolio containing at least ten (10) artifacts, reflections, and observations related to the teaching project proposal to illustrate the knowledge gained; or
    • Developing and completing a research project or a scholarship of teaching and learning study focused on an aspect of the Fellow's own teaching practice; or
    • Another project or idea of the fellow’s choosing, in consultation with the Director of the CSLC.
  • In addition to completion of a project or research study, fellows must share their knowledge with others. In order to accomplish this, fellows must propose an abstract and, if accepted, present at The Midwest Scholarship of Teaching & Learning Conference at IUSB in April.
  • Finally, fellows must attend a conference on college teaching within six months of the fellowship (funded up to $1,000). The CSLC recommends the following conferences:

Timeline:

  • Applications due on May 1st.
  • Acceptance letter sent by CSLC by May 20th.
  • Meet with Alessia Blad-Miller (CSLC Director) within two weeks of sending the acceptance letter.
  • Creation of Fall semester timeline within a month of first meeting, including:
    • Start and end date of Fellowship;
    • Due date for completion of electronic portfolio or research project;
    • Due date for conference proposal; 
    • Selection of workshops, training and consultations

Applying for the Fellowship

Application should be sent to Alessia Blad-Miller by May 1 and should include:

  • One-page explanation of how the fellowship will enhance the applicant’s teaching
  • A brief statement of teaching philosophy
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Letter of support from the relevant department Chair agreeing to a course release if the application is successful

About Ursula Williams

Ursula Williams was the director of the Language Resource Center at the University of Notre Dame, where she began working in 1984, first as a German instructor and then as a specialist in using technology to teach foreign languages. Ursula was also Associate Director of the Center for Creative Computing at Notre Dame, and was the President-Elect for the International Association for Language Learning Technology (IALLT) where she was an active member and participant in conferences and committees. She was also active in university committees and even found time to host a radio show, "The World of Operetta" for WSND radio and serve as a classical music announcer for both WSND and public radio station WVPE.

Ursula was a graduate of SUNY-Oswego and earned her master's degree in German literature from Ohio University.

Past Recipients

Fellowship Recipients