LIFT Fellowship Program

Provost Office > Teach > Programs > LIFT Fellowship Program

Learn. Inspire. Foster. Transform.

I learned so much from the LIFT program. The information was not only useful but also created an excitement about teaching! I want to be part of this more often, if only for the “LIFT” it gave me!! It was a wonderful experience that I would love to spread!

LIFT Participant

The LIFT (Learn.Inspire.Foster.Transform.) Fellowship Program is a year-long professional development experience for faculty to learn teaching methods that have been shown to improve students’ engagement, connection, and resilience. Analysis of institutional data shows that students who take a course from even one LIFT Fellow in their first two years are retained at higher rates than their peers.

2027 LIFT Fellows Application

Apply to LIFT

Training dates: March 18-19 or May 20-21, 2027

Application portal will be open Oct 27.

Learning Outcomes

After participating in LIFT Faculty Fellows will be able to transform their courses to increase student engagement, belonging, academic resilience, and learning. Through participation in LIFT, faculty will:

  • Develop knowledge of theory and research related to active learning approaches and brief behavioral interventions.
  • Apply active learning techniques and brief behavioral interventions in their classes.
  • Support and be supported by colleagues who share their commitment to student success.

Program Expectations

The LIFT program begins with a two-day intensive training after which LIFT Fellows will be assigned peer mentors as they experiment with new teaching approaches. Participants must complete all of the following:

  • Attend the entire two-day intensive workshop.
  • Complete readings and pre-reflections in preparation for in-person workshop.
  • Complete all LIFT evaluations.
  • Attend at least two of the pedagogical professional development opportunities.
  • Complete a Classroom Implementation plan detailing how at least one LIFT teaching practice will be implemented in the classroom (e.g., resilience, social belonging, mindfulness, self-compassion, growth mind-set).
  • Meet monthly with their Peer Mentoring Pod.
  • Participate in a peer observation of teaching.
  • Complete a final progress report.


Additional information about these requirements will be offered by the LIFT team via email, during the training, and at subsequent times throughout the year. We work diligently to make sure LIFT Fellows are on track and successful.

Upon program completion

We recognize that LIFT involves a substantial time commitment which will be recognized with a $2,000 PAP for completing all LIFT Faculty Fellow requirements, a framed certificate of completion, and a letter of thanks which can be shared with your chair/director and dean.

Application

The application includes the following questions, which we recommend applicants prepare in advance in a Word document to cut and paste into the online application.

  • What does success look like for your students?
  • What have you done, or what would you like to try, to create an environment that supports success for your students?
  • How do you hope that participation in LIFT will help you as an instructor?
  • LIFT Fellows are required to integrate a LIFT teaching practice in academic year 2025-26. Will you be able to meet this requirement? Why or why not?

Once accepted, LIFT Faculty Fellows attend a two-day intensive workshop to explore evidence-based active learning and behavioral interventions that they will eventually integrate into their own teaching.