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Chautauqua Short Courses for College Teachers | 2007 Faculty Development Program

Chautauqua Short Courses are an annual series of forums in which scholars at the frontiers of various sciences meet intensively for several days with undergraduate college teachers of science. The courses are held at colleges and universities throughout the United States as well as at selected special sites. These forums provide an opportunity for invited scholars to communicate new knowledge, concepts, and techniques directly to college teachers in ways which are immediately beneficial to their teaching. The primary aim is to enable undergraduate teachers in the sciences to keep their teaching current with respect to both content and pedagogy.

We particularly invite newer faculty to participate. This invitation includes current graduate students who are considering an academic career.

The program is a cooperative enterprise which involves: college teachers (Participants) who take part with the encouragement of their home institutions; the various scholars who teach the courses (Course Directors); the Regional Centers which are responsible for arranging and hosting the short courses; the University of Massachusetts, which provides national oversight; and the National Science Foundation which provides the financial support.

In a typical course, the Course Director meets with approximately 25 Participants for three or four successive days of full-time activity. Any departure from this format is noted in the course description. The course descriptions also indicate those courses with laboratory or field components.

Eligibility and Selection

In general, teachers of undergraduate students in degree-granting institutions of higher education in the United States whose teaching responsibilities are in the natural or social sciences, mathematics, or engineering are eligible for participation.

Qualified teachers may apply to any Regional Center and may participate in more than one course if space permits. Participants are selected by the Regional Center Directors. In general, the criteria used for selection are: satisfaction of the listed prerequisites of the course and the potential benefit of the course to the applicant either directly in his or her own teaching, by influence on the teaching of his or her colleagues, or by improving the undergraduate science curriculum at the applicant's institution.

The Chautauqua Program will not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, sex, color, or national origin of any applicant or Participant.

• Application fees: An application fee of $50.00 ($5.00 for full-time graduate students) is due to the Chautauqua Regional Center that is sponsoring the course. The application fees are used to help cover expenses not covered by the NSF grant. Participants or their home institutions pay the cost of lodging, meals and travel.
• Refunds: If the applicant is not appointed to the course applied for, the application fee is automatically refunded. The application fee will also be refunded if the applicant withdraws before being appointed to the course or in the unlikely event that the course is canceled. The Regional Center Director will supply a letter of support to any participant who attempts to recover airline ticket costs as a result of a course cancellation.

Application Form

Deadlines

Disabled Participants

Tax Deduction

An income-tax deduction is allowed for expenses for education (including registration fees, travel, meals, and lodging) undertaken to maintain and improve professional skills (see Treas. Reg. 1.162-5)

Schedule of Courses

Please browse our course by area of study, location and Regional Center.

Overview

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