DTEI Graduate Scholars

Applications for the 2024 DTEI Summer Graduate Scholars Program are now open. You can find the application link below.

Since its establishment in 2020, UCI’s DTEI Summer Graduate Scholars Program has become a leading force for campus-wide pedagogical change and training. The goal of this Program is to facilitate summer-long collaborations between Grad Scholars and faculty mentors to enhance the equity, accessibility, and inclusivity of courses while further developing graduate student skills and knowledge.

The 2024 Program will focus on creating more inclusive and equitable courses for the 2024-2025 academic year with an emphasis on hybrid course design. The themes for this summer are (1) alternative assessment strategies (including considerations for genAI), (2) leveraging the instructional team for effective pedagogy (i.e. instructor, TAs, readers, LAs), and (3) enhancing pedagogical wellness. DTEI will prioritize support for projects that involve transitioning GE courses and/or large-enrollment lower-division major requirements into a hybrid format.

DTEI Graduate Scholars will receive a $5,000 award, a Partnership in Inclusive Design Certificate, and complete advanced pedagogical training led by Senior Graduate Scholars and DTEI staff. Graduate Scholars will engage with this program for approximately 200 hours throughout the summer: Beginning with an in-person workshop series during the week of July 8th followed by collaborations with faculty on course preparation and learning community meetings. The Program will conclude on September 13th. Grad Scholars are expected to participate in UCI Teach Day, which will be held on-campus on September 19th, 2024.

Faculty mentors will receive a Partnership in Inclusive Design Certificate and direct collaborative assistance from at least one Grad Scholar to enhance their courses. Faculty who are accepted into the Program are expected to mentor their Grad Scholar(s) by supporting their professional development and helping them prepare for potential future teaching opportunities.

There are two program tracks:

Track 1 (individual application): DTEI Graduate Scholars will engage one-on-one with up to two faculty members on their courses to make enhancements for the upcoming academic year. 

Track 2 (departmental application): Departments/Schools will assemble a team of DTEI Graduate Scholars and faculty to collaborate on curricular or program goals that may involve a series of courses. 

We will hold an online pre-application workshop on February 21st from 2-3PM to prepare participants for a successful submission by explaining more about the Program, introducing this year’s themes, and addressing questions. View the recording here.

Apply for the 2024 DTEI Summer Graduate Scholars Program Here (Deadline March 15 with grace period until March 18)

How to Apply

We encourage graduate students and faculty to apply to the program – graduate students, to support course development and learning, and faculty, to receive assistance in developing one of their courses and serve as a mentor for a Graduate Scholar. For priority selection, graduate students and faculty should coordinate with each other before applying. Even if a pair has coordinated, both the graduate student and faculty need to submit an “individual application” and indicate their preferred partner. Graduate students and faculty may also apply individually without prior coordination. In addition, a team of faculty and graduate students can submit a single departmental application to collaborate on curricular or program goals that may involve a series of courses.

Eligibility:

All full-time faculty and lecturers are eligible to apply.

Graduate student applicants:

  • Must be a continuing graduate student (Master’s or Ph.D.) who will have completed at least three quarters of successful graduate coursework at UCI by the end of Spring Quarter 2024.
  • Must have teaching experience, either as a TA or instructor.
  • Are preferred to have experience collaborating with faculty on courses or teaching-related projects, pedagogical training through DTEI and/or discipline-specific teaching programs, and expertise with Canvas.
  • Must receive approval from their Faculty Advisor/Chair.

Graduate student applicants:

Graduate students submitting an individual application need to upload (as part of their application) this supporting letter with a signature from their faculty advisor/thesis chair.

Part of the application will ask the graduate student applicant whether they have coordinated with a faculty member that they would like to work with, and if they have, to list that faculty member or members. All interested faculty mentors need to complete an application as well (see information below). Priority will be given to graduate student/faculty applications coordinated prior to applying, although prior coordination is not required to apply individually. Some graduate students may be selected to work directly with DTEI to support interdisciplinary instructors.

Faculty applicants:

Faculty will be asked to submit a short questionnaire outlining their goals for the summer, whether they have coordinated with any graduate students that they would like to work with, and if they have, to list those graduate students. Due to limited funding, faculty-identified graduate students are not guaranteed acceptance into the program. All interested graduate students need to complete an application as well (see information above). Priority will be given to graduate student/faculty applications coordinated prior to applying, although prior coordination is not required to apply individually.

Departments nominate a team of both graduate students and faculty. Prior to submitting a departmental application form, departments need to do the following:

(1) Identify the department’s instructional/program goals that need DTEI Graduate Scholar support.

(2) Identify one or more faculty members that will help the department meet these goals.

(3) Identify 3–5 prospective Graduate Scholars to work with the faculty team. Note: departments may modify existing summer funding if a graduate student is selected for this program. If this is the case, departments should notify intended graduate student nominees prior to submitting a departmental application.

Only one member of the nominated graduate students/faculty needs to submit a departmental application. Departmental applications must include a supporting letter from the department’s Associate Dean, Department Chair, or Graduate Program Director, detailing the following:

  • (Required) Supporting letters must confirm that all nominated graduate students are continuing Master’s or Ph.D. students (i.e., not a student entering a graduate program in Summer/Fall of 2023).
  • (Required) Supporting letters must confirm that all nominated graduate students have support from their faculty advisors/thesis chairs.

  • (Required) Supporting letters must provide a specific plan for change in courses using assistance from Grad Scholars, including assessment of change.
  • (Preferred) Supporting letters describe a project which will transition GE courses and/or large-enrollment lower-division major requirements into a hybrid format.
  • (Preferred) Supporting letters describe how this change is based on COMPASS data or program learning outcomes/program assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the deadline to apply?

The deadline is March 15 with a grace period until March 18.

Is this program the same thing as the Graduate Fellows program?

Yes, the program name has changed to DTEI Graduate Scholars Program as of May, 2023.

Am I eligible to apply if I was a DTEI Graduate Scholar in a previous year?

Yes, we encourage you to apply.

Are lecturers eligible to apply to the program?

Yes, lecturers are eligible to apply. 

Do I need to coordinate with colleagues to figure out who I may work with this summer before applying?

No. However, we encourage you to do so as pre-formed partnerships are more likely to be awarded.

Can I apply individually and be part of a departmental application team?

Yes. If you are selected, you will only participate in either Program Track 1 or Track 2.

Can Graduate Scholars collaborate with faculty on courses taught during Summer 2024?

No. Graduate Scholars and faculty will collaborate only on future courses to be taught in the upcoming academic year.

When will I be notified about the decision?

We will review submissions and notify applicants as soon as possible.

I’m a graduate student defending my dissertation during Summer 2024. Am I still eligible?

Yes. However, you need to be a graduate student until the end of summer to be eligible.

What are the details of the week-long in-person training course (times, topics, etc.)?

In-person training will be held during the week of July 8 – 12. The topics will center around the program goals and themes for this year.

What if I cannot attend the in-person training? Will there be an asynchronous alternative?

Students are expected to complete the training in person. Make-up training options can be determined on a case by case basis.

If you have any additional questions regarding the DTEI Graduate Scholars program, please email Charli Arhart (carhart@uci.edu).