Faculty Fellows in Accessibility

The Faculty Fellows in Accessibility initiative is one part of a multi-pronged approach to increasing accessibility awareness at Brock University.

Supported by the Centre for Pedagogical Innovation (CPI) the Faculty Fellows in Accessibility will work to support the development of accessible pedagogical practice as well as the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning research around accessibility at Brock University.

This program is aligned to the following area of Brock’s Academic Plan:

  • 2c: Focus efforts on curriculum review and program reimagination to allow for a well-designed mix of on-campus, online, and blended course options, as determined by the alignment between course delivery mode and learning outcomes;
  • 2i: Support the creation, adaptation, and adoption of open educational resources;
  • 4g: Identify and work to dismantle systemic academic barriers experienced by BIPOC, disabled, 2SLGBTQ+, and gender-diverse faculty, staff, and students and develop supports and community that foster inclusive participation and belonging, and that support flourishing;
  • 4h: Implement the relevant recommendations of the post-secondary education standards development committee for a new accessibility education standard under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

The program is also aligned with Brock’s Strategic Plan priority of “fostering a culture of inclusivity, accessibility, reconciliation and decolonization.”

Program Information

This Fellows program provides structure and space for faculty interested in exploring pedagogical innovation and doing SoTL research related to accessible teaching and learning in their discipline.

The CPI welcomes applications from those who want to explore more accessible applications to teaching. There will be one fellow from the six Brock Faculties for a total of 6 fellows each year.

If there is interest for more than one individual from a Faculty, we may consider multiple faculty members from the same Faculty or School (not to exceed 10 Fellows) in any year.

Goals of the Accessibility Fellows Program

  • Provide pedagogical and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) research support for a project focused on accessible pedagogy. Examples include, but not limited to: assessment strategies (presentations, group work models, different instructions for assessments), structure and design of course or content, using educational technology tools to support teaching and learning.   
  • Provide support for sharing this work to the broader Brock community. 
  • Present opportunities and possibilities for discipline specific accessible pedagogy at Brock.
  • Allow for emerging goals over the course of the fellows’ program that connect to areas of accessibility and inclusion to support the Brock community. 
  • Promote potential connections and opportunities to other Brock awards and grants such as Chancellor’s Chair for Teaching Excellence. 
  • Fellows become accessibility champions providing  mentorship support to the next cohort of Accessibility Fellows and within in their departments or faculty. 

Program Features

The program will be supported by CPI’s Senior Educational Developer, Accessibility & Inclusion.  

Fellows will have an asynchronous support space created (a Teams site) to share resources, ask questions, and provide each other support. There will also be hybrid monthly synchronous support drop-ins for Accessibility Fellows to connect, update each other on their research and pedagogy, and ask questions or identify resources needed to support their work.  

Accessibility Fellows will also have the opportunity to be involved in CPI and Brock events as well as being profiled in other Brock-wide communication such as Brock News.  

During National Accessibility Awareness Week (the last week of May every year), a Brock event will highlight the Accessibility Fellows and provide them the opportunity to showcase the work they have done so far as part of the program. Accessibility Fellows will also be given a certificate and letter of recognition of their participation that can be used in teaching dossier materials. 

Brock Community Partners

  • Student Accessibility Services (SAS)
  • Office of Research Services
  • Office of the Vice-President Research 
  • The Brock University Library
  • Social Justice Research Institute 
  • Makerspace
  • Learning Services
  • Hadiya’dagénhahs
  • Careers, Co-Op and Experiential Education (CCEE)
  • Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre (SWAC)  

Application and Adjudication 

Timeline for the 2024-2025 Academic Year 

  • Expressions of interest due by end of day October 30, 2024
  • Fellows announced by the end of November 2024

Eligibility 

All full-time, tenured and probationary faculty, and librarians are eligible to apply. 

Sessional or part-time instructors are also eligible to apply and in their expression of interest should include a letter of support from their Department/Centre Chair.

How to Apply 

Expressions of interest (the equivalent of maximum 4 pages double spaced, multimodal applications accepted) should be submitted to the Centre for Pedagogical Innovation awards portal.

 Applications should include a Statement of Intent describing the proposed pedagogical initiative and/or SoTL research and how it relates to: 

  • The goals of the Faculty Fellows in Accessibility program (listed above), including areas the applicant would like to explore but would need specific support in achieving. 
  • Accessible pedagogical practices in their field as seen in the appropriate literature. 
  • Departmental or Faculty goals for accessibility – this portion can be written in collaboration with the chair or designate. 

Interested parties are encouraged to reach out to the CPI team (cpi@brocku.ca) for support in compiling their application. 

Adjudication of Applications 

The adjudication of applications for the initial cohort (the 2024-2025 academic year) of Faculty in Accessibility will be supported by representatives of the Brock community partners listed above. 

Moving forward expressions of interests will be adjudicated by a committee consisting of Senior Educational Developer, Accessibility & Inclusion, Brock partners, and members of the previous cohort of Accessibility Fellows. 

Adjudication Criteria: 

  • Clarity of goals within the proposed accessible pedagogy project/SoTL research
  • Alignment to Academic Plan for the proposed accessible pedagogy project/SoTL research
  • Evidence of alignment between one’s teaching philosophy, practice, and proposed project or research with a focus on accessibility
  • Sustainability of accessible pedagogy initiative and capacity for interdisciplinary application
  • Evidence of a ongoing commitment to creating a culture of accessibility and inclusion at Brock through tangible examples in practice