Instructors' Institute: Summer 2026
Creating "Cultures of Thinking" Using High-Impact Teaching Practices
May 27 - June 5, 2026
Includes full- and half-day in-person meetings + online D2L days
Openings available for 18 faculty participants
Stipend: $1250
Please note: Accepting up to 2 recurring/regular part-time (adjunct) instructors;
please be aware that stipend cannot be issued until you are back on contract at ETSU.
2 additional openings available for Graduate Teaching Assistants who will be instructors of record for their course(s) in 2026-2027
$500 stipend; GTAs please see additional information below.
Application Deadline: May 8, 2026
Institute Goals
As a scholar in this institute, you will:
- Learn about & gain mindsets that help create a Culture of Thinking
- Learn about & experience a diverse array of High-Impact Teaching Practices (HITPs)
- Plan for the regular and impactful integration of HITPs in your Fall 2026/Spring 2027 course(s)
- Troubleshoot emerging issues as your courses are taught
- Share insights, plans, and outcomes with broader teaching community
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Benefits
- Greater energy and student engagement in your classes
- Enhanced student learning of your content
- Gain a teaching/learning community of support
- Teaching strategies resource folder
- Provost and Associate Provost for Faculty recognition
- Watermark activity for Teaching
- Stipend of $1250 full-time and adjunct instructors; $500 for graduate teaching assistants
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Expectations
- Attend all scheduled in-person days of Institute (on campus)
- Participate actively in online days/activities during the Institute
- Significantly revise instructional plans for one or more Fall 2026 courses
Post-Institute Expectations:
- Attend full day and share HITPs insights and plans at Conference for High-Impact Instructional Practices special session, August 5, 2026 (Johnson City; free registration) - please ensure your schedule can accommodate this
- Attend 2 Fall 2026 follow-up meetings (dates TBD, based on survey/availability)
- Share HITPs outcomes for Fall classes with panel at Micro-CHIIPs online conference, week of January 4, 2027 (exact date TBD)
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Eligibility
Meets one of the following conditions:
- Full-time instructor for one or more courses in Fall 2026
- Part-time (adjunct) instructor for one or more courses in Fall 2026 (up to 2)
- Graduate teaching assistant of record for one or more courses in 2026-2027
Additional eligibility requirement:
- Openness to learning and adopting from a range of new instructional techniques for student engagement and learning
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Preference Given
Preference will be given to applicants who
- Are teaching Compass Core courses in 2026-2027
- Are teaching courses with a history of high D/W/F rates
- Are teaching courses with high enrollments
- Part-time/Adjuncts: Anticipate some longevity of service/employment
We will also select final participants based on
- Diversity of subject/department representation in Institute
- Assurance of attendance at all Institute meetings
- Assurance of attendance at CHIIPs and commitment to fulfilling other expectations (see above)
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Summer Institute Schedule
With the exception of Friday, June 5, all in-person meetings are held in Sherrod Library, Room 309.
For all half-day sessions, snacks, drinks, and coffee will be provided.
- Wednesday, May 27: All day, 8:30 - 4:30. Lunch provided.
- Thursday, May 28: Half day, 8:30 - 12:00
- Friday, May 29: Half day, 8:30 - 12:00
- Monday, June 1: Online half-day, 8:30 - 12:00 (D2L; no in-person attendance)
- Tuesday, June 2: All day, 8:30 - 4:30. Lunch provided.
- Wednesday, June 3: Online half-day, 8:30 - 12:00 (D2L; no in-person attendance)
- Thursday, June 4: Half day, 12:30 - 4:30 (afternoon snacks provided but no lunch)
- Friday, June 5: Half day with lunch, 8:30 - 1:00 - Model Mill, ETSU Board Room
GTAs: If transportation is a challenge, we will work with you to find a solution.
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Graduate Teaching Assistants
If you are a GTA who anticipates becoming an Instructor of Record for a 2026-2027 course, you are eligible to apply. We will select up to 2 GTAs to attend our Institute.
We require that you are instructor of record, rather than an assistant to an instructor, because you will then have greater decision-making capacities for adjustments to the course and how it is taught.
You are considered to be doing work for the university; please consider this like paid job training for your future job placement as a GTA in the upcoming academic year.
The payment for your time with this training will be $500.00. The amount is for two weeks of work at ~17.5 hours per week. To be eligible for this stipend (per Human Resources requirements), the following must also be met:
- You are enrolled as a graduate student in at least 1 credit hour of coursework during the summer.
- You are not also receiving payment during this time frame in excess of 20 hours/week in another university position (the university can compensate graduate assistants for a maximum of 37.5 hours per week).
Application Process:
Setting up this process is new to us, and we are still working out the details per job position postings and contracts. Please stand by for additional information.
In the meantime:
- Application: Please submit an application using the form posted on this page.
- Note confirming teaching appointment: In addition, please request that the chair of your department (in which you will be teaching) affirm your GTA status for next academic year (as instructor of record) through short letter or email to barton@etsu.edu. A note from your immediate full-time faculty supervisor/program coordinator for this role should also be sufficient.
It is possible we may also need to request additional information as we learn about the job posting/GA hiring process. As we learn more, we will be sure to notify any who have already begun this process here by submitting their application.
Please note that if you have transportation concerns for attending the final day of the Institute (at the Model Mill, 602 Sevier Street, Johnson City, TN), we will assist you with getting there.
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