The Bailey Scholars Program is offering the opportunity for graduate students (Master’s and PhD) in any discipline to apply to be a Graduate Fellow with the program to further their development in the scholarship of teaching and learning. Please see the information below for further information about the fellowship. If you have any questions, please contact the Program Director, Dr. Sarah Prior (priorsar@msu.edu). We ask that you review our website (https://www.canr.msu.edu/bsp/) for more information about the program before applying. 

BAILEY SCHOLAR PROGRAM 

The Liberty Hyde Bailey Scholars Program (BSP) is an integrated learning and leadership community at Michigan State University (MSU). The program was established to foster a diverse learning community where students grow with and from one another while practicing self-directed learning. A series of program principles guide the program focused on individual scholars, a collaborative learning community, and forward-focused radical influence. You can access a listing of the program principles on our aforementioned program website. At the completion of the required courses, students receive a Minor in Leadership in Integrated Learning. Although the program lies in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, familiarity with that subject matter is not required as the fellowship focuses on the process(es) of learning rather than content. The fellowship exposes graduate students to a learning community focused on innovative teaching and learning practices. There are two primary fellow roles available for fellows in the 2024-25 academic year: Teaching & Learning or Administrative Fellow. ALL graduate fellows will be part of a fellow learning community, where they conduct team projects for the 2024-25 academic year. When you apply for the fellowship, please indicate your interest in serving as either a Teaching & Learning Convener or an Administrative Fellow.

TEACHING & LEARNING CONVENER 

Graduate fellows spend each semester paired with a BSP faculty convener in the classroom, where they learn about the pedagogy of a learning-centered organization. There are three core courses in the Bailey Scholars Program. ANR 210 is an introductory course to the Bailey process focused on collaborative learning community, ANR 310 focuses on holistic growth through an experience-centered, scholar-driven learning journey, and ANR 410 centers radial influence through a problem-based learning experience. In every class, students create their own syllabus, deciding what they want to learn, how they want to learn, and how they are assessed. 

NON-TRADITIONAL TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIP 

In the Bailey classroom, you are positioned as a convener and co-learner rather than an instructor. Because of this, you will not be expected to create class content or teach traditional lectures. In this role, you facilitate dialogue and discussion, encourage students to think radically, and be expected to participate fully in the learning process. Your experiences in convening the class will challenge your notions of power, encourage you to consider ways to design opportunities for student self-empowerment, and reframe what assessment looks like. 

ADMINISTRATIVE FELLOW 

Graduate fellows support the program leadership in the day-to-day coordination of an MSU minor-granting program. Administrative convener's responsibilities include assisting with managing the BSP website, assisting with social media strategy, and managing the BSP social media platforms in collaboration with BSP student leadership. Additional experiential opportunities may include supporting the BSP advisor in their daily recruitment and managing/processing BSP student forms.

ALL FELLOWS 

All graduate fellows will be part of a learning community, where they will work together on team projects that positively impact the Bailey Scholars program. These projects range in topic and scope, but all fellows get a unique experience in the design and implementation of projects. Some of the past projects have included: publishing articles, hosting speakers and workshops, and submitting to and attending conferences. Throughout both semesters, there are regular team meetings (60 minute weekly or 90 minute bi-weekly) to discuss program and class updates and allow project time. Fellows work closely with the BSP Director and other fellows to ensure they meet their personal and professional development goals for the duration of the experience. 

TIME COMMITMENT AND REQUIRED ENGAGEMENTS

Due to the community-oriented nature of our program, fellows are expected to engage in the BSP community to ensure they fully immerse themselves in the experience. The schedule of events looks different in each given semester but this includes community meals, social/service events, etc. In addition, fellows are expected to be at the following engagements: 

• Fellow Training 
• Core Course Share Night (Final Exams)
• Bailey Scholars Graduation Ceremony
• Bailey Scholars Induction Ceremony

Please review your schedules for the academic year to ensure you have the time to commit to this fellowship. If selected for the Teaching & Learning Fellowship, you will be expected to convene a class at one of the following times each semester. Class assignments will be determined once all fellows are selected. 

Fall 2024

• ANR 210 (Section 1) M/W 10:20-11:40 
• ANR 210 (Section 2) T/TH 10:20-11:40 
• ANR 310 M/W 3:00-4:20

Spring 2025   

• ANR 210 M/W 10:20-11:40  
• ANR 310 M/W 3:00-4:20 
• ANR 410 T/TH 5:00-6:20

The selection committee encourages you to consider the descriptions of the two convener roles above and select the convener type (Teaching & Learning or Administrative) that best suits your professional development goals. Preference is given to graduate students who have not received a teaching and learning fellowship currently or previously. A fellowship stipend ($2500), distributed in two amounts at the beginning of each semester (FS24/SS25), will be offered for the academic year with the opportunity to re-apply.

***PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO THE COLLABORATIVE NATURE OF THIS PROGRAM, IT IS REQUIRED THAT THE GRADUATE FELLOW BE GEOGRAPHICALLY LOCATED IN THE EAST LANSING SURROUNDING AREA DURING THE FELLOWSHIP YEAR. FELLOWS WHO WILL BE GONE FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS AT A TIME (FOR RESEARCH FIELDWORK OR OTHER REASONS) WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. 

Deadline to apply is Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

Click here for the BSP Fellowship Application