GREAT Fellows

Graduate Educator Advancement and Teaching Curriculum & Pedagogy Fellows 

Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) hold various instructional roles at MSU. All GTAs are invited on an annual basis to participate in the general GTA preparation workshops and sessions during the GTA Preparation Programs every August and January. In addition, depending on departmental capacities they receive training and resources, however, additional support is often necessary for GTAs to be effective in their roles. The GREAT CPF fellows will connect with graduate students, colleges, units and departments to identify any pedagogical and curriculum needs to advance GTAs teaching practices in their disciplines. Overall, this fellowship program is designed to support GTAs in their work and holistic educator development.  

Program Commitments

Five selected Curriculum and Pedagogy Fellows will:

  1. Identify pedagogical practices GTAs generally or in their disciplines have that need to be addressed and require additional professional development.
  2. Develop and refine advanced pedagogical skills for use in the Higher Education context (classroom, labs, recitations, etc.).
  3. Create and implement a discipline-specific GTA Professional Development Workshop or Program component for new and/or returning GTAs .
  4. Participate in an interdisciplinary community (cohort) of graduate students focused on improving pedagogical practices and holistic educator development.
  5. Share scholarly articles to advance pedagogical practices.
  6. Prepare competitive application materials for the academic job market.

They may also connect with a local Community college to share student success tips for transitioning successfully to a university and potentially consider graduate program.  

This program is for doctoral students in any discipline who have attended the university-wide GTA Preparation program, have been in GTA roles and are enthusiastic about teaching and learning. Applicants should be enrolled full-time in a program leading to a PhD and making progress on their degrees and be in good academic standing. Preference will be given to students currently in their second and third years of doctoral study. Applicants should submit the application form, a CV, and a brief essay that describes their project idea.

For more information or questions regarding the GREAT Fellowship program, please contact: Dr. Stefanie Baier stbaier@msu.edu

Calls for applications usually go out in May of each year.