Application deadline Dec. 2nd: 2025-2028 Honors Professor Development Program (PDP)-
The Honors College invites applications for the 2025-2028 Honors Professor Development Program (PDP).
Committee form link: https://www.towson.edu/honors/faculty/documents/hc-pdp-application.pdf
Honors PDP faculty are required to develop and teach new Honors College courses, serve as an Honors College adviser, participate in Honors events and activities, and participate in service in the Honors College and at the University as a faculty representative of the Honors College. Applicants must be willing to develop and teach 2-3 Honors courses per year. Courses required include TSEM 190: Honors First-year Seminar: Water (see examples of current sub-topics below) and an upper-level interdisciplinary seminar which must overlap with interests spanning at least two TU academic colleges. Honors PDP faculty may also develop Honors enhanced versions of disciplinary courses if one does not already exist (ex: PSYC 102 is the Honors enhanced version of PSYC 101) or other lower-level Core Honors classes.
The program begins in Spring 2025, and training for Honors PDP faculty will take place from February-June 2025 in monthly meetings, during which time the faculty member will receive a stipend. From Fall 2025-Spring 2028, the faculty member will be expected to teach at least one course for the Honors College per semester as part of their regular teaching load and contribute to Honors student advising and service (at a minimum, service will be split between Honors and the home department, and faculty must continue to participate in department/faculty meetings and department PTRM. Other specifics to be worked out on an individual basis through agreement between the Honors College and the home department and college). Honors PDP faculty will be expected to hold weekly office hours at the Honors College during the 2025-2028 appointment period. Honors PDP faculty are also encouraged to participate in the First Year Experience (FYE) advising program for at least one year, during which time they would also receive an additional stipend from Academic Advising based on their FYE caseload.
During the appointment period, the faculty member will retain their existing rank in their home college and department, unless they receive a promotion through their home college and department. After the end of the appointment period, the faculty member will be expected to return full-time to their home department and college, with a commitment to continue teaching Honors College courses on a regular schedule agreed upon between the Honors College and their home department and college. No sabbaticals are allowed during the appointment period.
Qualifications: Must have been a full-time faculty member for at least six years at Towson University at the time of application. All disciplines and ranks welcomed. May not serve as a department chair during their appointment. Faculty may have already taught an Honors course and look to develop more courses. No prior teaching in the Honors College is required.
Duration: 3 ½ years; February 2025-May 2028. Courses begin in the 2025-2026 academic year. Spring 2025 will be used for course development, introduction to and participation in Honors College events and activities, training in Honors College policies and procedures, and monthly Honors PDP meetings.
Training Stipend: $5000
-one-time, Spring 2025
-must complete all training
-must have completed plan for Honors teaching and service approved by Honors College, home college Dean, and home Department Chair by June 2025
Application materials:
- Quantitative and qualitative student evaluations from all semesters within the past two years covering at least one lower-level course and one upper-level course;
- Teaching statement, reviewing philosophy of teaching, any teaching or work with Honors students, any teaching innovations throughout one’s teaching career, any examples of experiential learning and/or working with students outside of the classroom, and an explanation of advising experience and/or interests – max 750 words;
- A proposal of at least one Honors course idea. It must be an upper-level interdisciplinary course proposal. Full syllabus not required. Minimum description of course idea, proposed course goals, and possible course assignments required. Max: 500 words;
- List of courses taught (when and where);
- Updated curriculum vitae;
- The commitment form (see link at top of page), which includes the applicant’s signed commitment to the conditions of Honors PDP, the approval and a paragraph recommendation for the home Department Chair, and approval by the home college Dean. Submit all documents to honors@towson.edu
Applications due: December 2, 2024 – honors@towson.edu
Timeline for Selection: Applications will be reviewed by the Honors PDP committee in December 2024. After consultation with department chair and deans, selections will be made by January 24, 2025.
Recent TSEM 190 Courses:
- “Water as the Sinew of Human History” (Joseph Clark, POSC)
- “Explorations in Ocean History” (Victoria McAlister, HIST)
- “Water and the Environment” (Sarah Haines, BIOL)
- “Visions of Water” (Nancy Seigel, ARTH)
- “Using American Water” (Terry Cooney, HIST)
- “Water as a Global Problem” (Michael Elliott, SOCI)
- “Water and Wellness” (Briana Snyder, NURS)
- “Water and Inequality” (Jason Freeman, SOCI)
Honors PDP Selection Committee:
Chair: Dr. Alison R. M. McCartney, Dean, Honors College
Dr. Michael Elliott, Faculty Director, Honors College
Dr. John Sivey, Chair, Chemistry
Contact for Information: Dr. Alison McCartney, Dean, Honors College amccartney@towson.edu
Categorised in: General
This post was written by Rixham, Judith R.