The Dr. John Chizmar & Dr. Anthony Ostrosky Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award

Call for Applications - FY26

Purpose of Award

To recognize and encourage high quality scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) work at Illinois State University and in the discipline beyond our institution that contributes to the SoTL field, the SoTL body of knowledge, improved teaching, and enhanced student learning. This award contributes to the external, positive reputation for SoTL work at ISU and supports Excellence by Design efforts toward "generating high-quality scholarship," "supporting student learning," and "developing serving the region, state, nation, and world through commitments to meaningful... development of global citizens."

Eligibility

SoTL at ISU is defined as evidence-informed and systematic reflection or research on the teaching and learning of our students that is made public. This award focuses on SoTL efforts and will not be awarded for traditional, disciplinary scholarship that is not SoTL-oriented. All faculty members and academic staff at ISU are eligible for this award.

Selection Criteria

Recognizing that a cluster of SoTL contributions may be equal to that of one outstanding project, this award allows a broad application of the following criteria:

• Evidence of high quality SoTL work, which can include (but is not limited to) presentations, publications, creative representations, mentoring peers/students in SoTL, and/or service to SoTL at or beyond ISU.
• Evidence that applicant's own SoTL work has influenced the teaching work of the applicant or of others at or beyond ISU.

Selection Process and Time Frame

The Cross Endowed Chair in SoTL chairs the award selection committee. The committee reviews the application materials (see below) using the selection criteria above, and selects up to one recipient each year. The award is administered through the Cross Chair in SoTL and the Office of the Provost. The award recipient will be recognized with other university-wide research award winners in the spring of 2026.

Application Materials

Required Elements of Application

1. A narrative summary of SoTL projects (3-5 double-spaced pages, maximum), internal or external funding, presentations, publications, videos, web representations, and related professional service that contextualizes the SoTL work of the applicant.
2. A reflective statement about the nature and field of SoTL, the place of the applicant's SoTL work in his/her discipline and/or within the cross-disciplinary SoTL movement, and the impact of his/her work on own/others teaching and learning at ISU and beyond (including any evidence for impact). This document should not exceed 5 double-spaced pages.
3. Copies of selected SoTL products (publications, presentations, etc.).
4. Current curriculum vita, highlighting contributions to SoTL at and beyond ISU.
5. Internal letters of support from at least two colleagues or administrators at ISU.

Recognitions for Award Recipient

• A monetary award ($3,000) and plaque will be provided to the award recipient. 
• The awardee will be recognized on the Cross Chair website and in an ISU News story during the spring of 2025. 

Submission of Applications

All award applications should be prepared electronically and submitted to Jennifer Friberg-Fort (jfribe@ilstu.edu), Cross Endowed Chair in SoTL, no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, February 20, 2026. All required/optional elements of the application should be saved as individual PDF documents with clear labels for each document (e.g., APPLICANT LAST NAME - Vita). All applications will be reviewed by at least two former Chizmar-Ostrosky awardees and notification of award status is expected by early-March 2026.