Purpose
The Teaching in Higher Education Conference Award supports faculty (clinical, tenure-track/tenured, and instructional track) and P&S staff who plan to attend a conference related to teaching in their discipline or in higher education in general (i.e., curriculum design, course design and delivery, pedagogical good practice, or assessment of learning) and apply this new information to enhance teaching effectiveness at the University of Iowa. Applicants who have been invited or approved to present about teaching at a national conference will be given preference over applicants who are not presenting. Such presentations could include workshops, keynote addresses, seminars, demonstrations, posters, and simulations.
This award will not apply to research-focused conferences or annual meetings, even if that information is incorporated into a faculty member's teaching.
Funding
A maximum of $1,500 may be awarded per applicant and must be applied to the cost of transportation hotel, and/or conference registration fees (in-person or virtual). Food and per diem costs will not be covered. An itemized budget for conference expenses must be included in the application. Awarded funds must be used or encumbered within 45 days following the event.
Total institutional resources for these awards will not exceed $20,000 per academic year. Applicants are eligible for only one award per academic year. If more than one faculty member from the same department/program applies for the same call period, up to $1500 may be split between the applicants.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to also apply for professional development funds available through their individual departments, colleges, or other sources.
Post-Award Expectations
The Council on Teaching expects award recipients to share what they have presented or learned about teaching with their department, college, the university, and beyond. For instance, a recipient could:
- present a workshop to a department, college, or the university in general.
- communicate about the conference to UI administrative decision-makers (e.g., the General Education Committee, Faculty Senate, deans, associate deans, directors, and/or the provost).
- mentor new faculty about teaching.
- communicate ideas and experiences about teaching through print media, including IOWA Now, the Office of Teaching, Learning & Technology newsletter, The Chronicle of Higher Education, or other UI or national media.
Follow up summary requirement
Following attendance at the conference, recipients will be required to provide the Council for Teaching with a one-page summary of what they learned about teaching, or if they presented, a one-page summary of their presentation. The Center for Teaching may post these summaries on the Office of Teaching, Learning & Technology and/or Council on Teaching websites to encourage others to attend teaching and learning conferences.
View summary examples submitted by previous recipients.
Example Conferences
This list provides examples of higher learning conferences that include significant teaching and learning components. Discipline-focused teaching and learning conferences may also qualify.
Questions
For questions, please contact the Council on Teaching, (council-on-teaching@uiowa.edu).
Application Deadlines
Fall 2025 (September - December conferences): Wednesday, September 3, 2025
How to Apply
The following information will be needed to complete the application
- Event information (title, date, website link)
- An itemized budget for expenses
- Other sources of funding for this conference for which you have applied or will receive
- If you are presenting a workshop, keynote address, seminar, demonstration, poster, simulation, etc. at the conference, be prepared to upload a PDF of the abstract, invitation, or other indication of acceptance.
- Be prepared to share your expectations for your conference experience. (200 words max for each.)
- What do you expect to gain professionally from attending or presenting at this conference?
- What information and materials about teaching strategies, trends, etc. do you expect to share with your department, college, or the university when you return? How do you intend to share that information?
- What long-term impact do you anticipate your conference experience will have on teaching and learning (pedagogical practice) at the University of Iowa?
- How might you share what you learned at the conference beyond the University of Iowa campus?
Past Recipients
2024-25
- Colleen Bringman, College of Engineering
- Jenny Brodell, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (summary)
- Stephen Cummings, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (summary)
- Roxanna Curto, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (summary)
- Krista Ford, College of Nursing
- Charles Jedlicka, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Kara Kehe, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (summary)
- Brian Lai, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (summary)
- Kristin Marrs, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (summary)
- Beatrice Mkenda, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (summary)
- Louise Pinkerton, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (summary)
- Mary Ray, College of Pharmacy
- Beth Rundlett, College of Engineering (summary)
- Carol Severino, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (summary)
- Alex Smith, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (summary)
- Jan Steyn, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (summary)
- Newell Ann Van Auken, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (summary)
2023-24
- Isabella Brauhn, Division of Student Life (summary)
- Kellsie Busho, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (summary)
- Claire Frances, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
- Amalia Gedney-Lose, College of Nursing (summary)
- Laura Knockel, College of Pharmacy (summary)
- Travis Kraus, Graduate College (summary)
- Rebecca Laird, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (summary)
- Irene Lottini, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (summary)
- Beatrice Mkenda, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (summary)
- Tony Orrico, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
- Louise Pinkerton, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (summary)
- Amanda Richardson, College of Nursing (summary)
- Adrienne Rose, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (summary)
- Kelly Sass, Carver College of Medicine (summary)
- Barry Schreier, College of Education (summary)
- Kathryn Smith, College of Pharmacy (summary)
- Debra Trusty, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
- Rachel Vitali, College of Engineering
- Huiqiang Zheng, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (summary)
2022-23
- Amy Alice Chastain, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
- Benjamin Hassman, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (summary)
- Darren Hoffmann, Carver College of Medicine (summary)
- Beatrice Mkenda, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (summary)
- Louise Pinkerton, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (summary)
- Jennifer Sterling, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (summary)
- Susan Vos, College of Pharmacy (summary)
- Giovanni Zimotti, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (summary)
2021-22
- Theresa Bechtel, College of Nursing (summary)
- Katelin Dannen, Carver College of Medicine (summary)
- Craig Dresser, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (summary)
- Jennifer Fiegel, College of Engineering
- Kelly Sass, Carver College of Medicine (summary)
- Dana Dean Thomann, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
2020-21
- Heather Bair, College of Nursing (summary)
- Brandon Meyers, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
2019-20
- Heather Bair, College of Nursing
- Jenny DiVita, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
- Megan Gilster, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
- Liz Hollingworth, College of Education
- Adrienne Johnson, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
- Emily Sinnwell, College of Nursing
- Anu Subramanian, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
- Syeda Thomas, College of Nursing
2018-19
- Renee Cole, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
- Yvonne Galusha, Tippie College of Business
- Benjamin Hassman, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
- Brandon Myers, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
- April Prunty, College of Nursing
- Blake Rupe, College of Engineering
2017-18
- Heather Bair, College of Nursing (summary)
- Theresa Bechtel, College of Nursing (summary)
- Cynthia Farthing, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (summary)
- Gregory Friestad, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (summary)
- David Gooblar, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (summary)
- Yuva Hagiwara, College of Medicine (summary)
- Theresa Jennings, College of Nursing (summary)
- William Jennings, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (summary)
- Leslie Locke, College of Education (summary)
- Jennifer Sanchez, College of Education (summary)
- Gregory Schwartz, College of Pharmacy (summary)
- Thomas Syeda, College of Nursing (summary)