Miller Scholar Award Details

• Applicants must be St Cloud State University tenured or tenure-track faculty (note: the project may be completed individually or with a team of peer or student collaborators)
• The proposed project will take the applicant’s demonstrated track record in teaching and learning to a significantly higher level.
• A budget of up to $10,000 is available for project implementation (exact amount subject to confirmation by SCSU University Foundation)
• The project will be implemented during 2026-27 (FY 27)
• Awardees are expected to make their work public.
  • The budget must include funds to present the project outcomes.
  • The awardees will also present their results at the Spring 2027 SCSU’s Provost Summit or Fall 2027 Convocation.
  • Awardees will submit a written summary report for publication in SCSU’s Institutional Repository.
• Descriptions of past projects and award recipients can be found here.

Selection Criteria

The applicant meets the following criteria:

1. Demonstrated record of effective, equitable, and innovative teaching and learning practices.
2. Evidence of scholarly contributions influencing teaching and learning methods within their discipline.
3. Commitment to ongoing professional learning, involvement in learning communities, teamwork initiatives and/or leadership related to teaching and learning.

1. Demonstrates the applicant’s commitment and goals around excellence in teaching and learning.
2. Has the potential to meet a significant need for student success
3. Aligns with current frameworks of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.
4. Aligns with SCSU’s mission, value, and learning initiatives, such as Our Husky Compact and It’s Time

Submission Instructions

Deadline: Applications are due by Friday, February 20, 2026 by 11:59 pm.

Submit all applications to CETL by email (CETL@stcloudstate.edu) as a single pdf.

Proposal requirements

1. A cover-page with the title of your proposal and name/s and titles of applicants.
2. Short abstract (100 words or less) providing an overview of the project
3. Project Description (maximum 5 pages, 10-12 pt font, single-spaced, sensible margins). Note: reviewers will be educated readers who may know little about your specific discipline. Please write with this audience in mind.
   1. Project summary, rationale, team expertise, past successes, and approach (i.e. why this project; why this team; why now?)
   2. Project goal/s and objectives. Specify how the project will benefit student success and the faculty member’s professional goals.
   3. Activities/Timeline
   4. Assessment plan. Clearly outline methods for measuring project success and how this will inform future teaching and learning decisions.
   5. Names of internal or external collaborators
4. Project budget
   1. Supplies, training, student or peer support, extra duty days
   2. Funds to make project outcomes public (e.g. conference travel, publication costs, etc.)
   3. Specify potential for obtaining additional external funding and/or previous funds received for the project.
5. Support documents
   1. Two letters of support from colleagues, students, and/or alums, discussing applicant/team qualifications and capacity to complete the proposed project.
   2. A letter from the Dean of lead applicant’s college or school supporting the project proposal and indicating alignment with department, program, college/school and university priorities.
   3. Signature Sheet with approvals from department or program and Dean.
6. Any other documents in support of the project (optional)

Selection Process

• Director of SCSU Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (Convener)
• Minimum of two faculty representatives from the CETL Advisory Committee
• One Academic Dean and/or the Associate Provost (optional)
• One or two SCSU students

Project Implementation and Completion

• Funding for the Miller Scholar Program is awarded from the SCSU Foundation. Upon award, CETL provides guidance on distribution of funds.
• Awarded funds are to be used exclusively for the work outlined in the proposed narrative. Any modifications to the proposal must be reported to CETL for review.

Timelines:

• Tuesday, March 24th, 2026: Announcement of 2026-27 Miller Scholar Awardee at the Provost Summit
• July 2026: Project implementation begins.
• Spring or Fall 2027: Project presentation to university community (Provost Summit or Fall Convocation; family of the donor is invited). Public dissemination of project results (scholarly presentation or publication).
• Spring/Summer 2027: Written summary report submitted to CETL and for publication in SCSU’s Institutional Repository with 60 days of project completion. Report will include the following:
  • Project title
  • Principal investigator & Co-PI information: email, department, school/college/unit
  • Project completion date
  • Award amount granted and how funds were spent to support the project
  • Activities, measurable goals and objectives achieved by the project
  • Description of how project benefited faculty PI, College/School/Unit, Students, and Institution
  • Project next steps/dissemination plans

The evaluation rubric follows a Excellent (3), Good (2), Fair (1), and Missing criteria in the following categories: 

1. Research or Scholarly Activity. Project relates to teaching practices and/or student learning and has broad significant impact beyond the discipline (e.g. pedagogical practices; curriculum development; open access contributions; assessment; interprofessional work, etc.)
2. Background/Need. Project need and purpose are clearly explained.
3. Significance/Value. Project is significant to both the discipline and an issue related to teaching/learning.
4. Goals and Objectives. Goals and objectives are specific and align with project focus.
5. Assessment. Evaluation plan is valid, specific, measures project success and will inform future teaching and learning decisions
6. Strategy/Methods/Design. Procedures are clearly outlined and feasible for the project proposed.
7. Methods/Design. Scale of project is focused and feasible
8. Innovation. Project is innovative and advances the scholarship of teaching and learning.
9. Qualifications of Applicant or Team. Team has expertise and capacity to carry out the proposed project.
10. Timeline. Reasonable timeline for proposed project and detail provided with completion dates of specific goals or objectives. Project expected length is one academic year.
11. Outcomes. Contributes well to the applicant’s and/or team’s professional development.
12. Impact. Offer significant impact b/y discipline. Adds to knowledge of teaching and learning.
13. Benefits. Project aligns with college/school/university mission. Benefits students.
14. Budget. Realistic and appropriate to meet the goals and objectives of the project. Sufficient justification of costs. Specifies funds to make project outcomes public. (Committee – consult if a team member is outside of IFO bargaining unit to discuss remuneration options.)
15. Quality of Writing and Organization. Proposal is well written, professional in appearance, coherent, consistent throughout, and accessible to readers outside of the discipline.