Resources for Scholarship at NLU
See below to learn more about NLU internal grant programs and committees that can provide support for your scholarship.
Internal Grant Programs
We have three programs that can help you pilot a research agenda, build an affinity group, or team with others to research your own teaching practices.
Seed Grant Program
Our seed grant program, an initiative of the Provost’s Office, provides small grants to support full time faculty and staff in launching research agendas that hold the promise of external funding and link to NLU’s strategic priorities. The grants have built meaningful research agendas, and have a strong financial return, informing faculty and institutional grant awards of over $4 million. Learn more here.
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
New in 2021, NLU offers two types of fellowships to support small groups of faculty in carrying out research in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) model. The Fellowships are designed to activate and support the examination and study of NLU faculty teaching and learning practices intended to advance equity for NLU students. Learn more here.
Learning Analytics Fellowships
New in 2026, the Learning Analytics Fellowships are designed to leverage NLU’s rich and growing data resources to deepen our understanding of student learning and success. This fellowship pathway invites faculty to join a shared, institutionally supported inquiry using learning analytics data. Each project will be led by staff with deep expertise in quantitative analysis and institutional data. Participating faculty will receive mentored support in interpreting findings and translating results into insights that inform teaching, learning, and institutional practice. The fellowship includes a stipend and the opportunity for publication and conference presentation.
Faculty Research Residencies
Faculty Research Residencies of the National College of Education are an innovative approach to ensuring that NLU’s teacher preparation courses are grounded in the reality of today’s classrooms. The residencies allow faculty teams to carry out small field-engaged research projects and renew syllabi based on the findings. See research reports on NLU’s Digital Commons.
Please note that the Faculty Research Residencies are an NCE initiative and open to NCE faculty only. The NCE Scholarship and Development Committee will issue a call for proposals in the spring term.
Research Committees
NLU has cross-university and college committees of faculty and staff who support the development of scholarship. Please feel free to reach out to any member with questions or thoughts.
Provost's Office Research Committees:
The Research Support Group (RSG)
The Research Support Group (RSG) is a cross-college working group of faculty and staff focused on supporting and growing scholarship at NLU. The RSG hosts an annual research seminar, the Writing Sanctuary, provides oversight of the seed grants, and will lead on implementing the research action plan.
Co-chairs
- Dr. Shaunti Knauth, Provost’s Office
Members
- Dr. Carla Sparks, NCE
- Dr. Angela Elkordy, NCE
- Dr. Harrington Gibson, NCE
- Dr. Emily Hoffman, NCE
- Dr. Bradley Olson, CPBS
- Dr. Rob Morrison, Library
- Dr. David Ross, GSBL
- Dr. Magda Giurcan, UGC
- Chef Heidi Hedeker, Kendall College
- Arlene Strong, Institutional Advancement
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Institutional Review Board (IRB) The IRB provides reviews and oversight for research conducted by NLU faculty, students, and staff and helps develop NLU thinking on research methods and the protection of human subjects.
Members: Dr. Shaunti Knauth, IRB Chair, Provost’s Office; Dr. Carla Sparks, IRB Co-Chair, NCE; Dr. Linsey Sabielny, CPBS; Dr. Blanca Gamez-Djokic, NCE; Dr. Elizabeth Lane, CPBS; Dr. Valerie Buckley, NCE; Dr. Rob Morrison, Library; Dr. Stuart Carrier, NCE; G. Maxx Shawlee, IRB Coordinator.
More information can be found on the IRB page.
NCE Research Committee:
The NCE Scholarship and Development Committee
The NCE Scholarship and Development Committee supports scholarship in the college by mentoring, connecting faculty to research activities across the university, planning research presentations for college meetings, and overseeing the faculty research residency program.
NCE Members: Dr. Emily Hoffman, Chair; Dr. Antonina Lukenchuk, Co-Chair; Dr. Xiaoning Chen; Dr. Elizabeth Minor; Dr. James Fitzpatrick; Dr. Harry Ross.
