WOW Faculty Fellowships for UM Online Instructors

The WOW! Fellowship is a competitive fellowship that allows online instructors to share their expertise with fellow instructors at UM.

The WOW! Faculty Fellow program highlights the innovative achievements and sound instructional practices of online instructors at UM, promoting peer-to-peer learning and collaboration. 

Originally launched as a summer grant to foster exploration and innovation in online education at the University of Mississippi, the WOW! Grant first provided online instructors with the time and resources to integrate new techniques or technologies into their courses to create exceptional online learning experiences. 

With the growth of online education, many innovations from the WOW! Grant are now standard practices at UM, ensuring student engagement with the course, instructor, and peers. 

Apply to be a WOW! Fellow

WOW Faculty Fellowships

Eligibility

Any online instructor (full-time, part-time, or adjunct) endorsed by Academic Outreach is eligible to apply for the WOW! Program.  

Application Requirements

  1. Obtain letter of support from Dean and Chair
  2. Applicants must complete an online application form in one of three emphasis areas:
    • Innovative use of technology
    • Pedagogy and effective practices in online teaching or education
    • Inclusion and accessibility in online teaching or education
  3. Submit a narrative for the emphasis selected on your approach/application within chosen area, proposed topics/ideas for presentations, and how your fellowship would benefit the UM community.

Selection Process

The selection committee will review applicants and will contact potential candidates for an interview to determine the fellowship recipient(s).

Fellowship Details

  • WOW! Faculty Fellows receive a $6,000 stipend over the academic year. 
  • Fellowship activities are included in the annual Faculty Activity Reports. 
  • Fellows host four events through Academic Outreach related to their application topic. These events can be in-person or virtual and in a format of their choosing (e.g., workshops, open discussions, roundtables, etc.)

Timeline

  • Application Window: March – April 2026
  • Fellowship Interviews: June 2026
  • WOW! Faculty Fellow Selected: Late June – Early July 2026

Apply to be a WOW! Fellow

For questions and concerns about the WOW! Faculty Fellow, contact Jessica Bryson, jlbryson@olemiss.edu, 662-915-2228.