Applications Open for E3 Fellowship, Designed to Enhance STEM Teaching

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 21, 2025) — For Mustafa Aksoy, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, taking part in the E3 Provost Fellowship program offered an opportunity to collaborate with fellow STEM professors and ultimately enhanced his teaching skills. “I feel that my courses are now better structured and more enjoyable for students,” he said.

For Sujata Murty, an assistant professor of atmospheric and environmental science, the fellowship was “the most enriching professional development opportunity I have ever participated in while at UAlbany.” Exploring new teaching techniques and strategies was key, she said. “Our discussions and meetings always felt like a safe space to explore new ideas, ask questions and challenge ourselves to grow.”

Aksoy and Murty were part of the 2024 cohort of Equity and Excellence in Education Provost Fellowships — E3 for short. Applications are now open for the 2025 cohort, and due by June 20.

The E3 program gives STEM instructors at any level an opportunity to work with colleagues to advance inclusive learning environments designed to increase student success. The program builds on ongoing efforts funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Driving Change Grant.

The new cohort will begin their fellowships in a First-Year Teaching Institute during the 2025-2026 academic year. In June, 2026, they’ll participate in a STEM Course Design Academy, followed by a series of Course Design brown bag sessions during the fall of 2026. The program culminates in the spring of 2027 with an E3 celebration and showcase.

Fellows who complete the program will receive a $1,500 stipend in years 1 and 2, and letters of recognition from the Office of the Provost and Division of Inclusive Excellence.

For Gabriele Fuchs, an associate professor of biology and part of the 2024 cohort, being in the fellowship program helped her to better understand the current generation of students, and already has transformed her teaching. “One of the most impactful strategies I implemented was sharing my class mission, vision and values with my students,” she said. “By making my teaching approach transparent, students began to understand the ‘why’ behind my teaching approach, which increased trust and a created more open classroom environment.”

E3 program sessions are facilitated by experts from the Office of Academic Innovation and Student Success, the Division of Inclusive Excellence, the Center for the Advancement of Teaching, Learning and Online Education, and the School of Education.

The goal is for STEM instructors to learn about practices that improve outcomes for all students, including increased graduation rates, persistence and retention within STEM majors, and an increased sense of belonging.

For more information, visit the E3 Provost Fellowship webpage.