Upcoming Opportunities

Seal of Excelencia (SOER) Readiness Grant Project

• Application Deadline: September 16, 2026
• Program Period: Fall 2026 through Spring 2027

Apply Here! 

Program Overview

In collaboration with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Analytics, the Office of Assessment invites 
applications from faculty members (full-time or part-time) with demonstrated expertise or interest in 
qualitative research, student success, equity-minded assessment, or related fields. This opportunity is 
supported by the Seal of Excelencia grant and expands Stanislaus State’s Faculty-Scholar model, by pairing 
faculty mentors with student researchers to analyze open-ended student experience data and translate 
findings into institutional action.

The project is designed to strengthen the University’s readiness for the Seal of Excelencia by advancing data informed, equity-centered practices that elevate the lived experiences of students, with particular attention to Latine students and other historically underserved populations. Scholars will collaborate with graduate student researchers, Office of Assessment staff, institutional partners, and campus stakeholders to examine student engagement, belonging, mentorship, barriers to persistence, and culturally responsive support systems. The results will inform practice and initiatives related to the Stan State Strategic Plan and the Student Success Framework. 

Project Focus and Data Sources

Faculty and staff scholars will guide the qualitative analysis of open-ended student survey responses and 
engagement feedback. Potential data sources include the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), the Faculty Survey of Student Engagement (FSSE), the HEDs Sense of Community Survey (2025), and institutional
student success initiatives. The project will use qualitative research design and a collaborative inquiry process to develop coding frameworks, identify themes, interpret findings, and formulate equity-focused 
recommendations to inform practice and initiatives related to the Stan State Strategic Plan and the Student 
Success Framework.

Faculty/Staff Scholar Responsibilities

• Provide leadership in qualitative research design, coding, thematic analysis, data interpretation, and equity minded inquiry.
• Mentor student researchers in qualitative methods, ethical data practices, use of qualitative analysis software, and effective communication of findings.
• Facilitate regular project-team meetings, including biweekly faculty-student research meetings during the primary analysis period.
• Collaborate with project co-directors and institutional partners to identify relevant data sources, refine research protocols, and align the work with institutional priorities.
• Guide the development and refinement of coding frameworks and support inter-rater dialogue and consistency across the research team.
• Engage campus stakeholders and student success workgroups in reviewing preliminary findings and identifying actionable recommendations.
• Contribute to reports, presentations, workshops, and other dissemination products for institutional leadership, campus committees, faculty, staff, and student success partners.
• Help integrate project findings into faculty assessment workshops and connect qualitative findings with information presented in CSU equity dashboards.
• Participate in project evaluation and sustainability planning, including assessment of student learning, faculty engagement, stakeholder feedback, and the institutional utility of findings.

Expected Project Timeline

• August/September 2026: Finalize project protocols, identify data sources and campus partners, recruit the research team, and participate in training in qualitative research methods.
• Fall 2026: Conduct qualitative analysis, hold regular faculty-student research meetings, develop the initial coding framework, and identify emerging themes.
• Winter 2026-2027: Review preliminary findings with campus stakeholders and student success workgroups, collect feedback, refine themes, and identify equity-focused recommendations.
• Spring 2027: Complete analysis and interpretation; prepare reports, presentations, and workshop materials; and present recommendations to leadership and relevant committees.
• Late Spring 2027: Evaluate project outcomes and develop a sustainability and scaling plan for continued implementation and future Seal of Excelencia initiatives.

Anticipated Outcomes

• A high-impact faculty-student research and mentorship experience that develops graduate student research skills and professional capacity.
• An equity-centered qualitative analysis of student experiences related to belonging, engagement,  mentorship, persistence, and culturally responsive support.
• Actionable findings and recommendations that can inform strategic planning, program development, assessment, and continuous improvement.
• Presentations and written products shared with campus leadership, student success committees, workgroups, and faculty assessment audiences.
• Greater institutional capacity to use student voice data in support of Seal of Excelencia priorities and equitable student outcomes.

Qualifications

Applicants should demonstrate experience or strong interest in one or more of the following areas:

• Qualitative research design, coding, thematic analysis, or mixed-methods inquiry.
• Student success, educational equity, culturally responsive practices, or the experiences of Latine and historically underserved students.
• Mentoring graduate or undergraduate student researchers.
• Collaborative, interdisciplinary, or cross-divisional research and improvement work.
• Communicating research findings to academic and administrative audiences.

Compensation and Grant Support

This project and the Faculty Scholar appointments are supported by the Seal of Excelencia grant. The grant 
budget includes support for faculty and staff scholars who provide qualitative research oversight, mentorship,  data analysis, stakeholder collaboration, and dissemination. Faculty compensation will be $1000 per semester  for a total of $2000 (split into two payments). The Office of Assessment and the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Analytics will provide additional project support, including access to qualitative data analysis tools, data files, meeting support, and related resources.

Project Leadership and Reporting

The project will be led by the Faculty Fellow for Assessment and Continuous Improvement and the Institutional Effectiveness and Community Partnerships Specialist through a collaborative, cross-divisional structure. Selected scholars will work closely with the project co-directors, graduate student researchers, and Academic Affairs staff. Reporting arrangements and final deliverables will be confirmed as part of the appointment.

Application or Expression of Interest

Submit the Faculty Scholar application by September 16, 2026. Applications should briefly describe the 
applicant’s relevant expertise (including use of high impact practices), interest in the project, experience 
mentoring student researchers, and availability during the 2026-2027 project period.
For questions, contact grant Co-Directors, Erin Littlepage, Institutional Effectiveness and Community 
Partnerships Specialist, at elittlepage@csustan.edu or Jey Strangfeld, Faculty Fellow for Assessment and 
Continuous Improvement at jstrangfeld@csustan.edu.