CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Authentic Assessment in the Age of AI Community of Practice

The New England Educational Assessment Network (NEean) invites applications for the “Authentic Assessment in the Age of AI Fellowship”; a three-year program supporting higher education professionals in developing, implementing, and disseminating AI-informed approaches to student learning assessment.

Supported by a grant from the Davis Educational Foundation, this fellowship brings together a cohort of up to 22 assessment professionals from across New England for structured professional development and collaborative knowledge-building, culminating in institutional project work, resources, and scholarship shared with the broader higher education community.

Who should apply? Full-time employees at New England colleges and universities who are positioned to influence assessment practice at the program or institutional level:

• Assessment professionals: institutional researchers, directors of assessment, accreditation coordinators, or others with formal assessment responsibilities.

• Faculty engaged in program-level assessment: faculty leading assessment work within academic programs, not solely at the course level.

• Academic administrators with assessment portfolios: Deans, Associate Deans, or Department Chairs for whom assessment is a significant responsibility.

What Fellows receive:

• Structured professional development across three years, including in-person Fall and Spring meetings, an annual three-day Summer Institute, and virtual workshops and coaching sessions. Travel expenses will be covered by the grant.  

• Supported planning of an AI-informed assessment project or projects at your institution, with coaching from grant staff and peer consultation.

• Expert facilitation and peer learning with a cohort of assessment professionals from across New England.

• An annual stipend of $1000, and financial support for AI tool acquisition. 

• Presentation and publication development support, to disseminate your work at regional and national venues, including financial support for registration and travel.

• Access to a shared repository of AI-informed assessment resources hosted by NEean and freely available to the broader community.

Eligibility requirements:

• Full-time employee of an accredited New England four year college or university.

• Institutional commitment of time release to fellows and support for an institutional assessment project grounded in AI. 

• Collaborative willingness to share work in progress, provide peer feedback, and contribute to cross-institutional resources and dissemination.

Preference in the application process will be given to applicants with 

• Active engagement with AI: demonstrated experience experimenting with or exploring AI tools in an educational or assessment context.

• Institutional AI policies: institutions with clearly defined AI policies.

Applications from more than one person at the same institution are welcome. No more than two will be accepted to maximize participation across institutions. 

Application Materials

Required from the applicant

• Personal statement (250-400 words) - describe your current role and experience in assessment, your experience with AI tools, the assessment challenges you hope to address, and what you hope to contribute to the cohort.

• Institutional context statement (no more than 250 words) - describe your institution’s current approach to AI and assessment, any existing AI policy, and how your work connects to institutional priorities.

• Current CV or résumé

Required from the institution

• Letter from Provost or direct supervisor - confirming that fellowship participation will be formally integrated into your workload. The letter must specify how dedicated time for the project(s) will be provided — such as a course release per year, or a minimum of five protected hours per week, or equivalent release from other service obligations. This letter should be on institutional letterhead and signed by the relevant administrator.

Key Dates

Questions & Submissions

Questions about the fellowship may be directed to Grant co-PIs Craig Pepin or Mamta Saxena at Neean.Davisgrant@gmail.com. 

NEean has served as the leading organization for research and practice in higher education assessment in New England for over 30 years. NEean.org for more information and upcoming events. This fellowship is made possible through the Davis Educational Foundation established by Stanton and Elizabeth Davis after Mr. Davis’ retirement as chairman of Shaw’s Supermarkets, Inc.