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AAA Fellowship Application Process

Timeline

Who is eligible for this opportunity?

SUNY Faculty who:

1. Are tenured or tenure track;
2. Have familiarity with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) or Digital Accessibility
3. Are available to meet virtually throughout the 2027 calendar on Wednesdays from 9:00am-10:00am;
4. Are available to attend the Fellows Kick-Off meeting in person at SUNY System Administration in Albany, NY January 6-8, 2027. (Travel and expenses to be arranged for/reimbursed by SUNY System). 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Current SUNY alumni and/or Fellows; from a low-income background (e.g., Pell-eligible as undergraduates); were first-generation college students (students whose parents have not earned a bachelor's degree); have overcome adversity; are veterans; or are AmeriCorps alumni.
• Only institutions that have not been represented in a previous cohort will be included.

One nomination is allowed from each institution. 

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Application Process

Applications should be submitted online via the SUNY Accessibility Advocates & Allies Faculty Fellowship Program Application form. 

Follow the instructions provided to complete the questions, provide the information and submit the additional materials requested. Incomplete applications will not be considered. One application is allowed from each institution.

Letters of Support

The application dossier must include the following documents:

• Letter of Support from campus Chief Academic Officer (Provost or Vice President for Academic Affairs) (.pdf or .docx file) that includes the following:
  • Confirmation the applicant is tenured or in a tenure-track position and that involvement in this fellowship would count toward their tenure and/or promotion;
  • Highlight ways the institution's leadership will support this faculty member as they endeavor to engage faculty in UDL and accessibility principles; 
  • Confirm that this faculty member is positioned to be a leader in this space. 
• Letter of Support from Department Chair (.pdf or .docx file) that includes the following:
  • Confirmation this applicant is tenured or in a tenure-track position;
  • Involvement in this fellowship would count toward their tenure and/or promotion and would not interfere in their progress towards tenure;  
  • Highlight ways the faculty member is positioned to be an institutional leader;
  • Highlight how the faculty member's expertise aligns with this initiative.

The deadline to submit the application and all supporting documentation is September 14th, 2026, 11:59PM.

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Selection and Acceptance

Once applications have been received, a review committee made up of representatives from partner communities of practice will review all complete dossiers. Finalists may be asked to participate in a 30-minute interview with the committee. The goal is to select a group of up to twelve (12) fellows to be part of the SUNY Accessibility Advocates & Allies (AAA) Faculty Fellowship 2027 cohort. Once the selection is made in November 2026, applicants will be notified via email. Selected Fellows will be asked to accept the Fellowship and commit to the program to secure their fellowship.

Since the SUNY AAA Faculty Fellowship program has limited spaces and high demand we recommend considering the decision to participate seriously before making the final commitment.

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Contact

If you have any questions, or would like to know whether the SUNY Accessibility Advocates & Allies Faculty Fellowship program is right for you, please contact Kim Scalzo, Senior Associate Provost for Digital Innovation and Academic Services at Kim.Scalzo@suny.edu and Lauren Rodriguez, Director of Resources for Students with Disabilities at Lauren.Rodriguez@suny.edu