Higher Education

Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) Faculty Pluralism Fellowship 

Engage with pluralism-focused scholarship, collaborate with fellow HESA educators, and redesign graduate courses that prepare future Student Affairs professionals to lead across religious, political, ideological, and cultural differences.

Apply by Oct. 15, 2026

Grant Overview

As part of their democratic mission, U.S. colleges and universities have an important role to play in preparing students to engage constructively across religious, political, ideological, and cultural differences. For Student Affairs professionals, this work is not peripheral to their responsibilities; it is central to fostering belonging, supporting student development, navigating conflict, and building inclusive campus communities.

Scholarship highlights the role that purposely designed educational experiences, inclusive campus climates, and engagement across difference play in shaping students’ capacity for pluralism. Relatedly, the 2025 revisions to the ACPA/NASPA Professional Competencies for Student Affairs professionals identify a range of guiding values and professional competencies that, while not explicitly framed around pluralism, are foundational to fostering pluralistic campus communities. As one example, the organizations note that “Student affairs educators are tasked with cultivating an acute sense of agency and social responsibility that transcends individual and communal boundaries, extending to the larger global context.”

Grant Overview

Although professional competencies for Student Affairs educators reflect values aligned with pluralism, and research demonstrates the important role colleges and universities play in cultivating students’ abilities to respect, relate, and cooperate across difference, graduate preparation in Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) has not kept pace with the growing demand for pluralism-oriented leadership. The HESA Faculty Pluralism Fellowship seeks to address this gap by strengthening the capacity of HESA graduate preparation programs to develop these competencies in the next generation of practitioners and scholars.

Through the HESA Faculty Pluralism Fellowship, instructors in HESA programs will engage with pluralism-related scholarship and educational resources while redesigning existing courses or creating new curricular experiences that incorporate pluralism-related learning outcomes, theories, case studies, and pedagogical practices. By investing in the educators who prepare future Student Affairs professionals, the Fellowship aims to create a multiplier effect: equipping graduate students with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to lead campuses where diverse identities and perspectives are respected, meaningful relationships are cultivated across differences, and communities work together toward the common good.

Grant Details

Program Overview

IA is launching the HESA Faculty Pluralism Fellowship, a cohort-based professional development opportunity for full-time and part-time instructors who teach in graduate preparation programs for Student Affairs professionals. As part of the HESA Faculty Pluralism Fellowship, Fellows will:

Attend an in-person convening in Chicago (January 21-23, 2027) to connect with fellow cohort members, engage in collaborative learning, and share ideas and best practices. Note: Travel costs for the in-person convening are covered separately from the fellowship stipend.
Engage with scholarship on the development of pluralism among college students.
Explore best practices for integrating pluralism into teaching and learning.
Develop or redesign a graduate-level HESA course to incorporate pluralism-related learning outcomes, theories, case studies, and pedagogical practices.
Participate in semi-monthly (twice monthly) virtual community of practice meetings from January 2027 through June 2027 with other instructors committed to mutual learning and the advancement of pluralism-focused teaching and learning within HESA programs.
Additionally, Fellows will have the opportunity to co-author conference proposals, journal manuscripts, and other thought pieces that share insights from the Fellowship experience and, if desired, examine the implementation and impact of pluralism-related curricular innovations in their own classrooms.

Eligibility

Eligibility is limited to full-time and part-time instructors at U.S. four-year colleges and universities who teach in graduate preparation programs for Student Affairs professionals. Instructors may include faculty (tenured, contingent, adjunct, contract and part-time), as well as staff or administrators who teach graduate HESA courses.
Courses must be taught between May 2027 and May 2028. For courses taught in Summer 2027, Fall 2027, and Spring 2028, course design (course syllabus, activities, etc.) must be completed no later than June 30, 2027.
At minimum, course syllabi and plans must implement two of the four core recommendations found in the Strengthening Pluralism Through Academic Life: A Faculty Guide resource.

Funding

Each HESA Faculty Pluralism Fellow will receive $3,000 for their work to redesign existing courses or create new curricular experiences that incorporate pluralism-related learning outcomes, theories, case studies, and pedagogical practices. Eligibility for the $3,000 award is dependent upon the successful completion of the following milestones:

$1,500 at the start of the Fellowship (i.e., upon completion of required paperwork)
$1,500 upon receipt of an IA-provided progress report

In addition to the $3,000 award, each Fellow will receive the following travel support to cover expenses for the in-person convening in Chicago (January 21-23, 2027).

Hotel Accommodations (January 21-24, 2027; 3 nights): IA will secure and cover lodging in the designated hotel block.
Round-Trip Airfare to Chicago: Fellows will book travel through Interfaith America’s travel system. Interfaith America will cover round-trip airfare costs up to $535.
Travel and Incidentals Stipend: Interfaith America will provide a $300 stipend to cover Friday dinner, ground transportation, and incidental expenses.

Additional requirements for the funding are as follows:

Some forms of payment, such as stipends and reimbursements, may be considered taxable income by the IRS. Participants are responsible for understanding and reporting any income they receive. Those who receive funding may receive a 1099 tax form from Interfaith America at the end of the year. This information does not constitute legal or tax advice. For questions about your specific situation, we recommend consulting a tax professional.

Fellowship funds may not be used for:

Alcohol
Expenses associated with political campaign activities, including directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office; making contributions to political campaigns; or attempting to influence legislation (i.e., lobbying)
Capital funds or expenses (e.g., endowments, capital campaigns, annual funds, tuition, or student fees)

Deliverables

Full participation in all in-person and virtual community-of-practice convenings, including completion of required pre-work
Submission of an IA-provided progress report (due April 16, 2027)
Submission of curricular materials developed through the Fellowship (due June 30, 2027), along with a final report summarizing key learnings, outcomes, and impact (due June 16, 2028) Note: At minimum, course syllabi and plans must implement a series of the foundational practices and instructional approaches found in the Strengthening Pluralism Through Academic Life: A Faculty Guide resource. Individuals teaching courses prior to Spring 2028 may submit their materials before this deadline.
Administration of a short, IA-developed pre- and post-course assessment instrument to students enrolled in the new or redesigned course (due June 16, 2028). Note: Individuals teaching courses prior to Spring 2028 may submit their materials before this deadline.
OPTIONAL: Contribution to the dissemination of Fellowship learning through conference proposals, journal manuscripts, or other thought pieces that share insights from the Fellowship experience

Proposal Requirements

Applicants will submit the following information through IA’s online portal:

Applicant Information

Name, title, institution, and contact information
Demographic information
Current role in a HESA graduate preparation program
Employment status (full-time, part-time, adjunct, staff instructor, etc.)
Indication of ability to attend the in-person and virtual convenings and commitment to complete Fellowship deliverables, including course materials, reports, and student assessment activities

Course Information

Course title and number (if applicable)
Whether the proposal involves redesigning an existing course or developing a new course
Anticipated term(s) in which the course will be taught
Estimated enrollment

Statement of Interest (500-750 words)

Description of:

The applicant’s interest in participating in the HESA Faculty Fellowship program
How pluralism relates to the applicant’s teaching, scholarship, or professional practice
What the applicant hopes to gain from the Fellowship
How participation will benefit the applicant’s students and/or program

Course Development Proposal (500-750 words)

Description of:

The type of course the applicant plans to develop or redesign (e.g., a required course such as Student Development Theory or College Environments; a methods course; an elective)
The pluralism-related learning goals the applicant hopes to advance through the course
Specific course elements the applicant plans to create, revise, or enhance (e.g., readings, assignments, case studies, learning activities, assessments, pedagogical approaches)
How the proposed work aligns with the goals of the Fellowship
The potential for sustaining or expanding this work beyond the Fellowship period

Supporting Materials

Current CV
A letter of institutional/organizational support to fulfill this role. Note: This may include support from a program coordinator/department chair for faculty members, a faculty advisor for graduate students, or a supervisor.
Existing course syllabus (if redesigning an existing course)

Proposal Review & Selection

Through its programs, Interfaith America is committed to supporting initiatives that meaningfully engage people with a range of religious, philosophical, or ideological perspectives as well as diverse racial and ethnic identities. Priority will be given to applications that demonstrate one or more of the following:

A strong commitment to a respect/relate/cooperate model of pluralism as outlined in Interfaith America’s Pluralism Framework resource
Engagement with the American intellectual tradition of pluralism (Pluralism Texts Bibliography) 
Potential for sustainable curricular innovation
Teaching of skills for civic pluralism (such as active listening, storytelling and other bridgebuilding skills found in Skills for Bridging the Gap) 
Preparation of HESA students to engage diversity in deep, nuanced, and generative ways

Timeline

September 15, 2026: The application period opens.
October 15, 2026: The application period closes.
November 2-6, 2026: Finalist interviews
November 16, 2026: Selection decisions communicated to applicants.
January 4, 2027: Fellowship implementation period begins.
January 21-23, 2027: Fellows will attend an in-person gathering in Chicago, IL.
January-June 2027: Fellows will attend semi-monthly virtual community of practice meetings.
April 16, 2027: Fellows will provide a progress report on their projects.
June 30, 2027: Fellows will provide curricular materials developed through the Fellowship.
By June 16, 2028: Fellows will provide the following: (1) a final report summarizing key learnings, outcomes, and impact, and (2) student data collected through a short, IA-developed pre- and post-course assessment instrument. Fellowship implementation period concludes.

Request for Proposals

Related Resources

Use our Learning & Action Bridge to discover resources based on your role and goals. Visit our Courses, Curricula & Tools Library to browse all resources.

Guide for Applying to Interfaith America Grants and Fellowships

Learn what makes a strong grant proposal to Interfaith America.

Strengthening Pluralism through Academic Life: A Faculty Guide

This resource offers practical and proactive recommendations and examples for faculty to bring pluralism to life as they shape the academic life of their campus.

Pluralism Texts Bibliography

This bibliography reflects a variety of perspectives that provide foundational theory, knowledge, and practical wisdom about civic pluralism.

The Learning and Action Bridge

Use our Learning & Action Bridge to discover your next steps. The LAB offers you high-impact interfaith opportunities and resources based on your role and goals.

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Contact Us

For further information, please contact Dr. Becky Crandall.

Dr. Becky Crandall

Director of Educational Partnerships

Interfaith America

“I thought about the meaning of pluralism in a world where the forces that seek to divide us are strong. I came to one conclusion: We have to save each other. It’s the only way to save ourselves.”

- Eboo Patel