Priddy Fellows Learning Community

As part of OCU’s campus-wide initiative to infuse the arts across the curriculum, it is essential to prepare and develop faculty to be innovative teacher-leaders in this work of arts integration. Toward that end, approximately eight OCU faculty are selected annually from across the disciplines to participate in an intensive, year-long learning community. These Priddy Fellows meet weekly during the spring and fall semesters to examine different theories of teaching and learning that might improve their teaching and to explore ways to incorporate greater creativity and utilize appropriate technology into their courses. At the end of the spring semester, members of the Priddy Fellows Learning Community participate in a week-long arts immersion experience—past fellows have traveled to places such as Santa Fe, Chicago, and San Francisco. One of the outcomes of the learning community is that each Priddy Fellow will teach (or team-teach) a new course that incorporates the arts into his/her discipline.


Priddy Mission Statement

The mission of the Priddy Fellows is the scholarly pursuit of excellence in teaching and learning, advocating arts integration across the curriculum through the exploration of new and alternative methods of course design and disciplinary expertise, acting as agents of change within the Fellows’ academic departments, the University, and the broader scholarly community.

Each participant should expect to do the following:

• Collaborate extensively and compatibly with members of the group.


• Reflect upon and critique her/his own as well as each other’s ideas of teaching and learning.


• Work within a fluid structure and evolving group dynamic.


• Move beyond his/her own comfort zone and inhibitions in exploratory activity.


• Be immersed in the arts and their integration in to the curriculum.


• Commit extensive time to preparation and group interaction.


• Document and share one’s teaching practices.

How to Apply

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and the Fine Arts Institute invite full-time faculty at Oklahoma City University to apply for the Priddy Fellows Learning Community. Those who wish to apply are asked to complete a statement of interest letter following the instructions outlined below.

For consideration as a Fellow, your statement of interest letter should respond to the following questions:

1) In your own experience (including current teaching practices or relevant experiences outside of the classroom) how does collaboration impact your process?

2) Why do you want to be a part of the Priddy fellowship experience? What unique contribution would you make to the group?

3) If chosen as a Priddy Fellow, how might you see yourself as an agent of change within your academic department, the University, and the broader scholarly community once you have completed the fellowship year?


Use the Priddy Mission Statement as a guide in your responses. Submit your statement of interest letter to the CETL e-mail address (cetl@okcu.edu) no later than October 11.

2008 Arts Integration Symposium

The Priddy Arts Integration Symposium provides opportunities for the OCU community—faculty, staff, administrators, and students—to learn about the arts-integrated courses that have recently been taught on our campus. Each of the Priddy II Fellows will share their experiences in teaching their arts-integrated courses. Presenters will provide their scholarly reflections on their Priddy courses, including learning objectives, assessment of student learning, and the benefits and challenges of incorporating the arts in their teaching.

Tentative dates: November 6-7, 2008
Details on this event will be announced soon.