ASSERT is for full-time faculty who want to work with a cohort of colleagues to think more deeply about their research, scholarship, or creative activity. It is especially well suited for people who want to consider not only their own work, but also the campus conditions that help all of us share and create knowledge, mentor others, expand opportunities, and steward resources sustainably.

 This is a strong fit for faculty who are energized by big questions, open to interdisciplinary conversation, and interested in connecting their own scholarly trajectories with broader institutional and community possibilities. ASSERT is not framed as a formal leadership-development program, though fellows often go on to take on important leadership roles across campus over time.

ASSERT offers fellows:

• A cohort-based community for reflection, exchange, and mutual support.
• Interdisciplinary connections across departments, units, and ways of knowing.
• Space to clarify bold scholarly ideas and longer-term trajectories.
• Opportunities to think about research, scholarship, and creative activity in relation to institutional structures and wider communities.
• Frameworks that can support socially impactful and community-engaged scholarly work where relevant.The program has been supported by deans and colleges across campus for years. That long-term support has helped ASSERT remain an established investment in faculty scholarly growth and cross-campus connection.

ASSERT is a cohort experience that unfolds over time rather than a single workshop or event. Fellows participate in shared conversations, structured reflection, relationship-building, and milestone experiences that help them develop and articulate ambitious scholarly ideas.

Two signature moments are the retreat in April and the closing pitch event in mid-September. At the pitch event, fellows present a short, one-slide presentation to the campus that shares an ambitious scholarly idea or trajectory, often in ways that open new possibilities for transforming campus practices, research directions, and community relationships.

ASSERT began with NSF funding at Boise State and has grown over the past decade into a model strong enough to spread beyond one campus. More recently, support from Idaho’s EPSCoR office through the I-CREWS grant has helped expand ASSERT to the University of Idaho and Idaho State University, creating new opportunities for cross-campus exchange.

The first statewide retreat, held last year across participating institutions, sparked productive conversations about shared capacity, collaboration, and the possibilities of a broader scholarly network across Idaho.

Applications for ASSERT open on September 18 and close at the end of the day on October 9. Applications are submitted through the program form.

Check back here for the link to the program form.

Questions about whether ASSERT is a good fit for you or about the application process? Email jimfredricksen@boisestate.edu.