BHEF Faculty Innovation Fellowship 2026

BHEF Faculty Innovation Fellowship 2026 — Nominee Nomination Form

Nomination Period: February 23 - April 3, 2026. Questions: fellowship@bhef.com. View full details at www.bhef.com/fellowship
The Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF) Faculty Innovation Fellowship is an incubator and accelerator experience designed to identify and empower faculty leaders on the cutting edge of workforce and employer-aligned skills innovations.

Nominated and endorsed by their presidents, provosts, or cabinet-level leaders, Fellows are selected because they have a promising idea, the drive to bring it to life, and the institutional leadership support to see through implementation. Over a curated, nine-month experience, BHEF provides structure, expertise, peer community, and coaching to move a capstone project from concept to real-world implementation through a three-phase curriculum that bridges innovative mindsets, change management, and leadership development.

For 2026, BHEF will integrate two core themes throughout the experience: Student AI Skills Adoption & Integrationa and Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) experiences. Economic data continues to show that no occupation is immune to the changing nature of work, driven by AI and AI-enabled technologies and that learners need to be prepared for an AI-enabled future of work. Additionally, studies continue to reinforce that access to work-integrated learning is critical for the learning andeconomic success of students and far less available than workers and learners and need. Studies show that less than one-third of students access an internship or work-based learning experience.

Finally, BHEF’s Fellowship focuses on elevating faculty with a commitment to expanding access and opportunity in higher education and with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences in higher education leadership. Nominators and nominees are encouraged to consider and provide insight into how their capstone addresses these systemic barriers that prevent connecting talent to opportunity.

BHEF’s nomination process includes three key elements:
1. Applicant Profile
2. Capstone Project Overview and Fellowship Goals, and
3. Executive Sponsor Plan and Form (Separate Form)
Fellows should be sure to review all materials carefully before submitting.
RESOURCES FOR NOMINEES

BHEF recognizes that nominees come from a wide and diverse range of disciplines. Therefore, they may have a differing understanding of various concepts describes in this nomination. To assist with anchoring your capstone project in foundation elements of BHEF’s mission, we encourage you to skim the resources provided below.

Before completing this form, we encourage nominees to review the following BHEF publications. These resources provide context for the fellowship’s focus areas and will help you develop a stronger capstone proposal.
Eligibility
Nominees must meet all of the following criteria. Nominees that fail to meet these criteria will not be considered.
- Full-time faculty teaching credit-bearing courses in a two- or four-year degree program
- Minimum three (3) years of experience at their current institution by the end of the 2025–2026 academic year
- A proposed capstone project with a direct connection to student workforce readiness, employer engagement, or applied skills—addressing at least one of the two 2026 themes (AI skills or WIL)
- A confirmed executive sponsor at the cabinet level (president, chancellor, provost, or equivalent)
- Confirmed institutional budget to cover tuition and estimated travel (see Financial Commitment section)
Priority is given to BHEF Network Partner Institutions and Systems.

Faculty from groups historically underrepresented in higher education leadership and innovation are especially encouraged to apply.

Visit bhef.com/our-network to confirm if your institution or system chancellor’s office is a current network partner.
Section 1: Nominee Information

All materials may be used publicly. Please submit in their final, publicly shareable form.
Full Name*
Institution*
Title and Rank*
Department or School*
Email Address*
Phone Number
Mailing Address
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Professional Biography (Short-Form)
Please keep to 300 words or less.
Current curriculum vitae (CV)Recent professional photograph (high resolution, suitable for publication)Brief biography (400 words or fewer, third person, suitable for public use)
Section 2: Capstone Project
WHAT MAKES A STRONG 2026 CAPSTONE?

Projects must connect students to applied skills and concrete workforce pathways through AI skills enablement, work-integrated learning, employer-engaged curriculum, industry-recognized credentials, or workforce pipeline development.

Projects focused solely on internal curriculum changes with no employer or workforce component are unlikely to be competitive.

Examples:
- Enabling students to apply AI skills in the workplace.
- Creating or expanding student access to internships, co-ops, or WBL experiences.
- Building an employer advisory board that shapes curriculum and opens hiring pathways.
- Developing stackable credentials for adult learners reskilling in the AI-enabled age.
- Building a workforce pipeline for a specific sector or underserved student population.
AI Skills Adoption and Integration (building students' capacity to apply AI skills in the workplace; embedding AI competencies or credentials — not AI pedagogy)Work-Integrated Learning / WIL (creating or expanding access to internships, co-ops, apprenticeships, or employer-based experiences)Both of the aboveOther workforce or employment outcome focus — describe in Question 2
2. Describe the opportunity your capstone addresses.*
What is the opportunity, or gap, you see for your students’ (or prospective students’) workforce readiness or employment outcomes? What would become possible for students or your institution if this project succeeds?100–300 words
3. Describe your proposed capstone project.*
Summarize what you intend to build, launch, or scale. Be specific about the student employment outcome you are targeting and how your project connects students to applied skills, employer engagement, or a concrete workforce pathway. Projects may be refined during the fellowship. Remember, students can be defined broadly, and BHEF encourages exploring ways to support historically underserved populations in gaining access to real-world work experience and creating new connections and supports for those economically vulnerable to the impacts of AI skills transformation. 150–400 words
4. What is your estimated timeline and key milestones?*
Provide an estimated launch or pilot date and 2–3 milestones you expect to hit during the nine-month fellowship. Milestones should reflect real implementation steps a student or employer feels and experiences.75–200 words
Estimated Launch or Pilot Date*
Milestone 1*
Milestone 2*
Milestone 3 (optional)
5. How will you measure the success of your capstone?*
Identify 2–3 key indicators you will use to evaluate impact. Include at least one student-facing metric and, where applicable, one institutional or partnership metric. Examples of student-facing metrics: number of students placed in WBL experiences, credential or certification completion rates, employer interview or hire rates. Examples of institutional or partnership metrics: number of employer partners or external (off-campus stakeholders) engaged, advisory board established, program scaled to additional departments or cohorts, or partnerships established on campus, such as new collaborations with career services or cross-college.75–200 words
6. How will this project continue or grow after the fellowship ends?*
As an incubator and accelerator experience, strong capstones are designed to outlast the fellowship and scale. Briefly describe how this work will be sustained, scaled, or institutionalized—and what role your executive sponsor or institution will play in that continuity. What risks do you see, and how will your executive sponsor and institution support you navigating those risks?75–150 words
7. Who are the key stakeholders or partners for this project?*
Identify current or prospective employer, industry, or community partners. If a partner has not yet been identified, describe your strategy for developing those relationships, including how you anticipate the fellowship experience and your executive sponsor helping you define and build that strategy.75–200 words
8. How does your project advance broad access to positive student workforce outcomes?*
Describe how your capstone creates of expands access to for those who face systemic barriers to workforce entry, including but not limited to students from low-income households, first-generation college students, students with disabilities, and others who have had limited access to professional networks, mentorship, or career preparation resources75–200 words
9. What experience has prepared you for this project and the fellowship?*
This may include prior employer partnerships, industry experience, curriculum innovation, grant work, or leadership roles. Prior experience is not required. Candidates without formal leadership experience who demonstrate readiness and drive are encouraged to apply, to describe how this experience will help them expand their knowledge and capabilities, and to articulate how their executive sponsor and institutional will help them develop these skills.75–200 words
Question 10: Three Capabilities

What three capabilities do you most want to develop through the course of the experience? Consider areas like leadership and institutional influence, employer partnerships, student career outcomes, AI fluency, WBL design, securing resources, or change management.
Capability 1*
Capability 2*
Capability 3
Section 3: Nominee Commitment
By submitting this form, I confirm that I meet the eligibility requirements and all information is accurate.

If selected, I commit to:
- attending all required in-person and virtual sessions
- completing all pre-work prior to each session;
- responding promptly to BHEF requests;
- producing required reports and a final capstone deliverable;
- actively engaging with cohort peers;
- coordinating resources and support with my executive sponsor,
- and confirming budget coverage before acceptance is finalized.
In-person sessions are expected to take in September 2026, November 2026, and January 2027.

Final dates will be posted at www.bhef.com/fellowship by April 1, 2026.
I confirm the above commitments and certify that all information in this nomination is accurate to the best of my knowledge.
Section 4: Financial Commitment and Scholarship Request
Tuition:
- BHEF Network Partner: $5,000
- Non-network: $10,000.
Estimated travel: $1,200-$1,500.
- BHEF provides on-site breakfast, lunch, and one off-site dinner per session. BHEF coordinates block rate hotels.
- Fellows / host institutions are responsible for cost of hotel, airfare, and off-site dinner.
- Invoices due June 30, 2026 or alternate date agreed in writing.
Tuition invoices are issued to the host institution upon acceptance and are due by June 30, 2026, or by an alternate date agreed upon in writing with BHEF with the Fellowship Director. Non-BHEF Network institutions whose leadership joins BHEF before June 30, 2026, are eligible for the Network Partner rate. BHEF must receive a written agreement from the institution affirming its intent to join and approval to invoice for network partnership dues.

Travel: Fellows are responsible for airfare, hotel (BHEF arranges group rate blocks), and ground transportation. BHEF provides catering on-site for breakfast and lunch and one off-site dinner for each session.

Fellows who need budget support are welcome to and encouraged to solicit sponsors for tuition or travel. However, the Fellow must coordinate directly with their sponsor and all agreements are only between the institution and the sponsor. BHEF will invoice only the host institution for tuition and is not party to any agreements. The institution and Fellow are responsible for coordinating any internal reimbursement or external sponsorship arrangements.

No Refund Policy: Due to the program’s fixed operating costs, BHEF cannot offer refunds once a tuition invoice has been issued. Please confirm budget availability and full institutional commitment before submitting a nomination.
I confirm my institution has the budget to cover the applicable tuition rate and estimated travel for my participation.If accepted, I authorize BHEF to invoice my institution at the applicable tuition rate.Strongly recommended (not required): My institution will provide a course release or equivalent stipend.
Billing / Finance Contact

Please provide the contact who should receive the tuition invoice if accepted.
Billing Contact Name*
Billing Contact Title
Billing Mailing Address*
Billing Contact Email or URL
Address Invoice to Attention of:
Scholarship Request (Optional)

BHEF offers limited tuition waivers, discounts, and travel stipends on a demonstrated-need basis. Requests must be endorsed by your cabinet-level Executive Sponsor. Requests from deans or department chairs will not be accepted.
Tuition Waiver or DiscountTravel StipendBoth
Scholarship Justification (complete only if requesting)
Section 5: Executive Sponsor Information
All Fellows require a cabinet-level Executive Sponsor. Examples and common titles include:
- President
- Chancellor
- Provost
- Vice Chancellor or equivalent.
Deans and department chairs do not qualify for purposes of the nomination, though, may be included as part of the Fellow's support team.

Executive Sponsor's must complete their form using the link below. Fellows should provide their sponsor's contact information using the form below.

Provide your sponsor's information below and share the Executive Sponsor Form with them directly. Sponsor form link: https://form.jotform.com/260643568136158
Executive Sponsor Full Name*
Executive Sponsor Title*
Executive Sponsor Institution*
Executive Sponsor Email Address*
CV and profile photo uploadedAll fields completed for applicant information, capstone project, and attestion to participate.Executive Sponsor Information Completed and Link Provided to SponsorBilling and finance contact information completed
Signature and Submission

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BHEF Faculty Innovation Fellowship 2026 — Nominee Nomination Form

Section 1: Nominee Information

Section 2: Capstone Project

Question 10: Three Capabilities

Section 3: Nominee Commitment

Section 4: Financial Commitment and Scholarship Request

Billing / Finance Contact

Scholarship Request (Optional)

Section 5: Executive Sponsor Information

Signature and Submission