We are delighted to announce the successful launch of the CASHEWS Club — the Contract Academic Staff Hub for Educational Writing & Scholarship. With three hybrid meetings held on October 10th, November 14th and December 5th, the initiative is steadily gaining momentum. Approximately fifteen faculty members have participated across these sessions, and their enthusiasm has set a strong foundation for what promises to become a vibrant and collaborative scholarly community at ISoN.
CASHEWS Club was created by Norma Ponzoni and Heather Hart to support Contract Academic Staff who wish to deepen their engagement with writing, scholarly inquiry, and pedagogical development. From the very first meeting, participants expressed excitement about having a dedicated space where teaching experiences, scholarly interests, and creative ideas could be shared openly. Faculty noted the value of connecting with colleagues across courses and programs, describing the meetings as energizing, intellectually stimulating, and supportive.
A key goal of CASHEWS is to create an environment where ideas can emerge and take shape over time. As colleagues discuss teaching challenges, share proud moments from the classroom, or reflect on their own learning, new project ideas emerge and have room to grow. This collaborative approach reflects the realities of academic life and recognizes that meaningful scholarship often begins with informal conversations and shared reflections.
Looking ahead, CASHEWS hopes to build a sustained community of practice within the School—a place where Contract Academic Staff feel valued and supported as educators and scholars. The long-term vision is to foster opportunities for writing, encourage confidence in scholarly engagement, promote mentorship and collaboration, and strengthen the culture of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning within the ISoN.
The CASHEWS Club represents a promising new chapter for educational scholarship at the Ingram School of Nursing (ISoN), and the community is eager to see its ideas and collaborations continue to flourish in the months ahead. The CASHEWS Club is supported by an innovation grant from the Institute for Health Sciences Education (IHSE) and a study is being conducted to examine the club’s impact on Contract Academic Staff engagement in the scholarship of teaching and learning (Study Title: Evaluating the Impact of CASHEWS Club on the Scholarly Engagement of Contract Academic Staff in Nursing Education). Sheena Doyle, RN, BScN, MSc(A)-APN student, serves as the research assistant for this study, supporting coordination, data collection, and analysis. Participation in the study is entirely voluntary.
Regardless of whether they choose to participate in the research study, are seasoned writers, new to scholarship, or simply curious to learn with and from colleagues, all interested Contract Academic Staff are warmly welcome to join the club. Please contact Heather Hart or Norma Ponzoni for more information.
The CASHEWS Club represents a promising new chapter for educational scholarship at the Ingram School of Nursing (ISoN), and the community is eager to see its ideas and collaborations continue to flourish in the months ahead. The CASHEWS Club is supported by an innovation grant from the Institute for Health Sciences Education (IHSE) and a study is being conducted to examine the club’s impact on Contract Academic Staff engagement in the scholarship of teaching and learning (Study Title: Evaluating the Impact of CASHEWS Club on the Scholarly Engagement of Contract Academic Staff in Nursing Education). Sheena Doyle, RN, BScN, MSc(A)-APN student, serves as the research assistant for this study, supporting coordination, data collection, and analysis. Participation in the study is entirely voluntary.