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Teaching & Learning Grants

The Center for Innovative and Transformative Instruction (CITI) is pleased to announce two Teaching & Learning development grant opportunities. There are two categories of grant funding: Teaching & Learning Development Travel Grants and Teaching & Learning Development Project Grants.

Teaching & Learning Development Travel (TLDT) Grants support attendance at teaching and learning, and assessment focused conferences, workshops, and meetings. The maximum award level is $1,500 or the cost of the trip, whichever is lower. Preference will be given to faculty who have not received a travel grant in the prior three-year period.  These grants can be applied for at any time during the year.

Teaching & Learning Development Project (TLDP) Grants support instructional and curricular development projects at WSSU. The maximum level of award is $2,000 each.

Project grants may be used to fund:

  • Experts to visit campus and work with a department or team of instructors on specific instructional improvement approaches and/or address specific student learning outcomes.
  • Site visits to other schools or locations to examine specific instructional improvement approaches or address specific student learning outcomes.
  • Attendance at workshops or training programs directly related to the funded project or webinar registration.
  • Materials to study or support specific instructional improvement approaches (e.g., software, books, other media, props). This excludes one-time funds for subscriptions, tests, excursions.  The purpose is to purchase materials that can be used semester after semester, not just one time.
  • Summer stipend for course development or redesign.

Project grants will not fund:

  • Faculty academic year release time, or any compensation for instructors, other than a summer stipend.
  • Computer equipment.
  • Individual travel to research or discipline-specific conferences unless the conference is explicitly described as a teaching and learning conference (funds may be sought for this purpose from the Professional Development Committee).

All awardees are expected to give back to the campus by facilitating a workshop, writing a white paper, and/or presenting at an upcoming faculty teaching & learning day within a year of completion of project or travel.

Application Process

Applicants for the grant must provide:

Application deadlines for travel grants are October 31st (Fall) and February 28th (Spring) and the deadline for teaching and learning development grants are November 15th (Fall) and April 15th (Spring). Application deadlines for travel grants are four weeks prior to upcoming travel.

Single-year proposals are preferred although multi-year proposals will be considered if a strong rationale is provided in the application (e.g., a collection of student outcomes from multiple semesters). Each proposal must contain three identified sections as noted below.

Objectives: Purpose (title) and objectives for the project are key elements and should be stated clearly. Examples of projects include:

  • Development, implementation, and assessment of innovative student learning experiences.
  • Adaption and implementation, and assessment of discipline-related and advocated best practices.
  • Alignment and integration of multiple courses around single themes or coordinated learning outcomes.
  • Objectives flow from the purpose and are the specific aims for the project. What is the purpose of the project, what do you intend to do, what literature supports the proposed innovations, and why is the project important?

Dissemination: Applicants should state the uses and diffusion of information acquired throughout the course of the grant. For example, how could results be used beyond the specific project? How, when and by whom will the information be disseminated?

Budget: Refer to the Proposal Budget Template (available on the website). All proposals will be reviewed to determine the suitability of budgeted items in terms of stated project activities and fidelity with University policies and regulations.

Applicants for the travel grant must provide:

  • Event information: Details (including copies of brochures or links to web-based information) regarding the conference, workshop or meeting for which they are applying for travel support, and how they intend to use the knowledge they gain.
  • Budget: Complete cost breakdown for travel, including other funds being used.
  • Letter of Support: from direct supervisor: department chair, school director or college dean as appropriate.

Applicants would travel under their department’s authorization, submit reimbursement to their department, and the Center for Innovative and Transformative Instruction will reimburse the department for those travel costs.

Multiple applications from the same program unit for travel grants may be submitted each year, but priority will be given to supporting travel grant applications from as wide a range of disciplinary programs as possible.

Applicants previously denied travel support on the merits of the application may not re-apply for the same trip at a later time.

A comprehensive list of conferences and events related to teaching and learning pedagogy across the United States and globally that should be appropriate for travel grants can be found at the following websites:

 

Timetable

Travel grants should be completed by the end of the fiscal year they are funded. Project grants should be completed by the end of the fiscal year unless extra time is requested in the grant application. 

Grant Reviewing Criteria

A subcommittee of the CITI Advisory Board will review proposals and recommend projects for funding. Applicants will receive reviewer comments in summary form upon request. The subcommittee will use the following criteria to recommend proposals for funding:

  • 40%: The resourcefulness of the project in its alignment with the unit, college or division goals. The project’s intent to facilitate change with regard to the improvement of student learning and/or program quality.
  • 30%: Demonstration of intended student learning outcomes.
  • 15%: Budget of expenses congruent with the project goals.
  • 15%: Timeline of activity congruent with project goals.

All awardees are expected to give back to the campus by facilitating a workshop, writing a white paper and/or presenting at an upcoming faculty teaching & learning day within a year of completion of project or travel.

Application Submission

Submit application to CITI, 202 O’Kelly or via email to citi@wssu.edu. If you have any questions about the application process, CITI's phone number is 336-750-8723.