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Application process for the 2024 Summer Teaching Development Grant is closed.  The 2025 application will be available in December, 2024. 

STDG Evaluation Rubric (For Informational Use Only) (PDF)

In support of excellence in education at Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University, the University Teaching Council (UTC) calls for proposals to the Summer Teaching Development Grant (STDG) program. This program is intended to enhance student learning by engaging faculty to significantly improve teaching methods, develop curricula, or create innovative course materials. The UTC seeks innovative proposals that address the university, college or departmental missions, including, but not limited to, proposals that address the LERs/Kent Core, distance learning, interdisciplinary courses, and experiential learning. Proposals must align with the mission of the University Teaching Council. Preference will be given to projects that provide the greatest learning benefits to students.

Faculty may submit for Summer Teaching Development Grants in two amounts: $4,500 for a five-week period, and $9,000 for a ten-week period. In addition, collaborative proposals may split a $9,000 award.  Only one proposal per applicant.

All STDG projects must begin during Summer I.

The grants are intended to fund the total cost of the proposed project. In cases of exceptional expense, the University Teaching Council may consider additional funds under the Teaching Conference or the Teaching Development Grants.

General Criteria

Advancing Teaching Excellence…The project needs to exceed normal course preparation, and it should either improve current pedagogical practices or introduce new pedagogical methods or materials that will significantly improve teaching and enhance student learning beyond a single course or single faculty member.

Applicability to Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University…Projects need to relate to teaching within the university, college or departmental missions. Preference will be given to proposals that provide the greatest benefit, directly or indirectly, to students at Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University.

Eligibility All full-time faculty members at any of the eight Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University campuses are eligible for a Summer Teaching Development Grant. Adjunct/part-time faculty may be considered as co-applicants with full-time faculty.  Applicants working on collaborative projects must indicate whether they are splitting one award or requesting full awards for each collaborator, depending on the scope of the project. Last year's recipients of a Summer Teaching Development Grant are not eligible to apply for a grant this year. Only one proposal per applicant.

Expectations of Grant Recipients

Finalists are required to submit a Final Grant Summary Report in the second week of January of the following year. The report will include:

• An executive summary that carefully outlines the overall work and findings of the project.
• The specific activities that were completed during the grant period.
• The measured or anticipated impact of the project in terms of student learning at Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹.
• The public/peer review of the project findings. If this is not completed by the due date, a specific plan (i.e. relevant venues such as journals and/or conferences) for the public/peer review should be included in the report.
• The proposed goals that were met during the grant period.
• The proposed goals that were not met during the grant period along with a detailed plan for accomplishing these goals.

Procedure

To assist the Council in providing your proposal with the fullest consideration possible, please complete the application limiting your responses to no more than 3,500 characters in any of the fields.

Only information requested in the form is allowed; no addenda or supporting material accepted.

Project Overview: Provide a general description of your project with enough detail for a layperson to understand it.

Background and Rationale: Provide detailed background information and justification for the project from a scholarly teaching perspective. 

Specific Goals & Activities: Provide a detailed description of the goals and activities of your project. 

Impact on Student Learning: Describe your project's anticipated impacts on student learning; including:

1. The number of students impacted
2. The specific nature of the impact on student learning
3. An explanation of the impacts on the curriculum and/or your discipline

Proposed Timeline of Activities: Provide a detailed description of the specific activities involved in your project and your anticipated timeline for completing those activities.  If more than one applicant is involved, please articulate who will be responsible for completing each activity on the timeline.

Evaluation Plan: Describe how you will evaluate the project, including an explanation of how the impact(s) on student learning will be measured in a scholarly manner.

Communication Plan: Provide a specific details about how you will disseminate the findings or results of your project including (but not limited to) your participation in the University Teaching Council Conference (e.g. publications, conference or other presentation, etc).

Professional Background: Please provide a brief description of your professional background(s) as it relates to this project. Do NOT include your vita or resume.

If additional equipment or funds are necessary to complete this project, explain how you propose to obtain them? If you anticipate such additional funding needs, you may submit a Teaching Conference Grant request of a Teaching Development Grant request, in addition to this proposal. Any additional materials or funds required should be explained as thoroughly as possibly in the proposal.

Summer Teaching Development Grant Workshop Video 

Sample Proposal 1  |   Sample Proposal 2  |   Sample Proposal 3

Sample Proposal 4  |   Sample Proposal 5  |   Sample Proposal 6  |   Sample Proposal 7

(Proposals will be reviewed after the due date specified above)

Finalists must submit a final grant report by January 16th at midnight of the following year.