Instructional Development Grants

Project Grants Description

Instructional Development Project Grants (Project Grants) support instructional and curricular development projects at WMU that are submitted by full-time faculty. The goal of Instructional Development Grants is to support instructional innovation and projects that are designed to enhance teaching and instructional practice and support student learning in approved WMU courses and programs.

Projects may vary in size, scope, and approach. Applicants with varying levels of experience in instructional and curricular development are encouraged to apply. The application questions are designed to help applicants describe the purpose of their project, its connection to student learning, and how the proposed work will be implemented and assessed.

Please review the Instructional Development Grant funding timeline and reimbursement procedures prior to submitting an application.

The maximum award level is $5,000 each.

• Funding preference will be for Project Grant proposals involving units that have not had projects funded through Project Grants in the prior three-year period.
• Group, department, or unit, and interdisciplinary projects may be given priority in the review.
• Single-year Project Grant proposals are preferred due to WMU’s budget cycle. Multi-year or future fiscal year proposals will be considered if the application provides a strong rationale (e.g., collecting student outcomes across multiple semesters or longer-term planning necessary to support project quality).

Project Grants May Be Used to Fund

Eligible expenses that support the proposed instructional development project, including:

• 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.
• Group attendance at workshops or training programs directly related to the funded project or webinar registration.
• Student wages or support for instructional development projects.
• Materials to study or support specific instructional improvement approaches (e.g., software, books, other media, props).

Project Grant proposals should clearly demonstrate how the proposed instructional development work will support student learning in approved WMU courses or programs.

All expenses must comply with applicable University and departmental policies and procedures.

Project Grants Will Not Fund

• Faculty summer salary, academic year release time, or any compensation for instructors.
• Computer equipment.
• Individual travel to conferences (other funds may be sought for this purpose).
• Any expense not meeting university guidelines.

Project Grant Application Components

The application and proposal narrative questions are designed to guide applicants in clearly describing their project, how it will enhance teaching or instructional practice, and how it will support student learning. Applications include the following elements.

1. Project Grant online application form. The form includes applicant information and details about the requested grant, as well as acknowledgment of supervisor support. Applicants should discuss their proposed project with their direct supervisor (e.g., department chair, director, or dean) and obtain their support before submitting an application. The application includes a required acknowledgment confirming supervisor support.
2. Project Grant proposal narrative. Submit a 2- to 4-page narrative summarizing the project and how the proposed instructional development work is intended to support student learning in WMU courses and programs. See the detailed proposal narrative requirements below. Upload the narrative as part of the online application form.
3. Completed Project Grant proposal budget worksheet. Detail the cost breakdown, including any additional funds received or requested. Upload the proposal budget worksheet in the online application form.

Upload the completed project narrative and completed budget worksheet in the online application form.

Project Grant Proposal Narrative

This will be approximately 2 to 4 pages (4-page maximum), including the following information, and will be submitted in the online application form.

• Project Title
• Course/Program: Indicate the program and/or course this project is intended to support.
• *Project Reach (for context): Identify who will be directly impacted by the project and provide an estimated count of students, courses, programs, or instructors affected.
• Project Purpose: In one to two sentences, describe the instructional need or opportunity this project is intended to address, including how it relates to teaching and/or student learning. 
• Project Rationale and Alignment: Explain why the proposed project or approach is appropriate. Include relevant literature, evidence, professional standards or competencies, accreditation requirements, and/or program, unit, or university goals, as applicable.
• Project Objectives: Describe what you intend to accomplish through the project and why it is important. Explain how the project will enhance teaching or instructional practice and support student learning. 
• Student Learning: What do you expect students to know, be able to do, or experience differently as a result of this project? Explain how the proposed project activities will support these anticipated changes.
• Project Implementation: Describe the primary activities you will undertake to carry out the project, a brief timeline of activities, and how the requested grant funds will support those activities.
• Assessment: How will you determine whether the project achieved its objectives and had the intended impact on teaching and student learning? 
• *Sustainability (for context): Do you anticipate continuing this instructional improvement beyond the grant year? If so, how? If ongoing funding would be required, briefly describe how it might be supported.
• Dissemination: Describe how you will share what you learn from the project, as appropriate. How might the results, resources, or lessons learned be useful beyond the specific project?
• Budget: Provide a brief summary of the budget, which applicants will detail in the Project Grant proposal Budget Worksheet.
  *Project reach and sustainability will be considered as part of the project's overall impact. Projects can vary in size and scope, and greater reach or longer-term sustainability do not automatically make a proposal stronger. 

Travel Grant Description

Instructional Development Travel Grants support full-time faculty participation in conferences, workshops, meetings, and other professional learning activities that inform and enhance teaching and instructional practice, and that are applied in ways that support student learning in approved WMU courses and programs. Presenting a paper or other scholarly work alone is not sufficient justification for funding or the purpose of this grant.

Travel Grant applications should clearly demonstrate how the proposed professional learning activity is intended to inform teaching or instructional practice and support student learning in approved WMU courses or programs.

Eligible professional learning activities are not limited to physical travel. Eligible activities may be offered in person or online, provided they meet the purpose and criteria of the Instructional Development Travel Grant.

Faculty from all eligible ranks and disciplines are encouraged to apply. We welcome thoughtful applications that clearly connect the proposed professional learning opportunity to the applicant’s teaching or instructional practice and explain how that learning will be applied to support student learning.

• Awards are available for up to $2,000 or the cost of the approved travel or activity, whichever is lower. The final award amount may vary based on the number of applicants and available funds.
• Preference is given to faculty who have not received an Instructional Development Travel Grant within the previous three years.
• Multiple applications from the same program or unit may be submitted each year. To support broad participation across the University, consideration may be given to disciplinary representation when making funding decisions.
• These travel grants do not fund travel or professional learning activities that do not clearly connect to teaching or instructional practice and student learning.
• Applicants whose requests were previously denied on the merits of their applications may not reapply for funding for the same trip.

Travel Grant Awardee Reimbursement

Applicants should review the Instructional Development Grant funding and reimbursement procedures before incurring expenses. Instructional Development Travel Grant funds are reimbursed to the applicant's department, not directly to the faculty member. Applicants must follow applicable University and departmental travel reimbursements and/or travel authorization procedures. The Office of Faculty Development will reimburse the department for approved expenses up to the Travel Grant award amount.

Applications may include travel that has already occurred during the eligible fiscal-year funding period. Previously completed travel must have been authorized and processed in accordance with applicable University and departmental travel procedures and must otherwise meet Instructional Development Grant requirements. Expenses incurred before an award decision are not guaranteed funding or reimbursement.

Travel Grant Application Components

The application and proposal narrative questions are designed to guide applicants in clearly describing the proposed professional learning activity, how it will inform or enhance teaching or instructional practice, and how the applicant will apply that learning to support student learning. Applications include the following elements.

1. Travel Grant online application form. The form includes information about the grant request and acknowledgment of supervisor support. Applicants should discuss their application with their supervisor (e.g., department chair, director, or dean) and obtain support before submitting.
2. Proposal narrative. Submit an approximately 2-page narrative describing how participation in the proposed professional learning activity will inform or enhance teaching or instructional practice and how the applicant plans to apply that learning to support student learning. See the detailed proposal narrative requirements below.
3. Supporting materials (as applicable). Include a conference program, agenda, or brochure that provides additional context for the application.
4. Completed Travel Grant proposal budget worksheet. Identify the expenses included in the funding request. All requested expenses must be directly related to the proposed activity and comply with applicable University policies and procedures.

Upload the proposal narrative, supporting materials, and budget worksheet as part of the online application form.

Travel Grant Proposal Narrative

Approximately 2 pages, including the following information.

1. Relevance and Professional Learning. Describe the area of professional learning you hope to pursue through participation in this activity and explain how the opportunity relates to your teaching or instructional responsibilities at WMU.
2. Application to Teaching and Student Learning. Describe what you expect to learn and how you plan to apply that learning to your teaching, instructional practice, and/or program curriculum. Explain how you expect this application to support student learning in your WMU course(s) or program. For context, briefly identify who may be directly affected when you apply what you learn (e.g., students in a course, multiple course sections, a program, or other instructors).

3. Planned Participation. Identify the sessions, workshops, presentations, or other activities most relevant to your instructional goals. If a program or agenda has not yet been published, briefly describe the types of sessions or activities you plan to attend. Later, you may provide supplemental information if you wish.

   Note: Presenting a paper or other scholarly work alone is not the purpose of this grant and not sufficient justification for funding. Applicants should demonstrate focus in their responses on the professional learning they anticipate and how they will apply it to teaching and student learning.

4. Budget Rationale. Briefly explain the expenses included in your funding request, including any costs that may not be clear from the budget worksheet. If the total cost of participation exceeds the amount requested, indicate how the remaining expenses will be covered.