Instructional Development Grants

Instructional Development Project Grants (Project Grants) support instructional and curricular development projects at WMU that are submitted by full-time faculty. The goal of this fund is to help support faculty innovation and projects that will tangibly impact student learning in the approved WMU courses and programs.

• The maximum level of award is $5,000 each. 
• No more than one Project Grant proposal per academic program will be reviewed for possible funding each year. 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, and interdisciplinary projects are given priority.
• Single-year Project Grant proposals are preferred due to the budget cycle. Multi-year proposals will be considered if a strong rationale is provided in the application (e.g., collection of student outcomes from multiple semesters).

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.
• 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 Grants will not fund:

• Faculty summer salary, academic year release time, or any compensation for instructors.
• Computer equipment.
• Individual travel to conferences (funds may be sought for this purpose).

The Project Grant application should include:

• Project Grant proposal narrative (4 pages maximum). The proposal narrative should be approximately 4 pages and include the following information:  
  • State the title of the project.
  • Indicate the program and/or course this project is intended to support.
  • Describe the purpose of the project. (one to two sentences)
  • Objectives: State the objectives for the project. Key elements should be identified clearly. Objectives flow from purpose and are the specific aims for the project. What do you intend to do, what literature supports the proposed innovations, and why is the project important? Clearly demonstrate how this project is focused on enhancing teaching and learning and will tangibly impact student learning outcomes.
  • Briefly describe the project's alignment with academic program mission and objectives.
  • Assessment: How is the project's purpose and objectives assessed and/or evaluated?
  • 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: Provide a brief summary of the budget which applicants will detail in the Project Grant proposal budget worksheet.
• Project Grant proposal budget worksheet, detailing the breakdown of costs, including an indication of additional funds being received or requested.  
• Acknowledgement of direct supervisor support. It is the responsibility of the applicant to inform and obtain approval of their direct supervisor before submitting the application (dept. Chair, dean, etc.)  

Please note the following:

• Application submissions are not a guarantee of approval.
• All proposals will be reviewed to determine the suitability of budgeted items regarding stated project activities and fidelity with University policies and regulations.
• Awardees will need to follow the Instructional Development Project Grant Reimbursement Policy & Procedures. 
• Awardees will only be reimbursed for approved expenses incurred and submitted by June 15 of the awarded fiscal year.

Instructional Development Travel Grants for full-time faculty support attendance at teaching and learning, assessment, and diversity-focused conferences, workshops, and meetings.  The goal of attendance at these events is to help infuse faculty innovation and for faculty to apply the learning in their classrooms and/or their program curriculum, which will tangibly impact student learning in the approved WMU courses and programs. 

• The maximum level of award is up to $2,000 or the cost of the trip, whichever is lower. 
• Preference is given to faculty without a travel grant in the prior three-year period.
• Multiple applications from the same program unit for travel grants may be submitted each year. Still, 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.

Completion of a travel grant application does not guarantee funding; all applications are reviewed by a committee.

Applicants can expect a response within 30 days of submission deadlines.

Information about Travel Grant awardee reimbursement process:

• All travel expenses must occur and be submitted for reimbursement by June 15 in the fiscal year. WMUx / Faculty Development will not reimburse awardees for expenses incurred or paperwork submitted after June 15. For example, 2024-25 awards must be submitted by June 15, 2025.
• Instructional Development Travel grants are reimbursed to departments. Applicants will travel under their department's authorization and submit reimbursement to their department; WMUx Office of Faculty Development will reimburse the department for those travel costs. Awardees will need to follow the Travel Grant Reimbursement Policy and Procedures. 

The Travel Grant application should include:

• Proposal narrative and materials:
  • Share details (including copies of brochures or links to web-based information) regarding the conference/workshop/meeting for which the grant will support.
  • Discuss how the event is relevant to the applicant’s teaching responsibilities and field. 
  • Demonstrate intention to use and apply the knowledge they gain from attending the conference, other than presenting a paper.
  • Provide link between conference attendance and sessions to classroom teaching development and activities.
• Travel Grant proposal budget worksheet.
• Acknowledgement of direct supervisor support. Because travel grants reimbursements are reimbursed to the department, it is the responsibility of the applicant to inform and obtain approval of their direct supervisor before submitting the application (dept. chair, school director, dean, etc.)  

Please note the following: 

• Application submissions are not a guarantee of approval.
• It is the responsibility of the applicant to inform and obtain approval of their direct supervisor before submitting the application.
• All proposals will be reviewed to determine the suitability of budgeted items regarding stated project activities and fidelity to University policies and regulations.
• Awardees will only be reimbursed for approved expenses incurred and submitted by June 15 of the awarded fiscal year.