Innovative course development is fundamental to Brown’s open curriculum. Mini-grants support small-scale projects, materials, or activities in undergraduate classes. Larger grants are available to develop new undergraduate courses or revise existing courses in ways that promote strategic initiatives. Brown faculty, including emeritus faculty, are eligible to apply. Recipients will typically be expected to report on their funded activities and the outcomes of the curriculum (re)design.
Most applications open July 1 for the following academic year.
Course Development Projects
Samples of successful proposals may be shared upon request. Proposals for courses that meet the following institutional priorities are particularly encouraged:
| Course Type or Topic | Grant Opportunity | Amount | Deadline | Application Link |
|
Priority given to new or re-designed: - Online courses - First-Year Seminars (Program Description | Request for Proposals) - Introductory survey courses on DIAP-related topics, including power, privilege, identity (Request for Proposals) |
Up to $4,000
Up to $5,000 |
Beginning July 1: rolling, until funds are exhausted |
Application opens July 1 each year |
|
| Courses on data science across disciplines and in science technology, engineering, and math (STEM) |
Funding for a course in the biological and physical sciences or an interdisciplinary course that straddles the sciences |
Flexible
|
Beginning July 1: rolling, until funds are exhausted |
Zern Application opens July 1 |
| Documentary film courses | Tarrant Endowed Teaching Fund
supports activities (in or outside of a course) that explore issues of social and cultural importance through documentary film.
|
Flexible | Rolling, until funds are exhausted | Application |
| Travel-Embedded Courses for 1-2 faculty and up to 12 undergraduates (semester or wintersession) |
Curriculum Development (Global Experiential Learning and Teaching Grant, Phase I) Travel/Implementation Grant (Global Experiential Learning and Teaching Grant, Phase II) |
Up to $4,000
|
Typically February |
Application link published in December
Past recipients are showcased in News from Brown and the Brown Daily Herald |
| Summer Courses | See the Summer Session Instructor Website | Up to $4,000 | Rolling | [email protected] |
| Wintersession Courses | See the Wintersession Website | Up to $4,000 plus up to $1,000 for a teaching assistant | TBA (Typically February) |
Application link published in December
|
Mini-Grants for Course Enhancement | Apply after July 1 and at least one month prior to anticipated activities
Salomon Curricular Mini-grants provide up to $500 to support the integration of learning activities into an existing undergraduate course with at least ten enrolled students. Funds may be used to support guest speakers, to purchase materials for a course, and to finance class field trips (see the University Policies on course-related travel, and, if necessary, download student travel waiver forms), among other expenses. Given our institutional commitment to equity and inclusion of all students regardless of available financial resources, we urge instructors to consider including requests for expenses that students might otherwise incur, including costs related to student projects and research.
With the exception of September, when the volume tends to be highest, faculty can expect to hear back within approximately two weeks. Faculty who have received a grant during a given academic year may submit another proposal after March 1 if additional funds remain.
Community-Engaged Course Development Mini Grants provide up to $500 to support the integration of community-engaged learning activities, such as guest speakers, and field trips, into existing courses. Apply here.
