Innovative course development is fundamental to Brown’s open curriculum. Grant support is available to help faculty develop new courses or revise existing courses in ways that promote strategic initiatives. Currently, the College is interested in funding courses that focus on communication across difference, data literacy, STEM, engaged scholarship, and international topics. Mini-grants support improvements to existing courses at the undergraduate level. All regular members of the Brown faculty, including emeritus faculty, are encouraged to apply.
Unless otherwise indicated, applications open July 1 in UFUNDS and close when funds are exhausted. The senior associate dean for the curriculum can provide samples of successful proposals to faculty upon request.
First-Year Seminars
CALL FOR PROPOSALS/ PROGRAM OUTLINE | APPLICATIONS DUE ON A ROLLING BASIS
Brown’s First-Year Seminar Program allows faculty to work with newly matriculated students in a seminar-size course focused on a topic or issue of particular interest to them. Course development funds are available for new courses that promote current strategic initiatives. In alignment with the University's strategic plan, funds are available to develop courses in the following areas: a) NEW! engaged democracy seminars* b) social justice, identity, and difference; c) STEM fields; and d) seminars that promote data literacy across the curriculum. Regular faculty, including emeritus faculty, may apply online using UFUNDS.
* The application for funds to develop Engaged Democracy First-Year Seminars is part of the Swearer Center's Engaged Course Development Grant on UFUNDS.
Sophomore Seminars
CALL FOR PROPOSALS/PROGRAM OUTLINE | APPLICATIONS DUE ON A ROLLING BASIS
Sophomore seminars are designed to help students develop the habits of mind they need to progress toward more advanced learning in a discipline or field. Like First-Year seminars, they are limited in size to ensure that pre-concentration students have an opportunity to engage with faculty and students in a smaller class setting. In accordance with the University's strategic plan, curriculum development grants are available for sophomore seminars that focus on social justice, identity, and difference. Course proposals must be submitted through Brown’s online course proposal system and must be for courses offered in a fall or spring term. Approved courses are eligible for up to $4,000 based on a submitted budget. Regular faculty, including emeritus faculty, may apply online using UFUNDS.
New Diversity and Inclusion Survey Courses on Power and Identity
CALL FOR PROPOSALS | Applications accepted on a rolling basis until March 1
In fall 2016, a Task Force on Diversity in the Curriculum made several recommendations for ways the University could enhance student engagement with issues of diversity, social justice, power and privilege around the globe. The Dean of the College office is accepting proposals for a new series of interdsiciplinary survey courses addressing issues of racial, economic, and social inequity in the U.S. and globally. Courses should be designed for students with little background in the subject matter. Up to $5000 in course development funds are available via an application in UFUNDS.
Curricular Innovation in STEM
Faculty interested in funds for course development, curricular innovations, or the development of teaching technologies in the physical or biological sciences should consult with the senior associate dean for the curriculum, Besenia Rodriguez.
Community-Engaged Courses
CALL FOR PROPOSALS | APPLICATIONS ON ROLLING BASIS
Community-engaged courses create educational pathways that connect academic theory and practice, enabling students to gain hands-on experience investigating important community and social challenges. There are two primary funding opportunities : 1) the Community Engaged Curriculum Development Grant (Request for Proposal), which provides awards of up to $4,000 to departments seeking to develop new community-engaged courses or revise existing courses and 2) the Community Engaged Scholarship Course Development Mini Grant which provide faculty and other instructors with awards of up to $500 to support the integration of community-engaged learning activities into existing courses (guest speakers visits, class field trip support, demonstration materials for a course, etc). The Swearer Center can assist faculty with course design, identifying community partnerships, and assessing community-engaged work.
Regular faculty and other instructors may apply online using UFUNDS. Faculty and instructors who build these components into their courses are strongly encouraged apply to have the course designated as a Community-Based Learning and Research (CBLR) course. For more information about Swearer Course Development and the Engaged Scholars Program opportunities visit our grants page on the Swearer Center website.
International Travel in a Semester or Winter course
APPLICATIONS DUE SPRING 2018 | Brown's Global Experiential Learning and Teaching (GELT) grant program provides funds for advanced seminars/capstones in any academic discipline that embed an international travel component prior, during, or at the end of a fall or spring course AND for destination courses during Brown's Wintersession. Funds support international travel for one faculty member and up to 12 students. More information is available on the GELT site. Past recipients are showcased in News from Brown and the Brown Daily Herald.
Undergraduate Teaching and Research
DUE FEB. 10 (summer projects) and Nov. 15 (spring and interdisciplinary team projects) |
Undergraduate Teaching and Research Awards (UTRAs) support students who assist with course development and redesign during the summer ($3500) or the semester ($1000). Faculty-student teams may also apply for a summer + semester extension, which funds the student to conduct research during the summer and serve as a TA during the semester in which the course is offered ($4500). Proposals must clearly articulate the perspectives and contributions of both the student and the faculty member in the curricular revision process. More information is on the UTRA website.
Summer Courses
These grants support the development of new and innovative courses taught through the Office of Continuing Education. Courses may be offered during Summer Session (as credit-bearing or three-week non-credit courses), in a credit-bearing certificate program, or as a Continuing Studies non-credit course. Proposals for courses using new or distributive learning technology are encouraged. Contact Jim Chansky.
Mini-Grants for Course Enhancement
Salomon Curricular mini-grant provide up to $500 to support the integration of innovative learning activities into an existing undergraduate course. Funds may be used to bring guest speakers to class, to finance class field trips (see "related links" below for University policies around course-related travel, and, if necessary, see "related files" for student travel waiver forms), and to purchase demonstration materials for a course. Eligible courses enroll at least ten students. Faculty members are encouraged to apply for course support early in the term; funds are limited. With the exception of September, when the volume tends to be highest, faculty can expect to hear back within approximately 10 days from submitting their proposals. Faculty who have received a grant during an academic year may re-apply after March 1 if additional funds remain. Apply online using UFUNDS after July 1, 2018.
See also the Engaged Scholarship Courses Mini-Grant offered by the Swearer Center for Public Service.
