Gilbert Whitaker Fund for the Improvement of Teaching: Stage I

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Deadline: 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Recent Gilbert Whitaker Fund recipients

INTRODUCTION

Two stages of funding are available to collaborative groups of faculty who engage in activities that develop and deepen the commitment to good teaching and learning. In Stage I of the competition, up to eight initial grants of $10,000 each are awarded. Winning groups who complete their projects within two years have the opportunity to apply for Stage II grants of $15,000, up to three of which are awarded each year.

FUNDING PRIORITIES

Collaborations may take place either within or across programs and departments. Proposals should focus on the following types of activities:

  • adopting innovative teaching methods and technology;
  • creating interdisciplinary educational experiences for students;
  • implementing curricular reform or a more diverse curriculum;
  • creating programs that provide research and/or service learning experiences for undergraduates;
  • facilitating discussions among faculty or between faculty and graduate students about teaching issues;
  • developing methods for evaluating effective teaching;
  • enhancing undergraduate or graduate mentorship;
  • improving the preparation of graduate student instructors for their teaching activities;
  • conducting research on the scholarship of teaching and learning; or
  • other activities that provide a culture of supportive undergraduate or graduate teaching and learning.

ELIGIBILITY

The competition is open, on the Ann Arbor campus of the University, to all tenured and tenure-track faculty; clinical instructional faculty; and lecturers who have continuing appointments and course development responsibilities (i.e., an assignment from the dean, chair, or associate chair to develop a new course or significantly revise an existing course). 

DEADLINE

Proposals are due at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, October 23, 2012.

SUBMISSION PROCEDURES

All applications are handled electronically and must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 23, 2012.

  1. Download and complete
    1. this cover sheet and budget worksheet (not to exceed $10,000 from the Provost’s Office, see FUNDING section below for allowable expenses).
  2. Prepare a 3-5 page proposal in accordance with the Guidelines below.
  3. Solicit letters of support from deans, chairs, or other relevant colleagues.
  4. Merge all application materials into a single pdf file.
  5. Click the Submit Application button at the top of this page.
    1. Fill out the web form, which requires a project overview.  This project overview (250 word maximum) will be included in a set of summary documents provided to the review panel.
    2. Upload the pdf file.

Chair Evaluations:

  1. Forward to your chair this Chair Evaluation Form along with a complete copy of your application packet. 
  2. The chairperson should evaluate the proposal and then forward the Chair Evaluation Form to crltgrants@umich.edu.  These must be received by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 23, 2012.

PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

An applicant should prepare a three-to-five page proposal that addresses the following items:

  1. Goals of the Project.  State the goals of the project, indicating how the proposal relates to the enhancement of teaching and student learning and to departmental or college/school priorities. Be specific about the teaching and learning outcomes you expect to reach as a result of your project.
  2. Project Design.  Describe the general approach by which the project will meet its stated goals.  Indicate how your project represents an improvement upon, or important departure from, existing practice. 
  3. Project Implementation.  Be specific about what the project will entail.  Explain what activities are to be carried out and by whom. 
  4. Evaluation of Impact.  Include an evaluation plan describing how you will determine whether you have reached your teaching and learning outcomes. Methods of evaluation might include, but are not limited to: midterm assessments, focus groups; participant observation; assignment, syllabi or other document reviews; examination of student work; pre- and post-tests; end of term student ratings; surveys etc.
  5. Timeline.  Indicate the projected timeline for carrying out the project, and provide a breakdown for various stages, including all points of evaluation.
  6. Personnel.  List names of faculty members and others involved.  Please explain how each collaborator will contribute to the successful completion of the project. Do not include CVs.
  7. Budget Justification. Explain clearly why each item on the separate budget worksheet is essential to the project. Line items should include the underlying assumptions used to prepare the request, such as rates of pay, numbers of hours and/or appointment percentages, and quantities and costs of various categories of supplies. Cost sharing by academic units, when applicable, should also be itemized. Fringe benefits must be figured into the budget for all personnel. Budget items that are normally provided by departments, such as library acquisitions, travel expenses, copying expenses, and supplies, may be included as cost sharing.

FUNDING

The following expenditures (among others) may be included in the budget request:

  • Retreats, workshops or planning sessions
  • Focus groups, surveys and written materials
  • Data analysis
  • Facilitator or consultant honorarium
  • Faculty summer salary
  • Replacement teaching subvention
  • Materials, supplies, and meals
  • Student support
  • Travel
  • Equipment

The following expenditures may NOT be included:

  1. Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) salaries
  2. Tuition portion of a Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA) appointment

FUNDING PERIOD

The period of funding may vary to fit the needs of the project, but is limited to two years. The funding period must begin in January 2013, and projects must be completed by December 31, 2014.

FUNDING DECISIONS

All Gilbert Whitaker Fund Stage I applications are reviewed and ranked by the appropriate dean and then undergo a review process carried out by members of the CRLT staff and the CRLT Advisory Board, composed of faculty from across campus. The final funding decisions will be made by the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. Stage I awards will be announced in December 2012.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

CRLT asks all grant recipients to disseminate their results by completing a brief web form within three months of the project’s completion. These reports will be publicly displayed on the CRLT Grants Reports website.

QUESTIONS AND CONSULTATIONS

Please contact CRLT at 764-0505 or crltgrants@umich.edu if you have questions. CRLT staff are available to consult with grant applicants as they prepare proposals.

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