Center for Academic Innovation (CAI)

Applicationfor the Dow Professor Awards

Mission- to support the campus community in enhancing and creating innovative practices that promote pedagogical excellence.

Vision- to foster a culture of pedagogical innovation and excellence to support and bring national recognition to the teaching and learning endeavors of the university

Center for Academic Innovation Goals

  1. Foster pedagogical innovation and excellence with the purpose of addressing student retention and success[i].
  2. Promote understanding and implementation of high-impact, evidenced-based pedagogical practices.
  3. Support faculty, departments, and non-academic units in the integration of curricular and co-curricular activities that enhance student learning.
  4. Cultivate a culture of data-informed pedagogical practices.
  5. Encourage and support faculty to leverage technology to enhance learning and address teaching and learning challenges.
  6. Support faculty in the scholarship of teaching and learning initiatives.
  7. Orient and support new faculty to the culture and practices of innovative teaching and learning.
  8. Offer a variety of opportunities for engaging in discussion, sharing practices, and professional development activities focused on learner-centered pedagogy.
  9. Serve as a resource center for evidenced-based and emerging practices of teaching and learning.

Funding

The Center for Academic Innovation will award funding to support academic and pedagogical innovation to enhance student learning. The funding is provided by the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Academic Development fund awarded to Saginaw Valley State University.

Estimated number of awards: 6

Estimated amount: up to $5,500/project

Purpose

The purpose of the award is to support the work of individual tenure-track faculty or teams of faculty for academic and pedagogical innovation projects that enhance student learning. These projects will demonstrate the use of evidence-based practices and innovative pedagogy to address a learning need.

Funding Priorities

Proposals should include projects that support the following CAI goals:

  1. Foster pedagogical innovation and excellence with the purpose of addressing student retention and success.
  2. Promote understanding and implementation of high-impact, evidenced-based pedagogical practices.
  3. Support faculty, departments, and non-academic units in the integration of curricular and co-curricular activities that enhance student learning.
  4. Encourage and support faculty to leverage technology to enhance learning and address teaching and learning challenges.
  5. Support faculty in the scholarship of teaching and learning initiatives.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

  • novel applications of instructional technology/methods in the classroom;
  • incorporation of service learning projects;
  • scholarship of teaching and learning projects

It is expected that the project will be implemented and assessed within the next academic year. Providea timeline to support the proposed project.

Selection Criteria

Selection priority will go to proposals that clearly articulate how they will:

  • Advance the key funding priorities.
  • Substantially enhance the learning outcomesand experiences of significant numbers ofSVSU students.
  • Represent activities that go above and beyond standard elements of course development or course revision.
  • Incorporate appropriate methods for assessing, documenting, and disseminating project impact.
  • Create or enhance collaborations across faculty and/or units
  • Clearly link to departmental, college, or University educational priorities.
  • Be sustained beyond the funding period.

Eligibility

The competition is open to all tenured-track faculty.

For collaborative proposals, the project director listed on the Application Cover Sheet must meet eligibility requirements. Applicants who received CAI grants in the past may seek support for new proposals. If a choice must be made between projects of equal merit, priority will be given to the proposal submitted by an applicant who has not received funds during the previous academic year.

Deadline

Proposals are due by 4:30 p.m. onJanuary 27thannually or the next business day if falls on weekend.

Submission Procedure

All applications will be submitted electronically through Competition Space -

  1. Prepare a 150 word project abstract (in addition to the narrative)
  2. Prepare a 3pageproposalin accordance with the Guidelines below.
  3. Prepare budget to support the project.

Proposal Guidelines

Applicants should prepare a 3 page proposal that includes the following items:

abstract(to be used for press releases and summary reports)

Project Title, Faculty Member’s name and title, target audience to be served, description of the goal(s) to be achieved, and method(s) to be used, and anticipated outcome(s) of the proposed project (maximum 150 words).

narrative: Double-Spaced & 12 size font

  1. Need statement and goals and objectives of the proposed project: Describe the instructional and learning need that the project is proposing to address. List the project goals, objectives and anticipated outcomes.
  2. Background and Context: Provide the instructional context and a research background to support your proposed project.
  3. Significance and Impact: Provide a description of how this project will impact student learning.
  4. Timeline: Provide a timeline for the proposed project.
  5. Project Evaluation: Explain how the success of this project will be assessed for student retention and success, documented, and disseminated.Assessment methods might include, but are not limited to: midterm course assessments; assignment, syllabi or other course document reviews; analysis of student work; end-of-term student ratings; focus group; surveys.

In the online formyou will be asked to agree with this Statement:

I agree to make a presentation at the CAI Teaching Symposium (Winter term yearly) and up to two other events organized by CAI.

budget and budget narrative(in addition to3 page limit)

Describe how you plan to use the funds for the project.

Explain how the budget is aligned with the project’s objectives.

List/disclose any other funding supporting this project.

Funding Period

The period of funding will vary according to the project, but is limited to one year. The funding period beginsMay 1yearly;projects must be completed by April 30 the following year.

Submit all expenditures to Sponsored Programs. Accounts for awards will be closed on April 30. Any funds remaining will be returned to the University.

An extension for the use of monetary funds may be granted upon request, if extenuating circumstances prevent the faculty member from completing the scope of work in one year and funds remain. Faculty who receive approval to extend their project may not apply for or receive another award in the extension year.

Should a faculty member require additional time to complete their project, the faculty member should request an extension utilizing Sponsored Program’s Office. This office is responsible for tracking requests and reporting.

  • Step 1:The faculty member may request an extension at any time, but at least 10 days before the grant ends -by April 20 yearly. Faculty should send an email with a one paragraph rationale for the request to Sponsored Programs.
  • Step 2: SP → will route your request to your Dean who will verify the work is in progress and needs additional time to be completed.
  • Step 3: You will receive a written response from Sponsored Programs.

Funding Decisions

All Faculty Development Fund applications are reviewed and ranked by the CAI Advisory Board whose membership is one faculty member from each of the six academic units; the Director of Academic Support Programs; one Dean; and an Ex-Officio Chair representing the CAI Steering Committee. Awards will be announced in April yearly following SVSU Foundation Board decisions.

Reporting Guidelines

Final Reports are due 30 days following the project’s end date, May 30 on the SVSU Internal Grant System:

Final Report is limited to 1,000 words. Include the following components in your report:

Project title, your name, your discipline of study, description of the goal(s) achieved, the pedagogical innovative method(s) used, and the outcomes(s) of the proposed project. Estimate the number of faculty implementing this method; estimate the number of students impacted by this practice. List course name and section(s)implementing the method(s). Include data measuring student retention and success.

Include final budget expenditures and other sources of revenue used to support this project, if applicable.

Timetable

January 27 / Application due date
April / Awards announced
May 1 / Projects start
Following year…
February / Symposium presentation
April 30 / Project ends
May 30 / Project report due

Questions and Consultations

Please contact CAI Director, Poonam Kumar, is available to consult with grant applicants as they prepare proposals - 989-964-4189 or

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[i] “Success” is to be defined by the University/Student Success Committee.