MCTL Pedagogical Development and Course Development Grant Information
The Muhlenberg Center for Teaching and Learning (MCTL) accepts applications for summer grants designed to support faculty and staff in their teaching. Awards are typically either $2000 (4 weeks) or $4000 (8 weeks) depending on available funding and the scope of the proposed project. Grant support is available to full-time Muhlenberg faculty and staff who engage in teaching responsibilities. To be eligible, applicants must be slated to teach the proposed course(s) during the following academic year. Long-term part-time faculty and staff could be eligible depending on assurance of course offerings from the Provost and Department Chair. There are two different types of grants available: pedagogical development grants and new course development grants.
Pedagogical Development Grants
Pedagogical development grants support reflection on and revision of pedagogy. All faculty and staff members normally update their courses by looking for new texts or course content, updating technology they have been using, or making changes in their assignments, among other revisions. The purpose of these grants is to encourage faculty and staff members to develop a significantly different approach in their teaching that focuses on improving student learning. Projects often include investigating and integrating pedagogies established in a field but new to the professor or the course. Examples of this are team-based approaches, problem-based learning, antiracist pedagogy, and community-engaged learning. Proposals may involve the development of an entirely new pedagogical approach that has not yet generated a comprehensive critical literature. A project may also require discipline-specific training (e.g., learning a new methodological approach) that will have an impact on teaching.
While exploration is encouraged, it is also expected that a significant product will result from these projects, such as a newly configured course, significant course revisions, or a demonstrable impact on teaching practices. It is helpful to include concrete examples of the types of materials, activities, or other changes you anticipate including in your course(s) in your grant proposal. Preference will be given to proposals that have a well-developed plan for assessing the new approach. Projects that have received funding in the past include, but are not limited to, the exploration and integration of digital tools for collaborative work, the creation of guided-inquiry exercises as a contribution to discipline-specific resources, the development of a first year seminar that incorporates emergent communication technologies, the creation of assignments for team-taught courses that foreground the idea of interdisciplinarity, and the development of a community-engagement component in an existing course. See below for examples of proposals that are typically considered for pedagogical development grants. Please be mindful that these examples are a rough guide to provide some clarity in what MCTL looks for when evaluating proposals. These are not intended to be rigid distinctions between proposals that are considered for funding and those that are not.
Examples of Projects Appropriate for Pedagogical Development Grants
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Typically Considered for PDGs |
Typically Not Considered for PDGs |
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Making changes to assigned readings that lead to a different pedagogical approach |
Making changes to assigned readings that do not alter the pedagogical approach |
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Using a new technology that fundamentally changes the way in which students work with the content (e.g., Hypothesis annotation) |
Using a new technology to support course content or class process (e.g., using Slack instead of Canvas) |
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Requires pedagogical expertise that is substantively beyond a faculty member’s typical teaching or scholarship (e.g., may require specific pedagogical training or workshops) |
Proposals for courses that may be outside of a faculty member’s specific area of expertise but would not necessarily require a change to the way in which the course is taught. |
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Proposals that align with general academic curriculum revisions or emerging major/minor program needs and require a substantive revision to the way in which the course is taught. |
Proposals that align with general academic curriculum revisions or emerging major/minor program needs but require only minor updates to align the course with the requirements of the curriculum/major, etc. |
New Course Development Grants
New course development grants support the creation of a new course that meets departmental, program, or College-wide needs. Projects for this type of grant must go beyond the scope of regular course preparation and/or revision of course materials. In some cases, this may occur when the content of the course is significantly outside of the faculty member’s area of professional training. In other cases, the course is within the faculty member’s disciplinary area, but would require extensive efforts to research new content and develop pedagogical approaches. This may include, but is not limited to, courses that fulfill specific needs in the general academic curriculum or the major (e.g., developing a new FYS, developing a CUE course that addresses multiple subdisciplines, developing a course to address an emerging subdiscipline within the field). Applicants for new course development grants should consult with the appropriate Department Chair/Program Director and with the Writing Program Committee (as relevant) prior to submitting the proposal and include their signature(s) on the application cover page.
General Information
Applying for Multiple Grants: Faculty members may apply simultaneously for multiple summer grants (i.e., those reviewed by MCTL and FDSC), although the total summer grant money approved for any one faculty member will not exceed $4000 (with the exception of applying for direct expenses in combination with any other award). Although it is possible to request funding for more than one four-week MCTL grant (e.g., one new course, one pedagogical development grant), MCTL will prioritize funding as many colleagues as possible before awarding a second grant to a single person. As part of each grant proposal, a faculty member should disclose other internal applications for summer work and indicate which project is the highest priority and whether there is any overlap between projects. If a faculty member has received prior internal or external funding to support the same project, the faculty member must demonstrate a significant need for additional funding. If an application(s) for other sources of support is pending, the faculty member should disclose this and provide an expected decision date(s).
Expectations of Grant: Grant recipients are expected to devote the specified amount of full-time work to their projects and agree not to accept other professional obligations during this period that would take considerable time away from their grant responsibilities. A faculty member who teaches a summer course may be eligible for summer grant support. However, the proposed project timeline must not overlap significantly with the timeline of the course. If awarded a summer grant, a brief written report of your project is due on September 1st (for a course taught in the fall) or January 15th (for a course taught in the spring). We will also ask you to participate in a future MCTL-sponsored event designed to allow grant recipients to share their work with the campus community.
Proposal Evaluations: In evaluating grant proposals, MCTL places the highest priority on the quality and merit of the proposals submitted. Strong proposals provide a clearly articulated rationale for the project (e.g., need, nature of work needed, feasibility, impact), identification of relevant resources, and a well-developed plan to assess the project. Incomplete grants and those submitted after the deadline may not be considered. The criteria used by the MCTL advisory board in reviewing grants will be available on the MCTL website and are linked here. Other factors that may play a role in MCTL’s recommendations to the Provost for funding are the applicant’s record with previous College funding, the dates of previous awards, and prospects for the project being completed during the time of the grant. Projects that have the potential for dissemination beyond the College (e.g., potential publication, conference presentation, or web resource) or that will contribute to the general academic curriculum or emerging major/minor program needs are also highly valued. For grants supporting the development of first year seminars, MCTL will consult with the Writing Program Committee. For grants that will meet the College’s new general academic requirements, MCTL will consult with the relevant advisory committees (e.g., RP advisory board). Faculty who received a summer grant last year must first submit a progress report according to grant guidelines in order to be considered for a summer grant this year.
New faculty are strongly encouraged to apply for summer funding through MCTL. First-time applicants are encouraged to consult with a member of the MCTL board prior to submission.
Proposals are due by 11:59 pm., typically in early-to-mid February. Applications should not exceed 750 words or approximately 3 pages (excluding the cover sheet). Please direct questions to Sherri Young, Director of MCTL. Please submit all materials in a single PDF file.
Forward your completed application electronically to all of the following: Sherri Young ([email protected]) and Dana Lohman ([email protected]) in the Provost’s Office.
Pedagogical Development Grant Guidelines
- Provide a description of the project you plan to undertake. Describe the issue(s) in your teaching or course that has been a challenge and the changes you would like to make to improve student learning. Please be sure to explicitly articulate how your plans represent a significantly different approach from pedagogies you more commonly employ and how the work associated with this project is beyond typical course development expected of faculty. Include the kinds of questions you will be pursuing and, to the extent possible, cite specific resources (in the MCTL collection or elsewhere) that will support your project. Explain how you plan to evaluate the impact of your project on student learning or your teaching. Proposals with clear and thoughtful assessment plans will be prioritized.
- Specify whether you are requesting 4 or 8 weeks of support (on the cover sheet) and outline your proposed timeline (weekly for summer work plus indicate in which semester changes will be implemented). Explain how the money will be spent (e.g. conference fees, transportation, texts, computer programs, stipend for time spent developing new course pedagogy, etc.).
- If you have received a pedagogical development grant or a course development grant in the past five years, list the amount and date of the grant and briefly discuss the outcome of your work.
- Outline your professional commitments over the summer (including summer teaching).
- Provide a list of courses that you have taught within the last 3 years.
- In times of financial challenge and in an effort to support as many worthy projects as possible, please indicate in your application whether you would be willing to consider a reduced award amount should such circumstances arise.
New Course Development Grant Guidelines
- Provide the tentative name of the new course and when it is expected to be taught. Explain the ways in which the development of this course departs significantly from the kinds of course development that are expected of all faculty and teaching staff. This may include information about the nature of the course (e.g., outside of expertise), the need for the course (e.g., department or College), or other factors that will clarify why this course is being proposed at this time (e.g., to address recent Task Force recommendations). Provide a description of the work you plan to undertake in developing this course. To the extent possible, cite specific resources that will support your work.
- Specify the time commitment and provide a detailed explanation of how your time will be spent researching the new content or theoretical approach for the new course. Explain how the money will be spent (e.g. conference fees, texts, transportation, computer programs, stipend for time spent developing new course content, etc.).
- If you have received a pedagogical development grant or a course development grant in the past five years, list the amount and date of the grant and briefly discuss the outcome of your work.
- Outline your professional commitments over the summer (including summer teaching).
- Attach a current c.v.
- Include a signature from your department chair or relevant program director on the cover sheet.
- In times of financial challenge and in an effort to support as many worthy projects as possible, please indicate in your application whether you would be willing to consider a reduced award amount should such circumstances arise.
