Instructional Grants

The Center for Instructional Development and Educational Research (CIDER) offers several types of funding opportunities to meet the varying pedagogical needs, challenges and opportunities of faculty. These grants are designed for faculty members to facilitate and scaffold the:

• development of instructional abilities,
• taking of pedagogical risks, and
• engagement in the scholarship of teaching and learning.

That said, if you have a pedagogical need that does not fit neatly into one of the pre-determined grants, please contact us!

Types of Grants

Instructional Enhancement, Innovation and Exploration Grants

The Instructional Enhancement, Innovation and Exploration Grants are designed to provide an opportunity for faculty members to enhance their instruction through the development of new course curricula, techniques, technologies or materials; application of existing instructional methods in a novel or innovative manner or environment; or evaluation of new or existing instructional methods, materials or outcomes. Maximum funding for an Instructional Enhancement, Innovation and Exploration Grant is $2,000.

Common Book Grants

The Common Book Grants are designed to provide an opportunity for faculty members to enhance their instruction through the adoption and use of the University's Common Book Project. The Common Book Project provides all first-year undergraduate and transfer students with shared educational experience to encourage a sense of community through critical thinking, discussion, and action. Maximum funding for a Common Book Grant is $2,000.

Diversity Enhancement Grants

The Diversity Enhancement Grants are designed to provide an opportunity for faculty members to enhance their instruction through the promotion of social equality by transforming educational practices and curricula. Maximum funding for a Diversity Enhancement Grant is $2,000.

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Grants

The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Grants are designed to provide an opportunity for faculty members to engage in the design, development, implementation and/or dissemination of scholarship related to higher education teaching and learning. Maximum funding for a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Grant is $2,000.

Please Note: No CIDER grant funds may be used for travel.

Applying for Grants

Proposal Due Dates

CIDER accepts proposals for instructional grants twice each academic year. The submission date for funding Session I is October 15th and the submission date for funding Session II is March 15th. Session I funds will be dispersed on November 15th and Session II funds will be dispersed on August 15th.

Proposal Content & Format

A project proposal must be submitted by the appropriate deadline (see above) to be considered for funding. Proposals should each include the eight sections delineated below and not exceed 5 pages in length. Incomplete project proposals will not be considered.

1. Project Description: Provide a brief narrative that contextualizes the proposed project for a reader that may not be familiar with the author's discipline or interdisciplinary perspective. This description must include a grounding in relevant theoretical and pedagogical scholarship.
2. Purpose & Significance: Provide a statement of the project's purpose and significance.
3. Goals & Objectives: Provide general goals and specific objectives for the proposed project.
4. Implementation: Provide a description of how the project goals and objectives will be met.
5. Assessment & Evaluation: Provide a detailed description of how the project's objectives will be assessed and evaluated.
6. Evidence of Scholarship: Each CIDER grantee is responsible for creating one "piece" of scholarship related to teaching and learning (e.g., scholarly article, conference presentation, grant proposal, instructional materials) based on the proposed project. Provide a description of what type of scholarship is anticipated, included details necessary to assess the nature of the scholarship (e.g., potential journals or funding agencies to which submit, method of making instructional resources publically available).
7. Project Budget: Provide a detailed budget for the full amount requested from CIDER, including, but not limited to, wages, equipment, consultants and materials. Please note that CIDER will not fund travel or supplies.
8. Biographical Sketches: Provide a brief, 1-2 paragraph, description of key personnel involved in the proposed project.

Risks are encouraged! The completion of proposals often drives faculty members to construct conservative projects. CIDER encourages faculty members to create projects that are bold; well-intentioned failure is rewarded!

Grant proposals must be emailed in pdf format to the CIDER Director, Peter Doolittle (pdoo@vt.edu), by 11:59 pm on day the proposals are due.

Review Criteria for Grants

Proposal Review Criteria

Each submitted complete proposal will be evaluated based on the following seven criteria:

1. Significance of the proposed project: Does the proposed project address a significant need and potentially result in a significant impact?
2. Grounding in current theoretical and pedagogical literature: Is the proposed project grounded in current and relative theoretical, practical and/or pedagogical literature?
3. Potential influence on student learning: Does the proposal identify specific ways in which the project will directly influence student learning and/or teacher effectiveness?
4. Appropriateness/feasibility of the proposed project: Does the proposed project represent an appropriate response to the described need and is project completion likely given the available resources?
5. Adequacy of the assessment and evaluation plan: Does the proposal provide an evaluation plan that is aligned with the proposal's goals and objectives, and that explains how the project's effectiveness will be assessed?
6. Feasibility/appropriateness of the scholarship of teaching and learning: Does the proposal identify appropriate and feasible scholarly outlets for the results of the project?
7. Appropriateness/completeness of the projected budget.: Does the proposal provide a detailed budget that accounts for all of the funds requested?

Final Report for Grants

Grant recipients must submit a three-page report delineating the project's (a) activities, (b) results, and (c) scholarly product to CIDER no later than one year following the relevant grant proposal due date (i.e., if one applies to an October 15th due date, the final report is due October 15th of the following year).

111 Hillcrest Hall (0453), Blacksburg, VA 24061
(540) 231-6995  |  cider@vt.edu