$20K Grants Program

$20K Grants Program

Request for Proposals. Due date – November 9, 2012

Program Description. The OTL requests proposals from faculty that describe innovative projects for the improvement of student engagement and student learning. Proposals must be submitted electronically to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The due date for proposals is November 9, 2012.

Proposed projects are required to clearly explain how improvements in student learning will result, and what changes might be required. These changes could include, for example, how students will engage with the course content, with other students and/or with the instructor, or how DU faculty members will deliver content and engage with students (e.g., “flipped classroom” methodologies). Any technological innovations that are necessary for the success of the project should also be discussed.

Proposals that involve a cohort of courses and more than a single faculty member are encouraged and will be given priority over single course/single instructor projects. For example, a proposal could describe a series of courses taken by a cohort of students in their first year or taken by majors in a discipline, or series of courses taken by more advanced students. Collaboration between instructors from different disciplines is also encouraged. A description of how the project will be sustained beyond the funding timeline must be included.  The proposals must also include the total number of students impacted by this effort, and how the impact of the proposed project will be assessed. The Proposal Evaluation Rubric is included below.

Grant recipients will be asked to share the outcomes of their project with the DU community through a written or video case study or a presentation.

Only proposals that follow the guidelines will be considered for funding. Up to $20,000 may be requested.

Proposal Guidelines (click here for proposal preparation information)

Grant Assessment. The Office of Academic Assessment is committed to supporting all grant recipients in their assessment efforts. This support could come in the form of survey or focus group development and/or administration, data analysis, or some other identified need. Contact the Office of Academic Assessment for more information.

Previously Funded Grants:

A list of the proposals that have been funded during the past several years is available on the OTL web site under the category "Funded Projects."

Proposal Evaluation Rubric.

  1. The proposal is well written and conforms to the guidelines.  (That is, both the project and why funds are needed to carry out the project are clearly explained.)

  2. The proposal describes (check all that apply):

    • an innovative (or new) teaching strategy, which promises to enhance learning

    • the use of innovative material, which promises to engage students in the learning process

    • the integration of technology, which promises to enhance learning

    • other ________________________________

  3. Number of faculty members who will be involved and support the project

  4. Number of students impacted

  5. The proposal has a well-defined plan for implementation and evaluation, including timetables and how participating faculty will be involved.

  6. If the project is successful, the manner in which the project will it be sustained by the department/unit is described.

  7. If the project involves new technology (servers, special software, etc), it is clear who will manage the hardware/software.

  8. If the proposal seeks funds for course revision, the revisions:

    • would result in tangible benefits over and above what students expect from the course in its present form.

    • would require an inordinate amount of time, clearly above and beyond "normal" course revision.

    • other ________________________________

  9. Requests for technology are clearly tied to improvements in student learning/engagement.

  10. How does the ‘bang-for-the-buck' stack up against the competing proposals?

Overall rating guide:
A - the proposal meets all of the criteria, is well-conceived, has a high probability for success.
B - the proposal meets most of the criteria, is interesting, has some probability for success.
C - the proposal does not meet the criteria, does not have much probability for success.