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4.2 TEACHING INITIATIVE GRANTS

(approved November 1996)

The Kenyon Faculty Teaching Initiative Grant Program provides funds to support members of the faculty in developing new courses and for enhancing teaching methods and strategies in existing and new courses. Grant monies may be used to restructure existing courses, and to research and obtain materials for the development and implementation of new courses, including attending or organizing workshops or other productions that directly contribute to enhanced teaching. Proposals are evaluated and grants awarded by the Faculty Affairs Committee. The program is administered by the Associate Provost.

Early in the spring semester, the Faculty Affairs Committee determines the level of funding for individual grants and publishes deadlines and guidelines for the Teaching Initiative Grant program. At the end of each round of funding, the Faculty Affairs Committee publishes a list of grants awarded. At the end of the academic year, the committee publishes a list of all grants awarded for that year.

Eligible to participate are: all members holding full-time appointments at the ranks of Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor (this includes full-time visiting appointments and shared appointments, but does not include adjunct appointments); all members appointed under at least a half-time contract at the time of application; and all full-time members of the professional library staff. Members in the last category should discuss their proposals with the Associate Provost before submitting them to the Faculty Affairs Committee. Applicants must be employed by the College at the time of application submission and during the funding period. Joint applications are acceptable within departments and programs, as well as across departmental, program, and divisional lines. Not all persons in a joint application need be eligible as individuals. Faculty Teaching Initiative funds may not be used in support of work towards a degree or for expenses which are primarily promotional in character.

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Faculty Teaching Initiative funds are intended primarily for the development of new and creative courses, and the restructuring of existing courses. Secondarily, funds may be used to attend workshops or other productions that will enhance the teaching of faculty members. Funds will not be awarded if the proposal focuses primarily on the research, writing, and artistic activities of faculty members. Funding for such proposals is available through Faculty Development Grants. (See section 4.1.)

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A member seeking support will submit a written proposal to the Associate Provost in accordance with the guidelines published by the Faculty Affairs Committee for the current year. Members planning to submit a proposal are encouraged to discuss it with the Associate Provost or the chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee, but only a fully developed proposal, submitted by the deadline, will be considered by the committee.

Applications must include the following:

  • The summary cover sheet available available online from the Kenyon Grant Guidelines.
  • A statement of the project, the expected results, and the relationship of the project to the teaching of the member and the curricular goals of the College. When applicable, applicants should provide a detailed discussion of the structure of the new course, its innovative features, and the materials necessary for its successful execution.
  • A timetable.
  • A detailed budget for all books, equipment, materials, travel, and other expenses. Since funds are limited, every effort to economize should be made. Requests for books and equipment should not include those which are routinely purchased by the department or program, or are made available through other resources. Requests for equipment will be entertained only if it is clear that the applicant has exhausted all other alternative sources for such funding. Unless otherwise requested by the applicant, all equipment is the property of the College.

Applicants should utilize the least expensive facilities and resources. Estimates of travel costs should be obtained from the Travel Consultancy Agent (phone numbers are available through the Darlene Tedrow, Edelstein House). In order to secure the best price, successful applicants are encouraged to purchase their tickets promptly. Faculty members are reminded that certain travel funding is available without committee review for attendance at professional meetings.

  • If applicable, a statement as to whether outside funding was sought.
  • If relevant to the current proposal, reference to previously obtained Teaching Initiative grants.
  • A current vita.
  • Applicants seeking funding to attend workshops or other productions must specify how their attendance will directly contribute to the applicant's instruction.

For the application to be considered complete, the applicant must have submitted written reports on previously awarded Teaching Initiative grants. The committee will review the file on the most recently funded proposal, and may review files pertaining to earlier grants as well. An application should regard this information as available to the committee and make references to it as appropriate.

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After each announced grant deadline, the Faculty Affairs Committee will meet to evaluate proposals. Before each meeting, the members read the proposals and rate them on a five-point scale. At the meeting the members discuss each proposal and their individual ratings. Following this discussion, members declare their final rating and the results are tallied. The committee then determines appropriate funding and make awards. The Associate Provost notifies applicants of the committee's decisions. Applicants may discuss the committee's decision regarding their proposal with the chair or any other member of the committee.

When a member of the committee has submitted a proposal to be evaluated, that member must excuse himself or herself during the time the proposal is evaluated. The other committee members will vote, and the total score will be multiplied by a fraction compensating for the member's absence, or the scores will be added and averaged, and the average score will be added to the total.

The principal criteria used in evaluating proposals are:

  • The academic merit and pedagogical goals of the project in relation to the mission of the department or program and the College.
  • The qualifications of the member.
  • The ability of the member to successfully carry out the project.
  • The feasibility of the plan and the timetable.
  • The availability of resources and research facilities.
  • The demonstrated need for funding to pursue the project.

These criteria must be clearly stated and/or argued in the member's proposal.

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The Faculty Affairs Committee has the right to revoke its funding of proposals when, in its estimation, members have failed to utilize approved funds within a reasonable period.

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All recipients of Teaching Initiative Grants, including cosponsors of joint grants, must submit written reports to the Associate Provost on the work accomplished under the grant. The report is due within two months of the completion date for the project. It should include the recipient's evaluation of the project and a summary of actual funds expended and all receipts covering those expenditures. The report is required of all recipients to maintain eligibility for subsequent proposals. No proposal will be considered for funding if the applicant has failed to submit a written report for any previous Teaching Initiative Grant.

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