Request for Proposals

Small grants (up to $1,000) are available throughout the year from CRLT’s Instructional Development Fund. These grants are designed to support innovative activities to support teaching, learning, and student engagement at the University of Michigan. Proposals in all areas of undergraduate and graduate teaching are welcome. 

Eligibility

The competition is open year-round, on the Ann Arbor campus of the University, to all tenured and tenure-track faculty; clinical instructional faculty; and lecturers who have continuing appointments and course development responsibilities (i.e., an assignment from the dean, chair, or designee to develop a new course or significantly revise an existing course). 

If appropriate, proposals may be submitted jointly by more than one individual, but no individual may serve as an applicant on more than one project, whether joint or single. In order to support a wide range of instructors, an individual may receive only one IDF grant every two years.

Use of Grant Funds

Grant awards up to $1,000 are available to individual faculty or small groups of faculty, but the maximum award amount is $1,000 per project.

Expenses that can be covered by these grants may include, but are not limited to, supplies and equipment, programming or research assistance, fees and expenses for student field trips, honoraria for classroom guest speakers, fees and expenses for conferences directly related to teaching, and summer projects aimed at developing or enhancing courses. Funding may not be used to reimburse costs already incurred, or to pay for publication fees.

Grantees are responsible for working with their departmental budget managers to ensure grant funding is spent within the project timeline and in accordance with the UM policies and procedures. All unspent funds should be returned to CRLT upon project completion.

Application Process and Submission Procedure

Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the academic year (June 2024 - May 2025) until funds are exhausted. Approximately 11-15 projects are funded yearly, depending on the amounts requested.

To apply, download the IDF proposal template below. Once you’ve completed your proposal, please save it as a single PDF file using the following naming convention: LastName_GrantType_yyyy_mm.pdf (e.g., Smith_IDF_2024_09.pdf).

For instructors categorized as Lecturer I or in an adjunct position ONLY: Send your completed application (in PDF file format) to your Chairperson or designee who should complete the appointment verification section in the proposal template verifying that the proposal is being submitted by a Lecturer who has (1) a continuing appointment on the Ann Arbor campus of the University of Michigan; and (2) course development responsibilities (i.e., an assignment from the dean, chair, or designee to develop a new course or significantly revise an existing course).

Download IDF Proposal Template

To submit a proposal:

1. Click the Submit Application button at the top of this page.
2. Fill out the web form (to preview the form, click the Submit Application button).
3. Upload your complete proposal, including signed appointment verification, as a single PDF file using the following naming convention: LastName_GrantType_yyyy_mm.pdf (e.g., Smith_IDF_2024_09.pdf).

Allow two weeks for the grant review process.

Proposal Checklist

Applicants should prepare a proposal, using the IDF proposal template, that includes the following items:

• Project Overview (150 words max): Provide a brief overview/abstract of your project for a non-specialist audience. You will also submit this electronically on the application webform. This overview will be made public on the CRLT website if your proposal is funded.
• Project Description (1 page max): The project description should include: 
  • A description of the project/activity and the intended learning goals and/or objectives of the project/activity.
  • A rationale for the project/activity, including how the project will improve or enhance student learning and/or engagement.
  • A brief justification for each budget item as well as the total amount requested. For example: $400 for speakers (2 x $200); $100 for books (4 x $25) and $250 for research assistance (10 hrs @ $25/hr) = $750
• Appointment Verification (For instructors categorized as Lecturer 1 or in an adjunct position ONLY)
  • The Chairperson or designee should complete the appointment verification section in the proposal template verifying that the proposal is being submitted by a Lecturer who has (1) a continuing appointment on the Ann Arbor campus of the University of Michigan; and (2) course development responsibilities (i.e., an assignment from the dean, chair, or designee to develop a new course or significantly revise an existing course).

Proposal Review Criteria and Evaluation Process

All Instructional Development Fund applications undergo a review process carried out by CRLT staff. Proposals are evaluated by the following criteria:

• Importance of Project
• Impact on Student Learning
• Budget

Reporting Requirements

All recipients are required to submit a brief webform summary of the grant activities within three months of the project’s completion. Click here to download the Final Project Report Guidelines. These reports will be publicly displayed on the CRLT Grants Reporting website, so that others can learn about your project, its impact, and lessons learned.

Questions and Consultations

Please contact CRLT at (734) 764-0505 or [email protected] if you have questions about the grant or the application process. CRLT staff are available to consult with grant applicants as they prepare proposals. You may also contact us if you have issues submitting your proposal to the CRLT website.