Undergraduate Curriculum Seed Grants are intended to support the development of major curriculum development grant proposals (over $20,000) to private foundations or public agencies. Priority will be given to projects that have high potential for significantly improving the curriculum, for long term institutional adoption, and for attracting external funding. 

FUNDING PARAMETERS 

The seed grant maximum will be $5,000 and grants will be nonrenewable. Funds may be used for pilot projects or to support proposal preparation. Expenses may include literature searches, travel, salaries, supplies and/or equipment. Position lines are not available through this program. Funds must be expended by June 30, 2001. 

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION ASSISTANCE 

Investigators who are funded by this program and who seek external funding from a private foundation will be offered assistance from a Rutgers University Foundation staff member in contacting and developing a proposal for the targeted private foundation. 

APPLICATIONS 

Applications should not exceed five pages and should include the following: a) cover page, including identification of potential funding foundation or agency; b) brief abstract; c) goals of the project; d) description of the project; e) detailed budget with a statement of justification for each budget item; f) brief biographical sketch of the principal investigator; g) statements of endorsement from the relevant department chair and dean that explain how the project fits with the curriculum goals of the academic unit. 

PROPOSAL REVIEW 

Proposals will undergo a review process based on the following factors: a) clarity and soundness of the project plan; b) potential for significantly improving the undergraduate curriculum; c) potential for attracting external funding; d) level of academic unit commitment expressed in endorsements; e) appropriateness of budget items. 

Teaching and Curriculum Evaluation Grants are intended to support initiatives focusing on: 1) development and implementation of teaching evaluation procedures that supplement the universitywide student ratings; and/or 2) development and implementation of curriculum evaluation plans. Priority will be given to projects with multiple investigators and with high potential for impact in a department, school, or college. 

2000-2001 FOCUS 

Although any project addressing undergraduate teaching or curriculum evaluation is appropriate for this program, this year applications are encouraged in three areas: 

1) evaluation of the effects of new instructional technologies on student learning; 

2) academic unit (department, school or college) development of comprehensive methods of evaluating teaching to supplement the universitywide student ratings; 

3) evaluation of the effectiveness of student retention programs and services. 

FUNDING PARAMETERS 

Projects may be supported for up to three years. There will be a $5,000 maximum for proposals for development and pilot implementation. There will be a $2,000 maximum for proposals for continued implementation. Continued implementation proposals must show at least 25% cost sharing from other institutional sources. Funds may be used for expenses such as supplies, equipment, student assistants, travel, consultant fees, or salaries and must be expended by June 30, 2001. Position lines are not available through this program. 

APPLICATIONS 

Applications should not exceed five pages and should include the following: a) cover page; b) brief abstract; c) objectives of the project; d) strategies used to meet the objectives; e) description of products that will be generated (e.g., peer observation protocol; alumni survey form; student assessment instrument); f) detailed budget with a statement of justification for each budget item. In addition, applications for continued implementation should include: g) an evaluation of the project for which continued implementation is proposed; and h) an explanation of cost-sharing arrangements. Brief biographical sketches of the principal investigator and other personnel should be attached, as well as statements of endorsement from the relevant department chair(s) and dean(s). 

PROPOSAL REVIEW 

Proposals will undergo a peer review process. The review committee will consider the following factors in evaluating new proposals: a) relevance to the objectives of this grant program; b) clarity of the project plan; c) soundness of the proposed strategies; d) potential for department, school, or college impact; e) appropriateness of budget items. In evaluating proposals for continued implementation the review committee will consider: a) relevance to the objectives of this grant program; b) clarity of the project plan; c) soundness of the proposed strategies; d) demonstrated effectiveness; e) evidence of unit commitment to adoption of the teaching or curriculm evaluation methods; f) appropriateness of budget items. 

ELIGIBILITY  All Rutgers faculty members are eligible to submit applications and all Rutgers undergraduate students enrolled in Fall 2001 are eligible to participate in the projects funded through this program.  Research projects in all academic disciplines are appropriate for this program.  The research can be done in on- or off-campus settings and research projects conducted in international settings can be supported through this program. 

FUNDING PARAMETERS  The program will provide up to $1500 per project, which must be matched by at least $500 in other internal or external funds.  The funds must be used to support student participation in research.  Uses may include student stipends, student travel, or research supplies.  Funds cannot be used to purchase equipment.  Funds will be available on July 1, 2001 and must be expended by June 30, 2002. 

APPLICATION  Applications should include a cover page and a one page description of the project.  The description should address the nature of the research project, the role of the student(s), the plan for supervision of the student(s), and the anticipated student products that will result (e.g. conference presentation, co-authored paper).  The proposal should also contain a brief summary of the student participant’s credentials relevant to the project.  Endorsement from the relevant department chair or center or institute director and dean must be included. 

Project descriptions should indicate the potential significance of the proposed work and be written in language that will be understood by faculty colleagues in allied fields, but who may not be experts in the specific area addressed by the project.  If the proposal is accepted, the project abstract may be used in literature distributed to Rutgers’ external constituencies, and therefore should be written in language that will be understood by the general public. In particular, the use of specialized terms without definitions is strongly discouraged. 

PROPOSAL REVIEW CRITERIA  Proposals will be evaluated through a peer review process on the following criteria:  1) depth of student participation in the project, 2) value of the educational experience for the student, 3) extent of faculty supervision, 4) nature of anticipated student products resulting from this project. 

APPLICATION PROCEDURE  Five copies of the application must be received in the Office of the Vice President for Undergraduate Education, 18 Bishop Place, College Avenue Campus by 4:30 PM on Friday, February 23, 2001.  (FAXes will not be accepted.)  Additional copies of the application form may be obtained electronically by following the links from the website http://web.rutgers.edu/undergrad. 

NATURE OF THE AWARD 

The award winning department or program will receive a $10,000 addition to its budget to be used for further activities related to curriculum development or teaching enhancement. 

ELIGIBILITY 

All academic departments and academic programs at Rutgers University are eligible. 

NOMINATIONS 

Any faculty member or academic administrator at Rutgers University may nominate a department or program for the award.  The nomination should not exceed five pages in length and should include the following:  a) cover page with identifying information, dean's endorsement, and a brief summary of the nomination; b) a brief description of the department or program including the mission, size (number of faculty and students), and the scope of teaching activities of the unit; c) a description of the achievements for which the department or program is being nominated, including goals, strategies, activities, and the scope of the effort (number of faculty members and students involved); d) the rationale for the nomination, including how the achievements have significantly enhanced undergraduate education at Rutgers and any evaluative information available. 

Letters of support may be attached to the nomination. 

REVIEW PROCESS 

Nominations will be reviewed by a university-wide committee of faculty members chaired by the Vice President for Undergraduate Education.  The committee will consider the following factors:  a) quality of the achievements; b) depth and breadth of impact on undergraduates; c) breadth of faculty participation; d) incorporation of recent developments in the area; e) quality of documentation. 

NOMINATION PROCEDURE 

Additional nomination forms can be obtained by telephoning 932-1644, writing to the Office of the Vice President for Undergraduate Education, 18 Bishop Place, College Avenue Campus, or electronically.  Five copies of the nomination must be received in this office by 4:30 PM on (date to be announced).  (Faxes will not be accepted.)  Questions regarding nomination preparation and submission may be addressed to Gregory Herzog, Senior Advisor for Undergraduate Education or Susan Forman, Vice President for Undergraduate Education (932-1644).