Teaching Development Grant
Teaching Development Grants support faculty interested in designing or redesigning a course, trying something on a smaller scale in the classroom, participating in pedagogical training programs, or presenting their pedagogical work at a conference. Projects should aim to improve student learning by strengthening the practice of teaching. To benefit the practice and understanding of others, grant recipients are expected to share their work with relevant campus audiences through presentation(s) and/or discussion(s) facilitated by the CITL.
Categories for Application
- Classroom Investigation/Implementation
Projects in this category might include implementation of a new classroom technology or practice such as service learning, team-based learning, project-based learning, alternative assessment, etc. Funding for this type of project might include books, training registration, instructional materials, etc.
- Course Development
Projects in this category might include the implementation of a student-centered, high impact teaching practice in the redesign or development of existing course materials. The scope of this project would focus on a single module or set of modules and might include things like service learning, team-based learning, project-based learning, alternative assessment, etc.
- Pedagogical Training
Pedagogical training encompasses professional development opportunities offered from both discipline specific and interdisciplinary groups focused on teaching and learning. Participation in trainings may provide the faculty member with credentialing or continuing education credit, but this is not a requirement.
- Pedagogical Conference Presentation
Pedagogical conferences focus specifically on teaching and learning research and best practice and may be discipline specific or interdisciplinary. For a list of pedagogical conferences, please see these lists updated by Elon University and Kennesaw State University. Both of these lists are typically updated on a semesterly basis.
Submission Instructions & Deadlines
To apply for a Teaching Development Grant, please complete the application linked at the bottom of the page. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis but should be submitted prior to the semester in which the funds are required. Funding applications for the subsequent semester will not be considered after each of the following dates.
- For Summer 2025 (June-August travel) – applications must have been received prior to May 1, 2025.
- For Fall 2025 (September-December travel) – applications must have been received prior to September 5, 2025.
Funds will be determined based on the scope of the project and the need for travel.
- Individuals applying for a classroom project or course development grant may receive funding of up to $500.
- Teams of 2-4 faculty applying for a classroom project or course development grant may receive funding of up to $1000.
- Individuals applying for travel funding may receive funding of up to $2000 which must be applied to the cost of travel, hotel, or conference registration.
- Funds of up to $750 may also be applied to attendance at a virtual/online conference or workshop.
All travel receipts must be submitted within 45 days following the event for which the funds were approved and an itemized budget must be provided in the application.
Due to limited funding, no more than one application from a given department/program will be fully funded ($1500) to attend a specific conference.
All full-time faculty and instructors are eligible to apply.
Individuals who have been awarded a grant are not eligible to receive an award in
two consecutive granting cycles.
In addition to following through with the project plans as described in the application, the applicant must:
- Plan and implement an assessment of the project
- Share results and experiences with the larger WKU community through at least one presentation in a venue of your choice: a CITL event, Professional Development Day presentation, college/department presentation, etc.
Application Category
- Classroom Investigation/Implementation
- Course Development
- Pedagogical Training
- Pedagogical Conference Presentation
Project Description
Classroom Investigation/Implementation
Please describe the purpose for your application and identify the overarching question about teaching and/or student learning that you will pursue through your project/training/conference attendance.
Pedagogical Training/Conference Presentation
Please share your expectations about your conference experience.
- What long-term impact do you anticipate your conference experience will have on teaching and learning at WKU?
- What information and materials about teaching strategies, trends, etc. do you expect to share with your department, college, or the University at large after participating in the conference/training? How do you intend to share that information?
- What do you expect to gain professionally from attending or presenting at this event?
Budget/Funding Requested
Provide a list the total amount of funding requested, a simple, itemized budget of your expenses, and, if applicable, list other sources of funding that you have applied for or received.