Spring Grants - Call for Proposals
SUSTAINABLE FOODS CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
CALL-FOR-PROPOSALS - Round 2
Sponsored by
PRESIDENTIAL CLIMATE COMMITMENT COMMITTEE and
CENTER FOR ENGAGED TEACHING AND SCHOLARSHIP
As part of the Sustainable Foods Partnership initiative, we are requesting a second round of proposals for curriculum grants for Spring 2010 classes. Five awards were made in Round 1 (see below). Funding is available in Round 2 for approximately 5 additional grants.
Curriculum Development Grants for Faculty
Faculty are invited to submit proposals for curriculum components that engage their students in work relevant to sustainable foods. We are especially interested in components that link students, faculty and staff with the community to conduct mutually-beneficial scholarship. Preference will be given to components designed to solve real problems; address societal challenges; and/or provide service to the regional community. Projects may involve classes, workshops, events and/or research or creative projects. The curriculum components can be from any discipline. Trans-disciplinary grants are welcomed and encouraged.
Example Projects
- Students, working with organic producers or retailers, provide background research for business plans
- Students, working with the Bluff County Co-op, research and develop a food-access survey for Winona
- Students, working with Volunteer Services, develop a plan to distribute fresh food from the Community Gardens to people in need
- Students, working with the Farmer’s Market, develop marketing plans and a coordinated advertising campaign for the market targeted to college students
- Students, working with local food producers, develop posters/presentations that demonstrate how sustainable food is packaged and presented
- Students, working with university officials, provide research to help develop sustainable food purchasing guidelines for WSU
- Students, working with kids at the Maplewood Townhomes Community Center, develop fun projects that inform children about sustainable foods
- Students study soil micro fauna in organic fields
- Students design a celebration, or organize an awareness event, about local and organic foods, to be staged at the Film Festival or on Earth Day
- Students do stories on local food production and distribution
- Students read Pollan’s work on sustainable food production and then tour a farm to write about the real-life application of his ideas
These are just a few examples. Please contact either Joan Francioni or Jim Armstrong if you would like some help designing a class component related to Sustainable Foods for next semester.
Requirements:
Requirements for funded curriculum components are as follows:
- Component must be relevant to course content.
- Component must be designed to engage students in work relevant to sustainable foods.
- Component must be implemented in Spring 2010.
- Students involved in the component must be evaluated with respect to the benefits of this component to their general and specific learning.
- Description of final component must be submitted to be posted on WSU Web site.
- Final report, with optional pictures, must be submitted to be posted to the WSU Web site.
Funding:
Approximately five grant awards will be made, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. Submissions involving multiple faculty members are allowed. However, multiple submissions requesting support for the same concept will be ineligible.
Allowable Expenditures:
Funds should be used primarily for resource materials, research supplies, student support, travel, or other relevant expenses to expand opportunities for students. If included, faculty duty day support must be less than 25% of the total budget.
Timetable:
November 11 Call for proposals issued.
December 15 Due date for proposals.
December 18 Applicants notified as to final approval.
For spring semester projects, projects must be completed by May 7, 2010 and final reports submitted no later than May 21, 2010.
Proposal Format:
Proposals should include a Title Page, Concept Description (max two pages), and Proposed Budget.
Title Page
- Project Title
- Project Director’s name(s) and department(s)
- Names of other university participants/departments and/or community partners
- Relevant course(s) for project
- Relevant semester(s) for implementing course components (no earlier than Fall 2009 and no later than Spring 2010)
- Signature of Chair (on behalf of Department) or Program Director
- Signature of Dean or Supervisor
Concept Description (limit 2 pages)
- Describe the essence of your proposed project
- Provide a brief rationale
- Describe anticipated outcomes/impact
- Describe evaluation plan
- Identify the roles of the individuals involved
- Briefly describe the resources needed
Proposed Budget
- Estimated preliminary budget
- Budget justification
Proposals must be submitted in electronic format by 4:30 p.m. December 18, 2009, to Joan Francioni, Director of Engaged Teaching and Scholarship (jfrancioni @ winona.edu). Please have Chair and Dean send an email message as their signature.