FAQ's about Faculty Development Grants

Which faculty are eligible?
Full-time and adjunct faculty who have taught at Otis for two or more consecutive years.

How often can I apply?
You may apply for a grant once every two years.

How much money can I get?
Grants are awarded up to $2,500.

What are the due dates?
For the 2007-2008 academic year, grant applications are due in the Foundation office, Room A-213, on or before October 31, 2007 and March 1, 2008.  Click here for Application.

Do I need to write a report about what I did with the grant?
After you complete the activity, the dissemination proposal includes a Grantee Report and some posting to the Otis' intranet. Proposals that include wider dissemination (e.g. presentation at department meeting, addition to the curriculum, etc.) will be rated higher.

What are the criteria used to evaluate my proposal?
The three criteria are the same ones used for your Step Evaluation Form and advancement in rank: teaching effectiveness, professional achievement, and contributions to the college/community. For a more complete discussion of the three criteria please consult your faculty handbook. Proposals are judged on value as it relates to the three criteria as well as overall quality, project feasibility, dissemination strength, proposal clarity, and completeness.

What can I apply for?
You may apply for travel to a site, research, funding for supplies and materials, hotel costs, meals, services used in the execution of the activity, ground transportation, registration fees, project documentation fees, Xeroxing costs, software needs as they relate directly to the project, equipment, participation in professional conferences and workshops, participation in conferences and workshops that support teaching effectiveness related to student learning styles, dealing with classroom issues, developing college activities that support building departmental teamwork, collegiality, and communications, and more.

What have other faculty members done with their grants?

Recent funded proposals include:

• A weeklong research trip to examine Eva Hesse's unpublished papers at the Allen Art Museum in Oberlin, Ohio.
• Site-specific work at the Taller Portobelo in Panama.
• Artist's residency at the American Academy in Rome.
• Participation in a postgraduate seminar in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
• Research in the Dominican Republic on traditional religious practices and artistic ritual manifestations.
• Research in England in completion of film research.
• Travel funds for an exhibition in Germany.
• A project for the Interventions series at the Museum of Art of El Salvador.

For additional information, please contact the Faculty Development Committee Co-Chairs, Randall Lavender or Joan Takayama-Ogawa.

What are the Technology Grants?
Thanks to funding from the Fletcher Jones Foundation, the TLC is able to award mini-grants for the three year period of the grant to faculty who wish to try innovative instructional technologies within their classrooms. The first grants were awarded in Spring 2006. Another round of grants was just awarded this Fall 2006. If you are interested in this program, please contact Kathleen Forrest, the TLC Coordinator.