Humanities and Sciences Educational Grant Initiative

Application Deadlines

The fall 2009 deadline for proposals is Tuesday, September 29. Notification of proposal outcomes will be made on or before October 9.

The spring 2010 deadline for proposals is Friday, February 19. Notification of proposal outcomes will be made on or before March 4.

Out-of-cycle proposals for contingency awards will be considered on a case by case basis.

Featured Documents

H&S Educational Grant Initiative

Featured Documents

H&S Educational Grant Initiative: Summaries of Awards Since 2006

The H&S Educational Grant Initiative (EGI) supports activities and projects that promote student learning and achievement. Generous donations from Ithaca College alumni to the Ithaca Fund for H&S provide the funding for this program.

General Guidelines

What kinds of projects are supported by the H&S Educational Grant Initiative?

• Course- or department-based activities that enhance teaching and learning, or that promote student professional development;
• Student/faculty collaborations in scholarly, creative, or community projects;
• Educational events, including guest lectures and presentations by invited scholars, artists, or professionals;
• Student presentations at academic conferences or arts festivals.

Who is eligible to apply for an H&S Educational Grant?

• H&S departments or programs
  -A contact person must be identified for such proposals.
• H&S faculty members
  -Collaborative projects must involve H&S students.
  -Course-based projects may include non-H&S students in the activities supported.
• H&S students
  -Students making proposals for individual projects must be H&S majors or exploratory students.
  -Student proposals must have an H&S faculty sponsor who is knowledgeable about the project, and is able to provide intellectual and/or practical mentoring for the student, so the project is integrated with the student’s academic and educational development.

What kinds of expenses can I request through the Initiative?

Examples include (but are not limited to):

• Travel expenses (e.g., car rental, air tickets, hotel costs; meals are generally not covered)
• Fees for conference registration or museum/event admission
• Equipment or one-time use materials and supplies
• Honoraria for guest speakers or artists

Funds cannot be used to pay tuition, or to pay student or faculty stipends. Funds are also generally not awarded for faculty travel expenses, unless the cost of the faculty member’s travel is inseparable from the student costs (e.g., a van rental for all members of a group traveling to a conference).
 

How much money can I request through the H&S Educational Grant Initiative?

The scope of the proposal should be appropriate for an award of between $500 and $1000, although smaller projects can also be submitted. Note that partial amounts are often awarded.

What are the criteria used by the Review Panel to evaluate proposals?

• The Panel seeks projects/activities that: clearly advance students’ educational and/or professional goals; enhance the academic experience of students; have an “experiential” dimension for students; are new and innovative rather than ongoing; or that reach and/or involve students in a broad range of departments. Preference is given to supporting juniors and seniors for group projects when funding is limited.
• The Panel is less interested in the technical merits of research proposals, since it does not have the technical expertise to assess the scientific content of particular research initiatives. Project descriptions should be in non-technical language, should summarize and contextualize the research questions, and should emphasize the broader educational or professional impact for students rather than the research techniques or outcomes.

How do I apply for an H&S Educational Grant Initiative award?

• There are two proposal cycles every academic year, generally in September and February. It is best to try to anticipate funding that you may need for upcoming projects (e.g., course-based field trips, conference presentations, and the like), and to submit proposals in advance during the regular funding cycle, even if project plans have not yet been finalized.
• Applicants can download application forms to be completed electronically. Applicants are advised to read and follow the detailed instructions that accompany the application forms.
• Limited funds are sometimes available on a contingency basis for projects that arise outside the bi-annual funding cycle.  For information on availability and application procedures for such exceptions, please contact Stacia Zabusky, Assistant Dean, 607-274-3102.
• •Completed applications and any questions about the project, the proposal process, and eligibility can be addressed to Stacia Zabusky, Assistant Dean, School of Humanities and Sciences, Muller 201, 607-274-3102.

A complete list of projects that received funding in the most recent cycle is available.

Photos of selected projects supported by the H&S Educational Grant Initiative (formerly the H&S Ithaca Fund Award Program) are available for viewing.