2018 ASI Faculty Curriculum Development Grants

The African Studies Initiative (ASI) will not award ASI Faculty Curriculum Development Grants in 2019–2022.  The guidelines posted here are for 2018 ASI Faculty Curriculum Development Grant applications, the final such awards under our 2014–2018 Title VI African Studies National Resource Center grant from the U.S. Department of Education.  Faculty with questions regarding funding for curriculum development may contact Associate Director Klaas van der Sanden by email or phone at 612-625-1856 for further information.  We hope to resume ASI curriculum development funding in 2022–2026.

The African Studies Initiative (ASI), through a Title VI grant in African Studies from the U.S. Department of Education, is able to provide curriculum development grants of up to $3,500 to University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, faculty and instructional staff. (Graduate and undergraduate students are not eligible.) These grants are intended for projects that enhance the University’s undergraduate and graduate curriculum in African Studies; such projects also may involve the building of sustainable educational partnerships with institutions abroad in the African Studies arena. 

While the ASI recognizes that new courses developed with ASI funds initially may be offered as topics courses, it expects that such courses will be proposed to the appropriate college or school for approval as standing courses, to be offered regularly and in the long term. Grants may fund salary augmentation for faculty and instructional staff during Summer 2018 to compensate instructors for the time necessary to develop a new course or to redesign an existing one; the hiring of graduate or undergraduate research assistants to support materials collection or other tasks directly related to course development or redesign; the hiring of contractors (e.g., videographers, sound engineers, consultants, etc.) whose work bears directly on the curricular project; and/or materials collection for syllabus development and/or instructional purposes. Travel by faculty, instructional staff, and contractors that directly supports curriculum development also may be funded (interested faculty and instructional staff also should note the ASI Faculty Travel Grants).

While the ASI accepts applications on a rolling basis, we encourage those planning to develop new courses or to redesign existing courses in Summer 2018 to apply by Tuesday, 20 March 2018.

Program Priorities

Priority will be given to projects that fall within the following categories:

  • The development of new African Studies courses or the redesign of existing courses with new African Studies content, including the collection of materials to update courses with new African Studies content;
  • Projects that integrate foreign languages (especially less commonly taught African languages) into the African Studies curriculum, including the development and/or collection of curricular resources that will allow students to use foreign language skills in African Studies courses.

While proposals for courses with significant African Studies content from all colleges and schools of the University, in all disciplines, and on all topics are invited, the ASI is especially interested at this time in proposals that bear on the themes Food and Agriculture in Africa and Reframing Mass Violence in Africa: Social Memory and Social Justice. Where applicable, the ASI also encourages projects that forge sustainable educational collaborations with institutions abroad in the African Studies arena.

Application Process

  • Include a one-page proposal that details the course development or redesign to be undertaken. The proposal should include a short itemized budget of projected expenses.

Applications can be submitted via email to asi@umn.edu or via campus mail to

ASI Faculty Curriculum Development Grants
African Studies Initiative
214 Social Sciences Building
Campus Delivery Code: 7173A

Application Deadlines

The ASI accepts applications on a rolling basis. We encourage those planning to undertake curriculum development projects during Summer 2018 to apply by 20 March 2018. Please note that applications involving overseas travel must be received at least 2 months before the proposed departure date to allow for internal review by the ASI and timely submission of mandatory Travel Approval Requests to the U.S. Department of Education. All overseas travel even partially paid for with federal funds has to comply with the Fly America Act and ultimately must be approved by US/ED. Please do not purchase airline tickets before clearing the proposed itinerary with the ASI.

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be faculty or instructional staff of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Graduate and undergraduate students are not eligible.
  • Applicants who have received prior curriculum development grant funding are eligible and encouraged to re-apply; however, applicants who have not received such a grant within the last two years will receive priority.
  • Past recipients who have not submitted a final syllabus are not eligible for new funding.

Grantee Obligations

At the end of the award period, grantees must submit the new or revised syllabus resulting from the Faculty Travel Grant, including a timetable that indicates when the course will be offered and (if new) when it will be proposed for collegiate approval as a regular standing course.

If applicable, grantees should complete a University Travel Authorization form and register international travel in the GPS Alliance International Travel Registry before travel. Grantees should also observe all other GPS Alliance mandated requirements and regulations pertaining to international travel.

Information

Contact ASI via email or you may also contact Associate Director Klaas van der Sanden by email or phone at 612-625-1856.