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Societal Impact Curriculum Development or Enhancement Grant
Societal Impact Curriculum Development or Enhancement Grant (up to $2,500 each) – Up to two may be awarded in a year.
Overview
The faculty has voted to adopt "reducing inequalities" as a core theme of the Williams School's contribution to societal impact. This aligns with our mission to develop inclusive leaders.
Reducing inequalities involves implementing policies and initiatives aimed at diminishing disparities in various aspects of life, such as income, wealth, education, healthcare access, exposure to environmental toxins, insecurities (i.e., food, transportation, employment, childcare, housing), contact with crime, and opportunities more broadly. It encompasses efforts to address systemic barriers and discrimination that contribute to unequal outcomes for individuals and communities based on factors such as socioeconomic status, race, gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.
Research, teaching, and student engagement all can result in societal impact. As a school, we have chosen to monitor reducing inequalities for accreditation, and we want to provide incentives for faculty to engage in projects that increase impact in that area. Towards this end, the school will introduce two grants that will provide incentives for faculty to address reducing inequalities through their teaching and scholarship. These grants provide additional funding beyond what is already available through Lenfest grants and departmental development funds.
A faculty member can only win a Curriculum Development or Enhancement Grant once every five years. Likewise, a faculty member can only win the Influential Research Reducing Inequalities Grant (or newly announced Excellence in Research Grant) once every five years. However, it is possible for a faculty member to win both of the curricular and research grants within the same five-year period, although in the case of equivalent grant
Societal Impact Curriculum Development or Enhancement Grants
Teaching provides the center for academic life in the Williams School. The Williams School proposes to establish up to two annual grants, to be awarded to a maximum of two faculty members each year, covering reimbursable expenses. These grants aim to provide development or enhancement funds for courses that address and reduce inequalities. Faculty applying for a grant will outline how their proposed curriculum development will achieve this objective, which can include but is not limited to new course development, course enhancements, and/or pedagogical innovation. At least part of the course grade should derive from work that relates to this topic.
A faculty member may not win a Curriculum or Enhancement Development Grant more than once every five years, and a grant may not be given every year. Winners will present a short summary of their work at the Best Practices Lunch.