Teaching Beyond the Classroom
Teaching Beyond the Classroom (TBC) Grants provide funding in support of cultural and academic experiences aimed at enhancing teaching and student learning beyond the classroom. Teaching Beyond the Classroom Grants are not available in the summer.
*When submitting a grant request, please allow two weeks for processing and approval.
TBC Major/Mid-Size Grants
Major grants (up to $20,000) and mid-size grants (up to $5,000) are open only to regular faculty in the College of Arts and Letters.
The due date for applications for the TBC Major and Mid-Size Grants for the Fall 2024 semester is Monday, March 25, 2024, at 5pm.
TBC Major and Mid-Size grants are open only to regular faculty (both T&TT and TPAC) in the College of Arts and Letters. All College of Arts and Letters faculty, including adjunct faculty, visiting faculty, graduate students, and postdocs who are instructors of record, may apply for one of the TBC small grants.
We do not fund projects that can be construed as essentially student research projects for which students are eligible to receive their own research funding. Activities for which students must miss other classes will not be funded. All proposed events must occur during the academic year. No events during the summer term will be funded.
Major Grant (funding up to $20,000)
Examples of activities suitable for a Major Grant include taking students to a series of world-class cultural events (play, opera, etc.) or visiting a unique site that is the focus of a course and for which there is no reasonable analog nearby. It is expected that these activities will be scheduled during fall or spring break and that the trip will last at least four days.
Faculty can receive a maximum of one Major Grant every three years. This grant is highly competitive, as the College only funds one each semester. Due to Covid, awards were not awarded during the AY 2020-21, therefore that year will not count in the three years between awards.
Mid-Size Grant (funding up to $5,000)
Examples of such activities suitable for the Mid-Size Grant include taking students to a cultural event (play, film, opera, etc.) or visiting a unique site that is the focus of the course located at a distance for which overnight accommodations would generally be needed.
Faculty can receive a maximum of one Mid-Size Grant per year and projects normally will not be funded two years in a row. This grant is competitive, as the College will only fund two to three grants per semester.
Application
To apply for this award, an online application needs to be completed. Faculty should then submit an abbreviated CV, itemized budget, and a proposal of no more than 500 words, to Kelly Huth. A letter of support from the chair of your department describing the contribution the course makes to the major/minor and that addresses your performance as a teacher should be sent under separate cover.
The proposal should provide a description of the proposed event, cultural excursions, or other activities, and a clear explanation of the ways this will help advance learning beyond the classroom. Include how this course relates to a departmental major or college/university requirement and whether or not students will complete a substantial project based on the excursion, activity, or event.
Proposals will be vetted by a faculty committee that includes the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies.
TBC Small Grants
TBC Small Grants will be available on a rolling basis throughout the academic year for all Instructors of Record, including regular faculty, adjunct faculty, visiting faculty, postdocs, and graduate students. All College of Arts and Letters Instructors of Record, including regular faculty, adjunct faculty, visiting faculty, postdocs, and graduate students, are eligible to apply for a Teaching Beyond the Classroom Small Grant for their undergraduate classes. Please note that the Small Regular Grant is returning while the Honoraria Grant and DPAC tickets will remain.
After the grant is awarded, the instructor’s research and professional development account number will need to be provided to Kelly Huth, who will transfer the funds. For those without an R&PD account, please check with the admin in your department for the funds they have for you to use.
Small Regular Grants
Instructors may apply for small grants for course-specific events, provided the total funding does not exceed $1500 during the academic year. Events not tied to a specific course will not be funded to an individual. Chairs and DUSes may apply for a single $1500 grant for one departmental event in the academic year.
Small Honoraria Grants
Individuals may apply for a $250 grant per undergraduate course taught during the academic year for Honoraria for outside speakers and guest artists. We are unable to fund events that are not tied to a specific class.
DPAC Managed Tickets
If you wish to use your TBC application for tickets to performances on campus, managed by the DPAC Ticket office, please use the ticket request form. These tickets are available at a discount.
Related Links
Undergraduate Fees and Billing