APPLICATIONS ARE NO LONGER BEING ACCEPTED FOR FY24
(JULY 2023 - JUNE 2024)

 

Scholarships in this category are awarded specifically for the redesign of an existing course/curriculum, or the development of a new course/curriculum proposal for which the individual applying is directly responsible. Scholarships are awarded based on the appropriateness of an activity such as a seminar, workshop, or conference that provides content, materials and/or information related directly to specific course/curriculum development. Funding is not intended for travel to annual or general purpose meetings. Travel to specific meetings with a narrowly-defined pedagogical or curricular focus or additional expenses incurred during attendance at relevant pre- or post-convention workshops may be covered by these funds.

To be considered for funding in this category, the applicant must:

  • Submit a scholarship application form via DocuSign. Must be submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs seven (7) working days prior to the scheduled FSRC monthly meeting date.

  • On the application, discuss anticipated linkages among proposed activity, learning objectives, and instructional effectiveness.

  • Provide an official program with seminars, workshops or other appropriately related activities clearly marked.

  • Provide the syllabi of the particular courses that are being improved by this activity with particular learning objectives impacted.

Examples of proposals the committee has funded:

(1) A Professor in Management attends a conference in Memphis dealing with problems associated with outsourcing jobs in a contemporary office setting. The material collected will be introduced to graduate students in WMBA 6110: Business Strategy. An important element of the course teaches how to analyze complex business situations…

(2) An Assistant Professor in Middle Grades Education attends a meeting in Atlanta to learn how to incorporate standards into the curriculum, which will require reorganizing courses, course content, and course alignment in the Middle Grades Curriculum.

(3) A music professor has been assigned to teach Freshman music theory in the fall (MUSC 1011), but has never taught the class before. The proposal is to attend a music theory conference, which will present sessions on theory pedagogy at the university level. The information gained from these sessions will help the professor understand how to teach music theory properly, and will help to better facilitate the curriculum of Freshman Music Theory.

Examples of common mistakes which resulted in the committee not awarding a Scholarship:

(1) Objectives are weak. The applicant does not make direct connections between the request being funded and the courses or curriculum being developed.

(2) Weak or missing outcomes. A music professor wants to attend a conference in his/her specialty in order to become a better teacher. He/she does not have a specific purpose of how the conference will facilitate the development of a new course or curriculum.

(3) Workshops, seminars, courses, etc. on the subject matter or skill development outlined in the request are offered through VSU.

(4) The application is not complete (Missing: documentation of the event, itemized budget, syllabi etc.) or the applicant has submitted old outdated forms.

(5) Accreditation or certification activities. Applications for funding of activities such as surveys or focus groups or to attend a workshop to fulfill accreditation requirements and requests for money to renew professional certifications are outside the purview of these funds.

(6) Requests are being requested which are retroactive to the event.

(7) The production of media (e.g., brochures, videos, CD’s) for the purpose of promoting or publicizing a program.