Grants

Full- and part-time residential faculty members, as well as online faculty teaching on-campus intensives, are eligible to apply.  Departmental or interdisciplinary teams of two or three are also invited.  Individuals may apply for up to $1500, teams of two up to $3000, and teams of three up to $4500 to implement new pedagogical techniques, classroom activities, technologies, class trips, and/or purchase materials that foster learner-centered experiences for students.

Successful applications demonstrate effective active learning*.

*Active learning: In order to learn, students must do more than just listen: They must read, write, discuss, or be engaged in solving problems. In particular, students must engage in higher-order thinking tasks as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Active learning engages students in two aspects – doing things and thinking about the things they are doing. 

Applications are open from Jan.14 – March 31 each year. The deadline to apply is March 31 at midnight for Fall/Spring implementations.

Priority will be given to applicants who have never received an ILLUMINATE Grant.

Apply Now!

The ILLUMINATE Grants for the Improvement of Teaching are designed to encourage faculty to enhance instruction through the introduction of new pedagogical and active learning techniques, activities, and/or learner-centered experiences. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis. Confidential scoring committees evaluate applicants on the grant’s purpose, student engagement, higher-order thinking, and potential to impact student learning.

Please join us in congratulating the following 2020-21 ILLUMINATE Grant awardees:

• Accu-Vein Illuminator for Vein Visualization (Dena Todd, Carol Harvey, & Jerry Harvey; School of Nursing)
• Augmenting Studio and Digital Arts Curriculum through Virtual Experiences (Joey Wright, Joshua Wilson, & David Meyer; School of Communication and the Arts)
• Pocket Lab Kits for First-Year Engineering Courses (James Long & Carolyn Ziebart; School of Engineering)
• Integrating 16S Sequencing into Upper Level Organismal Courses to Train Biology Undergraduates Modern Molecular Techniques (Matthew Becker, Paul Sattler, & David Rockabrand; School of Health Sciences)
• Critical Thinking In Action: Foundational Skills Escape Room (Brad Burgess, Daniel Berkenkemper, & Dwayne Melton; College of Applied Studies & Academic Success)
• The Stuff of History: Learning and Presenting History with Objects (Donna Donald; College of Arts and Sciences)
• Current Issues in the Problem of Evil: A Dialogue (Michael Scott Jones, College of Arts and Sciences)
• Meet Dr. Forgiveness (Jichan Kim; School of Behavioral Sciences)
• Stop the Bleed: An Inter-professional Approach to Saving Lives on Campus and Abroad (Tonia Kennedy, Dana Woody, & Sergeant Hurtak; School of Nursing & Liberty University Police Department)
• Hispanic Community Needs Assessment in Central Virginia (Oswald Attin; School of Health Sciences)

Congratulations to these faculty on a job well done! May they continue to make learning real as they Train Champions for Christ.

“Impact Professional Development Grants for Residential Adjunct Faculty,” provided by CTE, are designed to encourage faculty growth, enhance student learning, and improve teaching practices by covering expenses associated with attendance at the yearly Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy (CHEP) on the campus of Virginia Tech. Conference Website: https://chep.teaching.vt.edu/

Currently not accepting applications.