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 projects funded by the ILLUMINATE Grants for the Improvement of Teaching positively reflect the following National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) Benchmarks of Effective Educational Practice:

1. Level of Academic Challenge
2. Student Interactions with Faculty Members
3. Active and Collaborative Learning
4. Enriching Educational Experiences

Congratulations to the exemplary faculty who recently received an ILLUMINATE Grant!

Awardees:

• ASL to English Interpretation FM System  (Nicole Thorn; College of Arts and Sciences) 
• Autonomic Regulation Postprandial Hyperemia (Ben Kalu, Kimberly Mitchell, & Mark Blais; School of Health Sciences)
• Bridging the Terminology Gap between Biblical Language and Linguistics (Jillian Ross & Jaeshil Kim; Rawlings School of Divinity)
• Community Outreach: Future Me 5th Grade Career Day (Kristina DeWitt & Miranda Arnold; School of Education)
• CPR/First Aid/AED (George Sherman; College of Applied Studies & Academic Success)
• Current Issues in the Problem of Evil: A Dialogue (Michael Scott Jones; College of Arts and Sciences)
• Enhancement of Student Learning about Renewable Energy through Hardware Labs using Actual Solar and Wind Generators (Jung-Uk Lim; School of Engineering)
• Historical Interpretation through Exhibit Design (Donna Donald; College of Arts and  Sciences)
• How Long, O Lord? Evil, Suffering, and Holocaust (Edward Martin; College of Arts and Sciences)
• Improving Patient Glucometer Testing Compliance (Kathryn Miller, Mary Dowell, & Tara Smith; School of Nursing)
• Improving Student Learning by Practical Experimentation (Control and Power Engineering) (Young-Man Kim; School of Engineering)
• Incorporation VR in the Classroom (Aaron Wilson, Steven Brinly, & Jonathan Washburn; School of Aeronautics)
• Live Radio Drama: The Creative Process of Adapting a Theatrical Play for Audio Performance (Chris Nelson, Linda Cooper, & James Walz; School of Visual and Performing Arts) 
• Project Design: 3D Printing for Fashion and Interior Design (Ruth Gomes; College of Arts and Sciences)
• Socialism vs Entrepreneurship: Experiences of Redistribution and Flourishing (Carey Roberts, Sam C. Smith, & George Young; College of Arts & Sciences & School of Business)
• The Field of Learning: Civil War History (Christopher Jones, Steven Woodworth, & Ben Forrest; College of Arts and Sciences)
• The Holocaust: Learning, Teaching, and Understanding (David Snead; College of Arts and Sciences)
• The Race to Learn: Digital Marketing Applications from Start to Finish (Christopher Huseman, & Emily Knowles; School of Business)

View a list of past winners.

To learn more about winning projects, please visit the ILLUMINATE Grant Gallery.

“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.