THINKING SMART ABOUT GRANT FUNDING

Conversation about grant funding was grounded in practical guidance orienting our thinking towards particular grants. We thought explicitly about a FIPSE grant—which had been our focus since the conference at Columbia College Chicago—and several NEH grants. Ideas were discussed with the criteria and funding cycles of particular grants in mind. Margaret kept us to task with these details; she also presented a listing of over forty private foundations whose stated interests and funding history would suggest an interest in C•L•E•A projects. (a link to this listing is forthcoming)

The following overviews the federal funding sources we intend to target and the C•L•E•A initiatives that we have in mind. The C•L•E•A colleague(s) who would serve as point person(s) for the proposal are also indicated.

FIPSE (Fund for the Improvement of Secondary Education—Department of Education)

A project on assessment/evaluation of general studies/humanities programs in C•L•E•A institutions.  Key contacts:  Shawn Bachtler (Cornish) and Kim MacKay (Cornish).  Earliest estimated deadline, November 3, 2004 (guidelines available summer 2004) for programs beginning July 2005 (projects from one to three years). Collaborative proposal, $100K-$600K per year.

NEH Collaborative Research Grants

Several ideas were discussed, with interest especially in research on creativity possibly leading to the development of a course taught simultaneously on two or more C•L•E•A campuses. Key contact:  Dean Wilcox (NCSA) – may lead Earliest estimated deadline, November 3, 2004 (guidelines available summer 2004) for programs beginning in July 2005 (projects from one to three years).  Team of two or more scholars,  $25K - $100k per year, federal matching funds encouraged on a 1:1 basis.

NEH Summer Seminars and Institutes

A proposal to host an NEH Summer Institute at a C•L•E•A campus on a topic related to ethics and the arts, led by faculty from two or three C•L•E•A campuses.  Key contacts:  Elaine Pruitt (NCSA) and Eileen Soskin (Peabody).  Earliest deadline, March 1, 2004 for summer 2005 (one year only). 25-30 participants, $80K-$200K in outright funding.  
Summer seminar programs could lead to collaborative course offerings (e.g. Ethics and Art or Ethics in the American Academy; America in 1968; The Assembly Line Model for American Education)

NEH Grant for Teaching and Learning Resources and Curriculum Development

A proposal to develop a compendium of good teaching practices and techniques from C•L•E•A institutions, via faculty discussions and workshops hosted on member campuses.  Key contact:  Ron Levy (Peabody).  Earliest estimated deadline:  October 15, 2004 for projects beginning April 2005. Curriculum development Project up to $100K in outright or matching funds (12-18 months); Materials Development Project up to $200K in outright or matching funds (one to three years).  

Another idea: a proposal to create a team (or teams) of C•L•E•A colleagues to serve an evaluative role on the campuses of our sister school. This was discussed in general terms, but clearly there is potential here for a specific proposal engaging some, if not most, C•L•E•A schools. Eileen Soskin and Ron Levy (both from Peabody) were most intrigued by this idea—contact either if you would like to work collaboratively on this.