2024 Call for Applications DEI Educational Development Mini-Grants

Background

The Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education (POD)’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee enthusiastically invites applications for the 2024 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Educational Development Mini-Grant program. 

One of the cross-cutting priorities of the POD Network’s strategic plan is to advance inclusion, diversity, belonging, equity, and accessibility across the organization and throughout the field of educational development. As stated on the POD website, “[t]his priority reflects member priorities, a strong focus at many post-secondary institutions, and the recognition that progress toward equity requires great intentionality in order to reverse marginalization of historically underserved and underrepresented populations at all levels.” 

This program serves to provide seed funding for educational developers who are from underrepresented groups or who work at traditionally underrepresented institutions to conduct research projects, resource development, or programming that focuses on advancing equity and inclusion, and dismantling racism in its many forms, especially as it relates to the teaching and learning environment. 

The DEI Committee invites Mini-Grant applications

To encourage DEI work in areas of educational development, the DEI Committee will award amounts ranging from $500 to $2,000 to individuals or groups from a single institution. The mini-grants serve as a springboard for a diverse array of ideas and approaches and to provide seed money for books, materials, supplies, stipends, or fees that are needed to broaden education and spark innovation within the POD Network. While the mini-grant awards are for educational developers, they may be used to support related staff and student research that contributes to equity and inclusion efforts across the POD Network and the field of educational development.

Eligibility Criteria 

The POD DEI Committee welcomes applications for the Mini-Grants from all individuals from any higher education institution. For each application, all applicants must meet one or more criteria listed here: 

  • persons from historically underrepresented groups including, but not limited to: individuals who identify as racial and/or ethnic minorities (as defined within the U.S. context); lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender individuals; and individuals with disabilities. 
  • individuals working at traditionally underrepresented institutions including, but not limited to, the following: Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Native American Tribal Colleges, Hispanic-Serving Institutions or Hispanic Area Colleges and Institutions, Minority-Serving Institutions (or those aspiring to become MSI’s), and community colleges. 
  • applicants who would join POD and contribute to its mission over the long term with particular interests related to social justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion (writ large) in educational development.  

Please note: Applicants are only allowed to submit one mini-grant application per funding cycle. Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously received a mini-grant in the prior years.

Mini Grants Overview

Applicants may be (1) an individual; or (2) a group from a single institution.

Mini-Grant awards range from $500 to $2,000 each. Awardees can use up to $500 for travel directly related to the project.

Recipients(s) will:

  • Submit a final report at the end of funding cycle
  • Participate in several surveys by the POD DEI Committee to help assess the impacts of this program
  • Recipients are encouraged to present their project results at the POD annual conference in the following year.

See Mini-Grant Application Form and Details below.

All grant applications are due August 16, 2024.

Notification of funding by September 2024.

Mini-Grant Application Form and Details

Mini-Grant Application Form: Click Here

Note: because this application requires uploading a PDF file for the project budget, you will need to log into a google account to access and submit the application form. If this is an obstacle for you, please contact Fellowships and Grants coordinator David Goldman at [email protected].

Mini-Grant Application Questions

As articulated in the application questions, applicants must address all of the following:

  1. Project title
    Provide a brief sentence to describe the theme or focus of the project
  2. Project Objectives and description
    • What are the DEI issues and topics you are trying to address and why?
    • Provide how this project will advance equity and inclusion, dismantle racism in its many forms, or
    • reverse marginalization of historically underserved and underrepresented populations, especially as related to the teaching and learning environment
  3. Project Impacts
    • Detail how the project will support educational developers from historically underrepresented groups or working at traditionally underrepresented institutions in the area of teaching and learning.
    • Anticipated contributions of the proposed project to DEI within the applicants’ institutions, the POD network, and the broader field of educational development. (Grant recipients are encouraged to present their project at the 2025 POD Conference.)
    • How the objectives and impacts of the project would be assessed and evaluated.
  4. Project budget (Attach as a PDF file)
    • Explanation of how grant funds will be used to advance DEI work proposed in this project;
    • Include a budget that lists the following categories as needed: stipends for applicants/ researcher/ student workers (estimate of work hours), travel, printing/presentation materials, technology expenses (software, video production, podcast, etc.), honorarium for guest speakers or panelists, project materials (workbooks, etc.).
    • Potential support (financial or otherwise) applicants will receive relevant to the work outlined in this application;

Recipients of Mini-Grants are expected to:

  • Attend the 2024 DEI Committee’s Annual Business Meeting (virtual, date to be announced, and are encouraged to attend diversity-related POD sessions during the 2024 POD Conferences.
  • Present your project results at the 2025 POD Conference. Depending on the nature of your project, you may wish to propose an individual session through the conference Call for Proposals; alternatively, you will be invited to participate in a group session organized by the DEI Committee to showcase funded projects.
  • Share the outcomes of your work in a final report to the DEI Committee.
  • Acknowledge the POD Network in any publications, presentations, reports, or webpages about the initiative. Specific language for such acknowledgements will be provided in the award letter.
  • Participate in assessments by the DEI Committee related to the grant. These assessments help support POD’s strategic goal of promoting evidence-based practices.

Sample Projects

Below is a link to a previously awarded project. Please note that this is an example of the type of work the grant has supported; it is not a template for the kind of projects that the DEI Committee will support. In fact, we welcome new ideas that support the committee’s mission of diversity, equity, and inclusion in educational development. Please also note that though its name has changed, the goals of the grants have remained the same as those for the below application.

University of California at Berkeley, 2018
https://docs.google.com/document/d/190jbO46fUqLPvetm0D2K5nzhYWBz5aKtNefVt_eHxvI/edit

Questions?

Please don’t hesitate to contact POD DEI Fellowship Coordinators Viyon Dansu, David Goldman, Abigail Jaimes-Gomez, and Mike Rozinski at [email protected].

We look forward to receiving your application!