Strategic Initiative Grant

Key Information

Application part 1
due September 21, 2009, 5 pm
Extended: due September 28, 2009, 5 pm
Application form (Word)

Application part 2 (for invited applicants)
Due November 2, 2009
Application form (word)

Email applications to cit@duke.edu. 

Program Overview

CIT is offering grants to support of instructional innovations with technology which are programmatic, potentially high-impact and/or good models for other courses and faculty, tied to Duke's strategic plan "Making a Difference."  In particular, Chapter 4 of the plan "Academic Goals and Strategies to Build Distinction" (pdf, html) focuses on academic and instructionally-related goals which CIT would like to support, such as interdisciplinarity, student engagement in real-world issues, providing engaging and challenging learning experiences for students, transforming the arts, supporting our graduate students, and innovation in creation and delivery of scholarly resources.

For examples of projects which could be supported through a CIT Strategic Initiatives Grant see a list of Fall 2008 Strategic Initiative projects or our "case examples" page. These are examples meant to spur the imagination; proposals for different projects will also be reviewed, and similar proposals in this grant period may or may not be accepted. In Fall 2009 CIT is looking specifically for projects with potential to be high-impact and program-level projects; funding for projects focused entirely on one course will typically not be supported unless CIT and grant reviewers feel the project has high potential to serve as a replicable model for other faculty and courses. (Faculty with innovative ideas related to an individual course may also consider applying for a Jump Start Grant). 

If you want more ideas before proceeding to the grant information, feel free to do any of the following:


Who is eligible to submit a proposal?
All Duke University instructors including faculty, and lecturers, and staff who work on teaching programs with faculty are eligible to apply. Project leaders must be working full time at Duke for the duration of the project. Projects must include active participation by at least one full-time Duke faculty member or instructor.

How do I submit a proposal?
==> NOTE: Prior to downloading the application please read the “fine print” below, for more details about the grant.
Then, download and fill out the initial application form.

Email the completed application form to: cit@duke.edu by 5 pm 9/28/2009. We will begin review of applications on 9/29/2009.

Have an idea that doesn’t fit this grant application?
The CIT has a variety of options for helping faculty with instructional technology projects. See more information about other CIT project support programs.

If you would like notification of future grant programs and instructional technology initiatives, join the CIT mailing list.

The "Fine Print"

What types of resources may be requested in the grant?
Grant proposals may request funding, CIT staff time, CIT student-worker time, and time/resources from other campus units.

Funding may be requested for:

Funds may NOT be requested for:

Are there restrictions on who may apply?

Individuals who have been the PI or co-PI on a CIT grant award of more than $500, or who have agreed to participate in any major CIT program (i.e., Fellows programs), already in a given academic year, are not eligible to receive a Strategic Initiative Grant for that academic year.

What are the requirements for PIs of accepted projects?

What is the proposal review process?
Note: Individuals considering submitting a proposal are strongly urged to meet with a CIT staff member before the proposal due date. A CIT consultation will help you prepare the best possible proposal and make sure you have addressed the criteria below. To ensure that CIT staff are available to discuss your proposal, email cit@duke.edu to request a consultation several days before you would like to meet.

CIT will do a brief review of the initial applications and will contact each applicant for additional information. Applicants with feasible and appropriate projects which CIT may be able to support will be asked to complete Part 2 of the application (the "full application") by November 2, 2009, to provide more details for consideration in the second review. Full applications will then be reviewed by the CIT staff and other reviewers based on the criteria shown below.

1. Innovative use of technology to address an instructional need related to the Duke strategic plan:
Proposals must include clear educational goals in alignment with the Duke strategic plan, an explanation of how the project will accomplish those goals through a creative and appropriate use of technology, and a plan to assess the impact of the project on teaching and learning. Also, to support the strategically important theme of interdisciplinarity, proposals for projects with faculty and/or courses from two or more disciplines will be given higher priority.
2. Feasible project plan

The reviewers will consider whether the project seems carefully planned, whether necessary personnel have been identified and consulted, and whether the proposed timetable and outcomes of the project seem realistic. Applicants should discuss their project ideas with CIT and with their department chair and technical support staff in their school to determine impact on school resources, if any. Projects must have some component that can be implemented no later than Spring 2011. 

3. Project impact

Our intent in funding these strategic projects is to invest in enhancements to teaching and learning which will be re-used and ongoing, have the potential for a significant impact at the program or department level, and/or will serve as a replicable model for others.
The reviewers will look at the applicant’s plans for evaluating the success of the proposed project, and plans for continuing successful projects, including how any continuing project costs (after the CIT funding ends) will be supported. All else being equal, projects which appear to have the potential for a larger impact (those which are integral to planned curricular change in the department/school, or which involve more students, more courses, more instructors, will be used in more semesters, or can serve as a model for others) will be given higher priority for support.
For most projects, commitment from the school or department increases the likelihood that the project will be completed and broadly used. All full applications must include the signature of the appropriate academic dean to indicate support, and those with a clear path for post-grant support of project costs will be given higher priority. All full applications must include a two year budget projection (CIT funds can be requested for both years but applications indicating some departmental or other support at least in year two will be preferred).

What is the grant timeline?

*Due dates for presentations and reports are dependent upon the planned project completion
date, and may vary from those listed above.


Last modified November 3, 2009 1:48:41 PM EST