CLIF Grants

Centred on Learning Innovation Fund (CLIF)

Call for Proposals
Deadline: Monday, February 12, 2024

Overview

The theme of the 2024 Centered on Learning Innovation Fund (CLIF) grant is Advancing UWindsor’s Foundational Commitments and Strategic Priorities Regarding Teaching and Learning. In recent years the University of Windsor has made a series of bold and inspiring decisions intended to transform our campus and its programs with the overall goal of providing high quality education that addresses past injustices while advancing societal benefit for all students and potential students. We invite proposals that address multiple foundational commitments and strategic priorities (as found in the 2023-2028 University of Windsor Strategic Plan) in innovative ways from diverse disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary points of view.

Possible topics and themes dealing with UWindsor’s foundational commitments and strategic priorities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Identification and conceptualization of high-impact pedagogical interventions addressing equity, diversity, inclusivity, accessibility, anti-racism, decolonization, and/or Indigenization;
• New and/or improved strategies to connect UWindsor programs with community organizations and/or leaders, particularly those involving collaboration for mutual benefit;
• Approaches to solving common problems regarding inclusive teaching and learning practices that help faculty members develop understanding and skills that contribute to pragmatic and effective solutions to problems of equity, diversity, inclusivity, accessibility, anti-racism, decolonization, and/or Indigenization;
• Effective communication and publicity of productive and otherwise exemplary educational approaches already in use at the University of Windsor;
• Analyzing and evaluating approaches to pragmatically addressing problems of equity, diversity, inclusivity, accessibility, anti-racism, decolonization, and/or Indigenization;
• New approaches to collaboration between units to facilitate efficient and effective teaching and learning at the University of Windsor;
• Approaches to improving learning for marginalized, othered, and/or otherwise disadvantaged students;
• Multi-modal approaches to improving teaching and/or learning that incorporate strategies addressing equity, diversity, inclusivity, accessibility, anti-racism, decolonization, and/or Indigenization.

Purpose
The purpose of the Centred on Learning Innovation Fund is to stimulate the development, implementation, and assessment of innovative teaching and learning.

Criteria
Preference will be given to projects that:

• are clearly relevant to the theme;
• offer a compelling rationale and a clear plan for all stages of the research process;
• present a clear and detailed plan for use of the grant funds and budgeting;
• demonstrate potential for educational impact;
• build on existing research and scholarly literature;
• emphasize collaboration;
• innovate; and
• establish assessment procedures to evaluate the project.

Award Categories

• Departmental/program applications showing how the proposed project could affect an entire program/department: a maximum of $5,000
• Individual, including collaborations among individuals: a maximum of $2,500

Applications must be submitted by the principal applicant electronically by 11:59 pm, 12 February 2024.

Eligibility
Applications are encouraged from:

• All disciplines;
• Instructors employing any or all modes of university course delivery;
• Individuals holding a full-time teaching appointment (including tenured and tenure-track faculty, Learning Specialists, and Limited Term faculty and AAS appointments) at the University of Windsor for the term of the grant (May 2024 through April 2025); and
• Individuals or teams (teams may include students and/or part-time faculty members as coinvestigators).

Applications Procedure
Applicants must complete the application form including a project description and rationale (2 pages maximum) as well as a detailed proposed budget and clear assessment procedures and criteria. Please see the form below for further details.

Conditions of the Award
Reporting
Grantees will submit a final report demonstrating the findings and confirming completion of the project by 30 June 2025. Please note: Abstracts and reports of successful applications may be posted on the CLIF webpage.

Funding
Funds will be disbursed in one installment and must be spent by 30 April 2025. Please take into account whether research ethics clearance is needed as you prepare your application. For more information, please contact the Office of the Research Ethics Board at ex. 3948, or via email at ethics@uwindsor.ca.

Ineligible Expenses
Course release is not an eligible expense

Expenses with Limited Eligibility

• Regional travel for research purposes cannot exceed 20% of the total award
• Campus hospitality (e.g., working lunches) cannot exceed 10% of the award amount (no alcohol is permitted)
• Equipment and apparatus (including computer hardware) up to a maximum of 20% of the total award

Please feel free to contact CTL for advice and assistance in preparing your proposal (clif@uwindsor.ca), or contact Michael K. Potter, CLIF chair, directly via email to pottermk@uwindsor.ca.