Purpose
HArCS Instructional Improvement Mini-Grants of up to $350 provide instructors with funds for small-scale projects that have an immediate impact on undergraduate courses. Instructors are limited to one Mini-Grant per fiscal year, and some restrictions apply (see below). Proposals are considered on an ongoing basis, but should be submitted well in advance of scheduled activities. Retroactive applications cannot be approved.
Who May Apply
HArCS instructors (faculty/lecturers) who are the "instructor of record" for teaching undergraduate courses.
Eligible projects and expenses
- CD/DVD purchases will be considered if there is evidence that no similar titles already exist on campus. VHS titles will be considered if this is the only format available. Note: Videos, CD's, DVD's or films purchased with these funds should have closed captioning. If closed captioning is not available the instructor or department is responsible for taking measures to accommodate the needs of individuals with disabilities. (For more information on multimedia accessibility, contact the Student Disability Center at 752-3184.) Shields Reserves manages all course video reserves and video checkout services. All items are cataloged in Harvest and Melvyl, so that subject and keyword searches are possible.
- Guest lecturers (maximum $250 per year per instructor and per course). Any "instructor of record" may request an honorarium for a guest to lecture directly in her/his undergraduate course. Guest lecturers cannot be funded for departmental program lectures, seminars, or colloquia. As part of your request, submit a brief biography of the proposed guest. Also check with your department's business office to ensure that the guest is eligible and that an honorarium can be processed. UCD employees cannot be funded as guest lecturers.
- Software is potentially fundable if it is specific to an undergraduate course and falls outside the instructor's routine responsibilities. It is necessary to describe in what ways the software will improve the pedagogical quality or the anticipated educational outcomes of the course. 'Productivity' software (e.g., PowerPoint, Photoshop) is not fundable. Even though it may contribute to a course, it falls within the realm of routine departmental responsibilities.
- Field trips within California, conducted to enhance class instruction, may be funded. Field trips cannot be funded if they are a course requirement, and funds cannot be allocated to pay mileage expenses for student drivers or passengers in private automobiles.
- Other projects that are innovative and have an educational impact on an undergraduate course may be funded based on the merit of the proposed endeavor.
Types of expenses that cannot be funded
- Funds may not be used to supplement regular departmental expenses and budgets. Expenses basic to the teaching of a course will not be funded.
- Equipment, such as TV's, computers and accessories, CD players, scanners, small electronic devices, etc., are not eligible.
- Textbooks, books, office supplies, telephone charges, copying charges, etc., are not eligible.
- Expenses for departmental seminars, colloquia, or clubs cannot be funded.
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