TEACHING SUPPORT PROGRAM

In addition to assisting faculty to compete for extramural funding for pedagogical grants, the University sponsors innovative teaching efforts to foster students' learning through the Villanova Institute for Teaching and Learning and Teaching (VITAL) Minigrant program. Early each spring, faculty members are invited to submit proposals for teaching projects. Faculty members may request funding for development of instructional materials, summer stipends, or for travel, equipment, and supplies. Tenured, tenure-track and full time non-tenure track faculty members who have been at Villanova for four years are eligible to apply. The proposals must be approved by the department chair and the dean and are then sent to a faculty committee for review. The criteria used to judge the merits of proposals include:

* The proposal indicates the specific way(s) in which the proposed activity is expected to lead to a change and/or improvement in teaching-learning practices.

* The proposal shows a strong relationship to the strategic plans of the University and/or College(s).

* The proposal clearly demonstrates how the scope of the project represents an effort above and beyond the typical instruction-related activities expected of a faculty member.

* The proposal indicates how the results of the project might be used to improve instruction in other sections, courses, or disciplines at Villanova University.

Details are available from the VITAL office at 610-519-5627.

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