Teaching Mini-Grants: Call for Proposals 2025-2026

Proposal Deadline: May 30, 2025  

Award Amount: Up to $2,500 per project 

Eligibility: OSU full-time academic or professional faculty or staff who serve as instructors for courses (individual or collaborative submissions accepted) 

Grant Period: Proposed projects can begin no earlier than the start of Fall Term 2025 and funded components should be complete by the end of Summer Term 2026.  

Grant Overview 

In support of faculty excellence and student success, the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) invites applications for Teaching Mini-Grants for the 2025 – 2026 academic year. CTL’s Teaching Mini-Grants challenge instructors to think creatively about their teaching and make bold curricular choices that work towards every student graduating with meaningful learning experiences; these mini-grants are designed to promote innovation beyond typical curricular upkeep. In your teaching mini-grant proposal, we encourage you to engage with one or more of the following key areas: 

  • OSU’s Quality Teaching Framework, by proposing a teaching mini-grant project that champions a culture of diverse, equitable and inclusive learning; practices teaching as a discipline; and/or supports mentorship and advising of learners;  

  • OSU’s strategic plan Prosperity Widely Shared, by proposing a teaching mini-grant project that moves OSU towards a university focused on big discoveries that drive big solutions; a university where every student graduates, and a university that fuels a thriving world.  

Sample Eligible Expenses

Teaching mini-grant funds may be used to support a wide range of activities that enrich teaching and learning. Examples of allowable expenses include: 

  • Experiential learning opportunities for students, such as coastal or other fieldwork, site visits, or service-learning projects; 

  • Materials, supplies, or resources for students or instructors, books, software licenses, educational technologies, manipulatives, poster materials, activity kits, or other engaged learning tools; 

  • Funds for stipends for summer work in 2026 related to significant course (re)design or curriculum development; 

  • Honoraria for guest speakers who offer specialized insights related to teaching and learning; 

  • Support for community building or a culminating event, such as workshops, community building activities, a mini-retreat, student showcase, light refreshments. 

 

Proposal Requirements

The proposal form asks for the following elements: 

  1. Project Title 

  1. Goals, Project Plan, and Outcomes (100-200 words) - Provide a brief overview of the current context and the focus of your proposed teaching mini-grant. Highlight what you aim to accomplish, how your project connects to one or more principles of the Quality Teaching Framework and/or Prosperity Widely Shared, and the steps you’ll take to carry out the project.  

  1. Anticipated Impact & Dissemination (100-200 words) - Explain how your project will enhance your teaching and/or improve student learning. Be sure to include how you’ll assess the impact—what indicators, products, outcomes, or evidence will demonstrate success? How will you disseminate the project outcomes with the broader OSU Community (such as through a CTL blog post or a presentation at a CTL or department event)? 

  1. Budget -  Attach an itemized budget that clearly shows how you will use up to $2,500 in mini-grant funding. Expenses should align with the scope of your project. 

 

Requirements for Funded Projects

Grant recipients are expected to: 

  • Complete the proposed grant project within the 2025 – 2026 academic year. 

  • Assess project outcomes using appropriate measures to evaluate impact. 

  • Disseminate project outcomes to the broader OSU community.  

  • Submit a one-page report at the conclusion of the grant funding period summarizing the project outcomes. Reports due by Sept. 15, 2026.  

 

Evaluation Criteria & Selection

Proposals will be evaluated holistically, with thoughtful attention to disciplinary context and diversity of teaching approaches.  

Strong proposals will: 

  • Clearly articulate the focus of the project. 

  • Define specific goals and anticipated outcomes. 

  • Outline a feasible and well-structured plan for implementation. 

  • Demonstrate alignment with the Quality Teaching Framework and/or Prosperity Widely Shared. 

  • Provide a realistic and appropriate budget, with a rationale for how funds will support the project’s aims. 

A selection committee comprised of staff from the CTL will review the applications and make recommendations to the Associate Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning, who will make final selections. We anticipate notifying mini-grant recipients in June. 

 

Submission

Proposal Deadline: May 30, 2025 

 Email Shalece Rains with your proposal attached. 

 Please email AVP for Teaching and Learning Ashley Holmes with questions.