Undergraduate Instructional Improvement
MINIGRANT$/TRAVEL GRANT$

Purpose:
Instructional minigrants, of up to $500, provide quick access to grants for small-scale projects that have an immediate impact on undergraduate courses. Proposals should be submitted well in advance of the need for funds, retroactive applications cannot be granted. Instructors are limited to one minigrant per fiscal year.

Who May Apply:
UC Instructors (faculty/lecturers) who are the "instructor of record" teaching undergraduate courses.

Minigrant Projects:

• Video/CD/DVD purchases will be considered if there is evidence that no similar titles already exist on campus. Check the video database for a list of titles. Fill out a video application form PDF or Word version and submit to the TRC. Note: Videos, CD's or films purchased with UIIP 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. (Contact the Student Disability Center at 752-3184).
  
• Guest lecturers (maximum $250 per year). An "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. Submit a brief biography of the intended guest, check with department bookkeeper to assure that an honorarium can be processed (UC employees will not be funded).
  
• 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) would not be fundable. Even though it may contribute to a course, it falls within the realm of routine departmental responsibilities.
  
• Travel to workshops on pedagogy or conferences directly related to teaching may be funded for travel expenses up to $500 (meal expenses are not included). Fill out the application PDF (requires Acrobat Reader - free software) or Word and submit it to the TRC.

• Field Trips, within California, conducted for class instruction may be funded. They cannot be funded if they are a course requirement

• 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 projects that cannot be funded:

• Funds may not be used to supplement regular departmental expenses and budgets, thus expenses basic to the teaching of a course will not be funded.
  
• Equipment, such as TV's, computers and accessories, CD players, scanners, etc. are not eligible.
  
• Textbooks, books, office supplies, telephone charges, copying charges etc., are not eligible.
  
• Graduate courses do not qualify according to the system-wide policy.
  
• Department seminars, colloquia or clubs cannot be funded.

Application Process:
Submit a one-page proposal justifying the project including a detailed budget. Requests cannot be processed without the department chair's signature and approval. Proposals should be submitted to Jon Wagner, Director, Teaching Resources Center. Turn-around time is approximately 1-2 weeks. Notification will be sent via email.

Note: The TRC does not issue checks to vendors, guest speakers or pay invoices. The funds will be transferred to the department and the home department processes all transactions.

For further information, contact Janet Chambers jachambers@ucdavis.edu 752-6050.