This grant program is intended to support incorporating the principles and goals of ISU’s core value of civic engagement into students’ curricular experiences.
The grants are intended to reimburse faculty for expenses directly associated with course-based events, activities or projects that develop students’ civic and community knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors and prepare them to participate in social change. Grants support community engagement projects as service learning assignments, guest speakers, travel expenses for class trips, material for in-class activities/assignments, etc. Expenses eligible for reimbursement by this grant program include:
Please see Types of Civic Engagement for the various ways Illinois State practices civic engagement.
All tenured and tenure-line faculty, full-time non-tenure track instructors, and full-time staff with teaching responsibilities at Illinois State University are eligible. Recipients of prior grants who have failed to meet their grant obligations are ineligible.
Grants will be up to $500 for reimbursement of documented expenses directly related to community engagement learning experience. Number of grants and amounts of individual grants are subject to availability of funds. Individual faculty members are eligible for up to one grant per academic term (fall, spring, and summer).
Applications for projects in the fall will be accepted on a rolling basis. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt, but should be submitted at least five weeks prior to incurring expenses for the event, activity or project. Applications for projects to be completed in the spring and summer should be submitted by Feb. 15.
Applications will be evaluated based on the degree to which each:
Awards for projects requiring technology support may require additional approval.
Acceptance indicates agreement to present at an event such as: Civic Engagement Day (held in April), Civic Engagement Redesign (June) or Constitution Day (September) and submit a report (detailed below). These pieces of the process are designed to maximize the benefits of recipients’ experiences by sharing them with the ISU community. The reports will be posted on the Center for Civic Engagement website. Completion of this condition is required to remain eligible for future grants.
Grant reports (200-300 words) should include:
Contact the Center for Civic Engagement or Dr. Katy Stzepek at (309) 438-1100.