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First-Year Student Experience and Faculty Engagement Mini-Grant

Proposal deadline: September 21, 2022 by 5 p.m. CT

Number of Awards & Amount: 20 mini-grants/up to $1,500

Eligibility: This award is open to all UTSA faculty regardless of academic title.

Grant Description

The First-Year Student Experience and Faculty Engagement Mini-Grant Program is designed to increase overall student-faculty engagement outside of the classroom, enhance first-year students’ sense of connection and belonging to UTSA, and develop engaging relationships among faculty and students. UTSA faculty may apply for one mini-grant per academic year  (up to $1,500) which will be used to fund a variety of engagement activities to include but are not limited to:

  • Visit a local art or music exhibit.
  • Purchase extra-curricular/interest area material to review and discuss.
  • Meet for refreshments or a meal to discuss discipline or interest-related topics.
  • Engage in an outdoor activity related to the curriculum.
  • Facilitate book club/discussion on current events or topics relevant to discipline/interest area.
  • Organize speaker/panel around topics relevant to your field/interests.
  • Host career networking activity with alumni and/or other faculty in your discipline.
  • Host a game or movie night with refreshments.
  • Participate in a community-service activity.

Proposal Instructions and Review Process

Please be creative when proposing ideas! Priority will be given to applications that describe intentional interactions with high-priority first-year (and in FY22 second-year) student groups such as first-generation, underrepresented minority, Pell eligible, etc. 

Preview of questions included in the online application form:

  1. Explain the role faculty play in student success. How can engaging interactions and activities make an impact on the lives and success of students, particularly first-year students?

  2. Given the role that faculty play in student success, what is your plan to engage with students outside of the classroom? Please provide the following information for four planned activities. What is your overall goal or purpose for your activities? How many students do you expect to participate in each activity or overall?

  3. Describe the students you will aim to include in your familia (small group or activity participants). How will your planned engagement activities/events positively impact them?

  4. Include three or more behavioral objectives. At the conclusion of the year and after engaging in the proposed activities/events, participants will be able to:

Example: Describe the impact that local art and artists may have on their communities.
 - Objective A
 - Objective B
 - Objective C
 - Objective D (optional)
  1. How will the mini-grant funds be used to facilitate your proposed plan? Make sure to provide an itemized budget.

Proposal Review Process:

Before submitting the online application form, you will need to confirm that you discussed the proposal with your Department Chair or Dean and received approval to proceed. You will also need to acknowledge that you have read the program requirements and understand the obligations if you receive the funding.

Applications will be scored on:

  1. Creativity of approaches to engage students
  2. Demonstrated understanding of the manners in which faculty-student engagement impacts student success and retention
  3. Potential positive impact of proposed activities
  4. Clarity and feasibility of plan
  5. Completeness of responses

Key Dates

Faculty Info / Q & A sessions:

Proposal due: Wednesday, September 21 at 5 p.m.

Support

For more information, please send an email to studentsuccess@utsa.edu

Apply for a mini-grant

Click here to apply.