Program Guidelines for Rowan Program for Inclusive Pedagogy and Educational Reform (PIPER)

Announcement Date: June 1, 2021

Application Due Date: June 30, 2021

Award Period: Aug 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022

Award Amount: PIPER recipients will receive a grant of up to $5,000 for Academic Year 2021-2022 to develop, implement and disseminate their approach. Up to five awards will be given.

PIPER Program Description: The Rowan Program for Inclusive Pedagogy and Educational Reform (PIPER) grants support the development, implementation and dissemination of instructional practices, course content, teaching materials and assessment strategies that advance the ideals set forth in Rowan University’s Statement on Diversity. PIPER focuses on intentional efforts to create inclusive learning experiences for individuals from groups that have been historically faced barriers to participation in higher education or the and/or the discipline. Ideas for inclusive teaching include (but are not limited to):

  • Developing content informed by theories that challenge traditional power structures, focus on justice and transformation – e.g., critical race, feminist, queer, post-colonial
  • Infusing learning activities that utilize diverse perspectives and strengths of learners to create a sense of belonging within the discipline
  • Integrating topics of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion into learning objectives and course content, especially in courses that traditionally lack this perspective
  • Creating diverse and accessible content, examples, and activities that are relatable and meaningful to students from diverse backgrounds.
  • Making visible the contributions of scholars from groups that have historically faced barriers to participation in the discipline

Funding for PIPER is provided in partnership by the President’s Office, the Provost’s office, and the Revolutionizing Engineering Diversity (RevED) grant. Previously developed inclusive teaching materials are available on the RevEd website at Revolutionizing Engineering Diversity (RevED)

Eligibility: All Rowan faculty and staff who will serve as instructor for a course in AY 2021-2022 are eligible to apply. There is no limit to the number of individuals on a team. There is no limit to the number of proposals submitted by members of a given department.

Award Information:

  • The award is one-time only and must be used during the academic year in which it is awarded.
  • Awards can range in size depending on the scope of the project.
  • Funds must be transferable to a campus account. This includes departmental accounts.
  • Proposals must contain complete budget information outlining proposed project costs, timeline for expenditure and implementation, and all other sources of funding or sponsorship, if applicable for the project/program.

Application Procedure: Please complete the application form online. As part of the application process, you will be asked to upload a file containing your proposal.

Proposal Preparation: The proposal should include the following information:

  • A brief description of the course in which the inclusive strategies will be implemented (e.g., level, audience, department, semester taught).
  • What does inclusivity mean in your teaching/course context?
  • What challenges are you trying to solve?
  • Guiding theory or conceptual framework
  • What instructional practices, content, materials and assessment strategies will you develop, implement and assess?
  • How do you expect the proposed changes to enhance student outcomes?
  • What products will result from this work that can be shared?

If the proposal is a collaboration between departments, the narrative should include a description of how the collaboration will bring broad and diverse perspectives and expertise to enhance the project. The proposal must not exceed 4 pages single spaced. All pages of the proposal should have one-inch margins on all sides and all type should be 11 points in size or larger.

Requirements: Grant recipients are required to:

  • Attend 2 meetings per semester to exchange ideas with other PIPER recipients
  • Submit a final report
  • Present their project at Rowan’s Annual DEI Summit in March 2022
  • Share inclusive course materials to be posted on the RevEd website
  • Mentor future cohorts of PIPER recipients

Evaluation of Proposals: Proposals will be evaluated by a committee comprising members of the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, members of the RevED team, and former PIPER recipients. The following criteria, with respective weights, will be used to screen applications and select recipients for the Rowan PIPER awards.

  • Objectives and Outcomes (35%): clarity and comprehensiveness of the process, methodology, timeline and desired outcomes. Provide examples that demonstrate how the project will promote justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.
  • Broader Impact (30%): addresses an institutional priority as it relates to diversity and inclusion. Address how the project will be assessed to demonstrate its success. Also address how the results will be widely disseminated to the university community or the profession.
  • Potential for Sustaining Change (35%): identification and demonstration of potential for continuing the effort after the duration of the grant.

The subcommittee will review proposal budgets and recommend funding levels according to feasibility and the total allocated budget.

Download the PIPER Budget Template

Review Rowan University Seed Funding Budget Guidelines

The following sections of the proposal, while also required, are excluded from the four-page limit:

  • Detailed budget (one page maximum) — Funds can be requested for any approved university expense. Rounding all figures to the nearest dollar, please include line items for each of the following categories:
    • Supplies (please itemize)
    • Travel
    • Other
  • Literature cited in proposal or selected bibliography — Cite materials relevant to the proposed project.
  • Biographical sketch(es) — Provide a two-page biographical sketch for each investigator involved in the proposed project. Each sketch should include an academic history and a list of scholarly or creative achievements (publications, presentations, exhibitions, performances, etc.).

Please address questions to Stephanie Farrell at farrell@rowan.edu

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