Presidential Fund for Curricular Innovation

Internationalization, diversity, equity, and inclusion are strategic priorities for Emerson. Emerson’s Strategic Plan defines Internationalization as the commitment to "mutually beneficial engagement with the global society in which we participate, and to ensuring that all members of our community are prepared to thrive in that society.” Similarly, Emerson's dedication to equity, accessibility, sustainability and justice is rooted in the belief that "institutional and academic excellence are not possible without full engagement with diversity across all areas of the College." Academic Affairs, with the support of the Academic Cabinet and faculty leadership, has identified academic and inclusive excellence as priorities for the College.

Inclusive approaches to curriculum development and equitable pedagogical practices help ensure that learning experiences at Emerson are intentionally designed and facilitated to meet the needs, interests, and goals that foster student success in a culturally diverse and global society. The Presidential Fund for Curricular Innovation will support faculty participation in a Curriculum Internationalization and Inclusion Studio. The goals of the Studio are to:

• Build our collective capacity to internationalize and diversify the curriculum and to promote more expansive and equitable approaches to teaching/learning;
• Develop and refine specific courses, with corresponding pedagogical methods that contribute to these aims;
• “... encourage[s] new ways of thinking, [and] incorporate[s] new methodologies, so that different epistemological questions are raised, old assumptions are questioned, subjective data sources are considered, and prior theories either revised or invalidated” (Marchesani & Adams, 1992).

Ultimately, the aim is to offer curricula that assists students with developing the required critical consciousness, values, awareness, skills and knowledge of differences to thrive as culturally competent, global citizens.

Key Dates for AY 2025-2026 Grant Application Cycle

December 13, 2024

• Announcement to open the PFCI application period is made.
• The PFCI application form is opened.

March 18, 2025

• Completed PFCI applications due by 11:59 p.m. ET.

By April 10, 2025

• PFCI Selection Committee meets to select the PFCI Awardees.

By April 21, 2025

• Notification letters go out to PFCI applicants

July 1, 2025 through June 15, 2026

• Approved projects conducted.

November 1, 2026

• Awardees submit final online reports for projects conducted during AY 2025-2026.

PFCI Funding

Each awarded faculty member will receive a stipend of $1,200 for creating new curriculum. Faculty members selected for the Studio will have the opportunity to apply for further funding for project-related expenses (travel, funds to hire student assistants, materials, etc.).

Note: Stipends are paid as additional compensation and are subject to applicable state and federal payroll taxes. Stipends will be paid in two installments at the end of the summer.

Eligibility

All full-time Emerson College faculty members, including those teaching in ELA and Kasteel Well, are eligible to apply. Applicants may apply to create new courses, revise existing courses, develop a pre-approved Global Pathways Program, or they may create a team proposal that affects curricula in several courses. Teams must be led by a full-time faculty member and may include affiliated faculty members who are at Step Two or above (per the AFEC-AAUP Collective Bargaining Agreement) as team members. The Collective Bargaining Agreement explains that Affiliated faculty who have taught 48 to 123 credits are considered to be at Step Two.

Note: Faculty members may apply to the PFCI and the Diversity Fellows Program in the same cycle, so long as the applications are for separate and distinct projects.

Criteria & Considerations

Evaluation Criteria

Project proposals must:

• contribute demonstrably to the internationalization and/or diversification of the curriculum, teaching and learning at Emerson College; 
• be submitted by Emerson College faculty members;
• articulate a clear project, including:
  • A rationale for its development;
  • The strategy for internationalizing/diversifying the curricula. How will you introduce new materials, pedagogical methods, and new learning goals?
  • The work plan and timeline for its development and implementation (i.e. if you are developing or revising a course or course module, specify when you propose to teach it);
  • An assessment plan; markers of success over time; and
  • The steps and timeline of necessary curricular approvals and any cross-registration(s);
  • A plan for sustained engagement of the goals or project within the course, department or school.

Application Questions

Applicants should be ready to answer the following questions on their applications:

1. Please list the name, rank, and department for each faculty member associated with the proposed course or project.
2. Please provide brief curriculum vitae—no more than 2 pages each--for each applicant or team member. These must be combined and submitted as one document.
3. Indicate which strategic priority your proposal will address (internationalization or inclusive excellence).
4. Course/Project Title
5. Course/Project Summary (1500-character limit)
6. Project Description - Please be as specific as possible:
   1. The rationale for your project, a statement of how your project will contribute to internationalizing/diversifying the College curriculum.
   2. The pedagogical approaches to be employed (i.e. methods, strategies, new learning goals, etc.) 
   3. If the proposal is for a team project, detail the role of each person on your team, and the overall contribution that person will make to the project.
   4. Provide a work plan and timeline for the life of this project based either on the work of the single person submitting this proposal, or the work of each named team member.  Please include key benchmarks for each person's progress.
   5. A clear statement on when the course/project will be implemented. If you are developing or revising a course, specify when you plan to teach it.
   6. Markers of success over time. How will you know that your project has had an impact on the curriculum?  On student learning?
   7. For any project proposing the creation of a new course, share your department’s curricular review and approval process.
7. Map any curricular review and approval process needed to implement the innovation and include a timeline.

PFCI Application Form

• Eligible faculty members can access the application form via Google Forms.
• One application form per team should be completed and submitted.
• After you submit your proposal, you will receive a copy of your responses via email, and will have until the application deadline noted in the calendar to make any changes.

Review and Selection of Applications

Proposals will be reviewed by the Selection Committee, which is co-chaired by the Vice Provost for Internationalization and Equity and the Director for Faculty Development and Diversity. The Selection Committee (including academic deans) will share their decisions with the Provost for review.

Final Progress Report Requirement

Recipients of the Presidential Fund for Curricular Innovation must submit a final progress report, by November 1st of the year their grant period ends. ORCS will email PFCI recipients with the link to the reporting form prior to this due date.

Contact Information

Questions can be directed to anthony_pinder [at] emerson.edu (Dr. Anthony Pinder), Vice Provost for Internationalization & Equity, and tuesda_roberts [at] emerson.edu (Dr. Tuesda Roberts), Director for Faculty Development and Diversity.