SUBJECT:  Instructional Improvement Program -- Call for
                     Proposals, 2003 - 04 Funds

I am pleased to announce the availability of funding to support faculty efforts to improve undergraduate instruction. The Instructional Improvement Committee will review proposals, and the Senior Vice Chancellor - Academic Affairs, will make the final allocation decisions.

However, due to the budget cuts, it will be necessary to reduce the number and the size of grants that can be funded. Further, it will not be possible to support summer salary for faculty. In addition to the usual small individual proposals that are funded at the $1K-$3K level, the committee still hopes to be able to fund one or two large proposals (up to $10K) which may have a more significant impact at the program, department, or divisional levels. Faculty are encouraged to work within their units to develop more comprehensive strategies that might improve undergraduate instruction. Interdisciplinary proposals are welcome. The committee also wishes to continue to consider proposals involving on-line or web-based learning.

The committee encourages any improvement in existing instructional programs, including courses, curricula, and instructional processes, as well as the development of interdisciplinary courses and programs. Faculty experiments with new technologies or new approaches are welcome. The committee looks for proposals that can improve the quality of undergraduate education, impact many students, and enhance the interactions between faculty and students, particularly at the lower division level. The committee has looked more favorably on larger proposals when there are matching funds committed from alternative sources.

Awards will be made in the form of grants for development expenses, including, but not limited to, material costs, summer graduate student support, and support for technical assistance.

The application deadline is Monday, April 21, 2003. Awards will be announced in late May, with funding available July 1, 2003. The information requested in the application form appears below. The application form is available on the Academic Affairs web site: http://academicaffairs.ucsd.edu/offices/planning/default.htm. General criteria and program guidelines are given following the application form (and also on the referenced web site). Please feel free to contact Bonnie Horstmann (X2-2042) or Michele Dotson (x4-0097) with any questions.

                                                David R. Miller
                                                Associate Vice Chancellor
                                                Academic Planning and Resources

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2003-04 PROPOSAL TO IMPROVE UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION
Please submit to Ozell Xianté, mail code 0001, no later than 5:00 p.m., Monday, April 21, 2003. Electronic submission to ozell@ucsd.edu is acceptable if forwarded from the Department Chair's office signifying the Chair's approval.

APPLICANT(S):

Name:
Title:
Department:
Phone:

Name:
Title:
Department:
Phone:

PROJECT TITLE:

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT:
Please attach a description of the project. It must contain a statement of the problem, the objectives of the proposal and the intellectual impact, the plan for achieving the objectives, and an evaluation plan.

STUDENTS:

Estimated number of students that will be affected: Lower
Division Students: Upper Division Students:

BUDGET:

PERSONNEL COSTS: (List each additional individual separately. Please consult your department's Management Service Officer to obtain exact figures.)

Payroll title and step:
Annual salary: $
Percent time on project:
Period of time on project:
Benefits: $
TOTAL PERSONNEL COSTS: $

SUPPLIES AND EXPENSES (please describe in proposal): $

TRAVEL: $

OTHER: $

TOTAL REQUEST: $

Funds committed from an alternate source: $
Name of Source:

APPROVAL REQUIRED:
Department Chair Date

[Chairs are invited to forward a brief endorsement statement which may be sent via e-mail to ozell@ucsd.edu]

Instructional Improvement Program -- General Guidelines and Considerations:

1. Proposals should be innovative and cost effective, with potential to affect a large number of students.

2. Proposals should be geared to undergraduates and offer something new in instructional delivery.

3. Proposals with potential for broad support (several faculty working together) tend to be viewed favorably.

4. The Instructional Improvement Committee may wish to take into account whether a proposal is responding to a recommendation from a CEP Subcommittee to Review Undergraduate programs.

5. The Instructional Improvement Committee provides one-time funding, and does not expect to approve requests for continued funding of the same project.

6. The Instructional Improvement Committee has provided support for graduate students [typically Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) summer salary] working on instructional improvement projects. Departments are fully responsible for any benefits or fee remission required.

Awards made by the Instructional Improvement Committee for 2002-03, 2001-02, 2000-01 and 1999-00 are listed on the Academic Affairs web site: http://academicaffairs.ucsd.edu/offices/planning/IIPAwds.htm