The Grace Porterfield Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund

Established by the Hub for Teaching and Learning Excellence in the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences (CSAHS), the Grace Porterfield Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund (GPTLEF) provides three internal grants to support and encourage scholarly inquiry and professional development related to teaching and learning in a post-secondary context:

Course Re/development Grant

Funds will be awarded to support curriculum development to enhance equity, diversity, inclusion, and Indigenization (EDII).

Course Design or Redevelopment

Through the Grace Porterfield Fund for Teaching and Learning Excellence, the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences has committed funding to support curriculum development to enhance equity, diversity, inclusion, and Indigenization (EDII) as well as representation, in our College programming.

Applicants are welcome to request funding to support the development of a new course or the redevelopment of an existing course to address foundational knowledge of Canadian Black experiences, anti-Black racism, Indigenization, Decolonization, and Reconciliation, and/or questions of racism and issues of inclusion/exclusion, as they relate to disciplinary knowledge areas within the College.

A total of $10,000 is available for this initiative for the 2023-2024 academic year. Applicants may receive up to $5,000 to support curriculum development.

Eligibility

  • Anyone eligible to teach at the University of Guelph is welcome to attend the workshop and submit an application for the redevelopment of an existing course.
  • Applications for the development of a new course must involve at least one faculty member.
  • Budgetary items may include but are not limited to:
    • the costs associated with a full or partial course release
    • the hiring of a sessional instructor
    • the hiring of a curriculum consultant

Next Steps

The Hub for Teaching and Learning Excellence will open invitations for full applications in January 2024. Full applications will include: 1) a full course proposal and the budget; 2) a letter of support from the Department Chair 3) a timeline for course re/development and movement through university governance. Guidance on the university process for proposing curriculum changes will be provided.

Applications are to be submitted by April 7, 2024. Fill out the Course Re/development Grant application form. They will be reviewed by the Hub for Teaching and Learning Excellence Advisory Committee. Selection will be based on fulfilling the above requirements and the course's potential to enhance equity, diversity, inclusion, and Indigenization (EDII) knowledge.

For any questions, please email: csahstle@uoguelph.ca.

This grant will be awarded to support evidence-based, scholarly investigations to advance the practice of teaching and learning.

Note: The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL) Grant is not offered for 2023-2024.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Clarity and specificity of research question(s) and literature review;
  • Appropriateness of methodology;
  • Expected outcomes are defined and achievable;
  • Scholarly significance and potential impact; and
  • The project’s feasibility within the projected timeline and budget.

Awards

Up to $2,500 (CAD) may be awarded.

Eligible and Ineligible Expenses

Applicants may propose using funds to provide incentives for participants, hire research assistants, materials and supplies, costs associated with dissemination of findings (e.g., travel, conferences, art or multimedia, etc.).

Grant funds used to pay research assistants must adhere to all University policies and procedures, including those pertaining to wage rates, vacation pay, and appropriate benefits. For more information, please consult the University of Guelph’s Human Resources, Employee Groups and Agreements.

Ineligible expenses include the purchase of equipment, journal subscriptions, and professional memberships

Additional Requirements

Successful applicants will attest to the following as part of the application process:

  • The Hub for Teaching and Learning Excellence may request a brief progress report in the first six months of receiving the grant;
  • A final report (max. 1000 words) that includes research findings and financial statement as to how the grant was expended is electronically submitted to the Hub for Teaching and Learning Excellence (csahstle@uoguelph.ca);
  • Recognition of this funding source, when appropriate, will be acknowledged in the dissemination of material resulting from this project; and
  • Project abstracts will be posted on the CSAHS website.

Travel grants will be awarded to support attendance at workshops, seminars, and conferences related to teaching and learning.

Note: The Travel Grant is not offered for 2023-2024.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Clarity of rationale; and
  • Budget justification.

Awards

Up to $2,500 (CAD) may be awarded.

Eligible and Ineligible Expenses

Expenses must adhere to the University of Guelph’s Travel Policy and Reimbursement Policy.

Additional Requirements

Successful applicants will attest to the following as part of the application process:

  • Original, itemized, and dated receipts or invoices must be submitted in accordance with the University’s policies and procedures for each expense claimed for reimbursement.