Curriculum Development and Instructional Improvement Grant Program
NMU recognizes that curriculum development and instructional improvement are ongoing activities in all academic departments on campus. It is the hope of every department that internal resources will be adequate to support these development and improvement efforts, including the purchase of equipment or educational supplies that are routinely processed through administrative channels. Unfortunately reality dictates that major development and some instructional improvement efforts cannot always be accomplished with available department resources. There may be a need for additional funds to cover the cost of faculty release time or summer support for faculty travel, training and materials.
Requests for funding will be accepted in the following categories:
- Curriculum Development Grants are intended to support efforts at the departmental or inter-departmental level and focus on modifications, advancements or improvements in the curriculum. Proposals must clearly demonstrate how the proposed work exceeds those curriculum development activities normally expected from an academic unit to adequately justify additional funding.
- Instructional Improvement Grants are intended to support projects that offer one or more faculty members the opportunity to improve their instructional skills, implement new teaching methodologies, or develop innovative materials. Course development for international courses are included in this category.
DEADLINE: 3/31/25; MAX AWARD: $2,400 - exclusive of absorbed release time
GUIDELINES
COVER SHEET
SAMPLE CV
EVALUATION CRITERIA
SAMPLE PROPOSALS *Note that the guidelines may have changed since these proposals were awarded
All full-time faculty on term, continuing, tenure track, and tenured appointments are eligible. Although individual faculty members initiate the proposal, they will require endorsements as detailed in the guidelines.
Applicants must now complete their application through the Cayuse platform. The Office of Sponsored Programs is hosting regular trainings on how to submit proposals via the Cayuse platform. Training dates/times are listed on our Events page.
Reporting instructions
Grant recipients must file a Final Project Report by June 30 of the year following the year the award was received. All funds must be encumbered on or before the end of the one-year award period.
FINAL REPORT GUIDELINES FOR NMU INTERNAL GRANTS
If a PI would like to request a No-Cost Extension, this No-Cost Extension form must be submitted at least 15-calendar days prior to the end of the project period.
Additional information - Proposal evaluation
The Faculty Grants Committee will review the proposals, rank them, and report to the Senate. The Senate will forward its recommendations to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. While it is understood that the objectives of the grant categories vary, each proposal submitted will be reviewed and ranked by the Faculty Grants Committee in terms of the project's overall merit. The Committee will recommend only meritorious proposals for funding, and will make budget recommendations. The evaluation rubric used by the Faculty Grants Committee can be viewed here. Each proposal will be rated independently on the following criteria:
- Each proposal will be reviewed as to the methods of the project, the appropriateness of the budget, and the probability of attaining its specified objectives.
- Each proposal will be reviewed as to the innovative nature of the proposed objective and/or the impact the outcome will have on curriculum development or instructional improvement.
- Proposals that are rated unacceptable with regard to either criterion by a majority of the committee will not be ranked.
- Voting Policy: Each proposal must be read and evaluated by a minimum of five (5) voting members of the Faculty Grants Committee. In the event that less than five committee members are available for grant assessment, alternate committee members will be called upon to fill in. Committee members who have a grant under consideration will be excluded from any deliberations. Alternates will take the place of these members. Ex officio committee members may contribute to discussions, but will not take part in the actual ranking of proposals.
Past Awards
Prior Awards for CD & II
2024
Curriculum Development
Name: Jongeun You
Department: Political Science
Title: Developing Environmental Management Course on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
Name: Timothy Compton
Department: Languages, Literature, and International Studies
Title: Modified Oral Proficiency Interview Training
Instructional Improvement
Name: Lau Romero
Department: Languages, Literature, and International Studies
Title: Making Spanish 101 a Textbook-Free Course
2023
Curriculum Deveolpment
Name: Megan Nelson
Department: Health and Human Performance
Title: Improving Coursework in Sport and Excercise Science
Instructional Improvement
-NO SUBMISSIONS-
2022
Curriculum Deveolpment
Name: Yan Ciupak
Department: Sociology and Anthropology
Title: Training and Material Development for NMU Grief Support Curriculum
Instructional Improvement
Name: Vincent Jeevar
Department: Psychological Science
Title: Untitled
2021
Curriculum Development
-NO SUBMISSIONS-
Instructional Improvement
-NO SUBMISSIONS-
2020
Curriculum Development
Name: Jim Marquardson
Department: College of Business
Title: Establishment of Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Governance Model and Initial Curriculum Modifications
Instructional Improvement
Name: Kristen Smith
Department: School of Nursing
Title: Expanding Simulation in the Women's & Children's Nursing Courses
2019
Curriculum Development
Name: Eugene Wickenheiser
Department: Chemistry
Title: Extraction Theory and Practice
Instructional Improvement
Name: Elizabeth Monske
Department: Department of English
Title: Revision on EN 509
2018
Curriculum Development
Name: Caroline Krzakowski
Department: English
Title: Introduction to Digital Humanities
Instructional Improvement
-NO SUBMISSIONS-
2017
Curriculum Development
Name: Daniel Rowe
Department: Mathematics and Computer Science
Title: Quantitative Literacy: Making Math Real
Instructional Improvement
Name: Carol Bell
Department: Mathematics and Computer Science
Title: Understanding proof and justification in Geometry
2016
Curriculum Development
Name: Amy Barnsley
Department: Mathematics and Computer Science
Title: Online Beginning Algebra: Quality Matters for All Students
Instructional Improvement
Name: Terry Delpier
Department: School of Nursing
Title: Poverty Simulation: An Interprofessional Experience
2015
Curriculum Development
Name: Amy Barnsley
Department: Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Title: Online Intermediate Algebra: Because Quality Matters
Instructional Improvement
Name: Dwight Brady
Department: Communication and Performance Studies
Title: Using video to enhance the instruction of media production hardware and software
2014
Curriculum Development
Name: Christie Edge
Department: School of Education, Leadership, and Public Service
Title: Paving The New Pathway: Creating a Clinical Partnership for the Preparation of Secondary Education Teachers
Instructional Improvement
Name: Alec Lindsay
Department: Biology
Title: Comparing Learning Outcomes of a “Blended-Learning” Teaching Strategy with an Online-Enhanced “Standard Lecture” Teaching Strategy
2013
Curriculum Development
Name: Joanie Cowell
Department: School of Education, Leadership, and Public Service
Title: A revision of the Graduate Learning Disabilities Program: Turning a Chevy into a Cadillac.
Instructional Improvement
Name: Robert Goodrich
Department: History
Title: Development of a Historical Role-Playing Game using the “Reacting to the Past” Model. The Last Years of the Republic, Germany 1930-1933
2012
Curriculum Development
-NO SUBMISSIONS-
Instructional Improvement
-NO SUBMISSIONS-
2011
Curriculum Development
Name: Jaspal K. Singh
Department: Department of English
Title: Gender and Sikh Religious Identity in Indian Literature
Instructional Improvement
Name: Carol S. Steinhaus
Department: College of Business
Title: Improving Ability to Teach Intercultural Communication in the College of Business
2010
Curriculum Development
Name: Joseph M. Lubig
Department: School of Education, Leadership and Public Service
Title: Elementary Education Curriculum Map Proposal
Instructional Improvement
Name: Terry Delpier & Kristi Burdick
Department: School of Nursing
Title: Pediatric Simulation Computer Program: PALS SimBaby Scenarios
Name: Derek Anderson
Department: School of Education, Leadership and Public Service
Title: NVivo 8 Workshop
Name: Rebecca Ulland
Department: Modern Languages and Literature
Title: Women Writers of Argentina
2009
Curriculum Development
Name: Carol Bell
Department: Department of Mathematics and Computer Sciences
Title: Redesign of the Master of Science in Mathematics Education Degree Program
Instructional Improvement
Name: Carol Bell
Department: Mathematics and Computer Sciences
Title: Understanding Algebraic Concepts in Middle School Mathematics
Name: David Buhl
Department: Mathematics and Computer Sciences
Title: Integrating Mathematics Software and Podcasting
Name: Claudia Orr
Department: College of Business
Title: Improving Communication Effectiveness in Managerial Communications with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
2008
Curriculum Development
-NO SUBMISSIONS-
Instructional Improvement
Name: Susan Goodrich
Department: Modern Languages and Literature
Title: “Women of Spain: Literary and Historical Figures:” Site Investigation
2007
Curriculum Development
Name: Joseph Lubig
Department: School of Education, Leadership, and Public Service
Title: A Collaborative Reading Curriculum: Bridging the Gap between Teaching Certification Requirements and the High School Reading Curriculum
Name: Jaspal Singh
Department: English
Title: Fundamentalism and Secularism is Contemporary Indian Literature
Name: Sandra Poindexter
Department: College of Business
Title: Study, Evaluate, and Model Alternative Ways to Teach information Technology
Instructional Improvement
Name: John Smolens
Department: Department of English
Project Title: Exploratory Trip for a CLEA to Italy
Name: Carol Sotiropoulos
Department of Modern Languages and Literature
Title: Incorporating Austrian Studies into GR 310, German Culture and Civilization
Name: Mare Jane Tremethick & Eileen Smit
Department: School of Health and Human Performance
Title: Spanish Immersion Program
Name: Cate Terwilliger
Department: English
Title: First Amendment
2006
Curriculum Development
-NO SUBMISSIONS-
Instructional Improvement
Name: Charles Ganzert and Dwight Brady
Department: Communication and Media Studies
Title: Advanced Training In Audio & Video Production Software
Name: Terry Delpier & Lisa Flood
Department: School of Nursing
Title: Nursing Simulation: Emergency Equipment
2005
Curriculum Development
Name: Joseph Lubig & Kenneth King
Department: School of Education, Leadership, and Public Service
Title: Elementary Education Curriculum Map
Instructional Improvement
-NO SUBMISSIONS-
2004
Curriculum Development
Name: Roxin Zhang
Department: Mathematics and Computer Sciences
Title: Redesign of the Prediction Equations in NMU Math Placement Recommendation System
Instructional Improvement
Name: Mary Jane Tremethick
Department: School of Health and Human Performance
Title: Exploring Health Care in China