Created in 2010, York University’s Academic Innovation Fund (AIF) has inspired change in teaching, learning and the student experience by funding innovative and sustainable projects across the University. Projects such as the highly successful YU Start program for first-year students, HealthAID, the Las Nubes Program: A semester abroad program and the University Libraries SPARK program are examples of successful AIF initiatives.
Now, organizers of the AIF are turning once again to the York University community and are issuing a call for new submissions for projects that focus on institutional priorities outlined in the University Academic Plan (2015-2020), the Strategic Mandate Agreement, and the Institutional Integrated Resource Plan.
“Specifically, the new call for submissions would be of interest to University community members who have great ideas that will advance York University’s leadership in eLearning, experiential education and internationalization,” says Will Gage, associate vice-president, teaching & learning. “This next cycle of Phase II continues the AIF legacy of inspired change. I encourage all Faculties and individual faculty members to consider developing proposals for projects that advance these priorities.”
The Office of the Associate Vice-President Teaching & Learning, which oversees the AIF, has issued this new call and the total funding available is $1.5 million. The funds are open for Faculties and faculty members to develop projects that address one or more of the strategic priorities of eLearning, experiential education and internationalization for undergraduate or graduate degrees. These projects are known as Category 1 initiatives and can qualify for up to $100,000 per year. The highest priority will be given to projects that are sustainable, scalable and affordable. High priority will be given to grant requests from schools, departments or Faculties that have documented experiential education or eLearning plans.
Category 2 initiatives provide grants of up to $5,000 to support faculty members in redesigning courses to use eLearning, experiential education and/or internationalization strategies. Proposals related to eLearning should focus on incorporating blended learning, fully online learning or flipped classroom approaches. Proposals to embed experiential education approaches in a course should focus on community service learning, community-based research or course-based placements. Again, high priority will be given to grant requests from schools, departments or faculties that have documented experiential education or eLearning plans. Internationalization-focused proposals will suggest ways to bring global, international and comparative perspectives to the curriculum.
All proposals will be reviewed, approved and ranked by the office of the faculty dean before submission to the Office of the AVP Teaching and Learning. To learn more, email avptl@yorku.ca, or visit the AIF website to download the application guidelines.
Applications for AIF funding for this next cycle should be submitted electronically to the Office of the Associate Vice-President Teaching & Learning (avptl@yorku.ca) by 4pm on Friday, Feb. 3.