Teacher-Scholar Mini Grant Program
Background
At Cal Poly, the teacher-scholar model is the embodiment of Learn by Doing for faculty. The teacher-scholar model acknowledges the importance of engagement in continuous learning in one’s field as a qualification of teaching. The teacher-scholar model puts students at the center of experiential learning. The Cal Poly framework for the teacher-scholar model was adopted by the Academic Senate in AS-725-11 Resolution on Defining and Adopting the Teacher-Scholar Model and continues to guide our learn-by-doing pedagogy and our commitment to research, scholarly and creative activities. The Teacher-Scholar Mini Grant (TSMG)Program has been developed to support our institutional commitment to advancing discovery, integration, application, and engagement in the context of teaching and learning. With support from the Office of the Provost, the Teacher-Scholar Mini Grant Program provides enhanced internal funding to support all areas of teacher-scholar activities.
*Graphic from Provost Jackson-Elmoore's 2020 open forum during the provost search campus visit.
Synopsis of the Program
Teacher-scholar mini grants are intended to support faculty engagement through three separate funding options. The program solicits proposals that articulate with any area of the teacher-scholar model. Please scroll down to the 2025-26 TSMG Request for Proposals link to access the RFPs for each track to learn more.
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Discovery & Translation— to develop or carry out a clearly defined scope of work resulting in a scholarly product that advances research, scholarly and creative activities. Fundable areas include but are not limited to basic or applied research; artistic, archival, creative, or design products; peer reviewed publications; professional workshop convenings; research proposal preparations; or operational bridge funding for ongoing projects.
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Teaching & Learning— to support the development of teaching, classroom, or curricular innovations. Fundable areas include but are not limited to those that develop or institute curricular or co-curricular programs; program assessment; innovative practice; collaborative engagement; or community engaged teaching and learning.
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Proposal Development— to support faculty in the preparation and submission of external funding proposals.
Student Supplement
For Discovery & Translation and Teaching & Learning tracks only, student support may be included in the up to $11,000 operating budget. In addition to the operational budget, faculty can request one additional student supplement of up to $4,000 to support student participation in their funded project. The student supplement should follow the student fellowship award model (via Financial Aid), not employment (i.e., student assistants). More information and guidance will be provided on this model to awardees. The student supplement can support one or more students but must not exceed $4,000 across all students and must directly connect student participation to learn-by-doing.
Eligibility
All faculty unit employees are eligible to submit for funding, including lecturers, tenure-track, and tenured faculty; please see additional eligibility criteria below. Applicants may submit one proposal as either PI or co-PI. Funding can be requested to augment currently funded projects to expand the scope of work, such as funding a student researcher or other budget line item (for the Discovery & Translation and Teaching & Learning tracks). The same scope of work funded by another program will not be eligible for funding by the Teacher-Scholar Mini Grant, and it is incumbent upon the applicant to clarify current and pending funding in their request. Awards are provided only to those who hold a current appointment through the requested duration of funding; exceptions may be granted but require review by the DR, Office of the Vice President and the Dean of the respective college.
Additional Eligibility Criteria:
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Applicants cannot submit a proposal as a PI if they have received two T-S Mini Grant (or Proposal Development Program (PDP)) awards in the preceding 5 award cycles (2020-21 to 2024-25); i.e. the fiscal year for the original active term of the project, not the fiscal year when the PI received the notification of award.
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Applicants can only re-submit the same proposed project three times – one original submission and two resubmissions.
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PIs and Co-PIs are not eligible to receive a new grant if they have any past-due progress reports for previous T-S Mini Grants or Proposal Development Program Grants.
If you have any questions about eligibility requirements, please email research@calpoly.edu.
