Concordia
Guidelines for Assessment Mini-Grants
The Assessment Committee will award mini-grants to
assist departments with their assessment efforts. Grant funds can be used for
program assessment (measuring student achievement of learning goals).
Funds are intended for departmental, not individual, projects. Departments are only eligible for grant funds
if they submit a progress report from the summer workshop (if applicable) and submit
an annual assessment report to the Dean’s Office in the fall.
Priority funding will be awarded to academic
programs/departments that are in the beginning stages of developing and
implementing their assessment plans.
Funds will not be awarded for ongoing, annual expenses. These expenses should be included in
department budgets. If funds are limited, preference will be given to departments
that have not received mini-grant funds in the past. Departments that intend to
convene departmental retreats in the summer should instead consider attending
the “Talk About Learning” workshops which will be held in the summer.
Grant
Proposals:
Proposals should be brief and should include:
1.
The purpose (objectives) of the grant and how it relates to student outcomes.
2. How the grant activity and objectives relate to
departmental/programmatic assessment plans.
3. A budget.
4. A timeline.
Requirements:
The
requirements for the assessment mini-grants are:
1. The
mini-grant activity must be related to development and implementation of plans
for assessing student outcomes.
2. A copy of the current departmental/programmatic assessment plan (or a
summary of the plan) should be submitted with the grant application if the plan
is not on file in the Office of Academic Affairs.
3. Please submit the application in electronic format;
Microsoft Word is preferred.
4. Each department/program that is awarded an assessment mini-grant
must complete a brief report of the outcomes achieved and the funds
expended. This report must also be submitted electronically. Reports must be submitted by April 6, 2008.
Budget:
Funds may be used for developing or
purchasing assessment tools, data processing, photocopying, mailings, faculty
stipends, for student help, etc. Faculty are reimbursed at a rate of $50
per day. Grant funds will not be awarded for computers, software, equipment or
for expenses related to off-campus retreats (transportation, room rental,
etc.) The maximum award will be $1,000.
Funding for meals will be reimbursed at a maximum rate of $10 per person
for lunch.
Proposal
Reviews:
Send
grant proposals to Kay Schneider. Proposals will be reviewed, based on the
criteria listed above, by members of the Assessment Committee. If you have
questions, please contact Kay Schneider (schneide@cord.edu) at 4723.
Application for
Assessment Mini-Grants
Date_______________
Department/Program_______________________________________
Contact
person’s name ____________________________________
Contact
person’s phone number ____________
Amount
of funds requested _______________
Is a
copy of the current assessment plan for this department/program on file in the
Office of Assessment? _________ If not, please submit a copy or brief
description of the department’s plan with this grant application.
Please
develop a 1-2 (maximum) page response to the following:
1.
The purpose (objectives) of the grant and how it relates to student outcomes.
2. How the grant activity and objectives relate to
departmental/programmatic assessment plans.
3. A budget.
4. A timeline.
Send
this cover sheet and your grant proposal to Kay Schneider via e-mail at schneide@cord.edu.