Teaching Enhancement Funds

As the University’s annual budget allows, Teaching Enhancement Funds earmarked to improve the quality and rigor of instruction at Old Dominion University may be made available to full-time faculty members who are not on a terminal contract. A memorandum announcing the request for proposals under for Teaching Enhancement Funds will be emailed to all faculty and posted on the ODU Faculty Senate website. Proposals will be accepted and reviewed once a year.

The following is a non-exhaustive list of suggestions for funding.

1. Reimbursement of expenses to attend workshops to learn new skills expected to enhance teaching effectiveness. Teaching enhancement funds may be used to attend a workshop or conference that is focused on teaching enhancement.

2. Reimbursement of expenses for workshops aimed at increasing proficiency and expertise in course and curriculum development.

3. Stipends to support faculty self-study, development of instructional materials, such as videos, course packs, workbooks, case studies, development of innovative educational approaches, or significant program curriculum revision. The maximum stipend amount is $5000.00.

4. Reimbursement of expenses for guest speakers and/or consultants with expertise in classroom instruction.

Please note: 

• Teaching enhancement funds, including stipends, cannot be used for purchasing reassigned time or overload during the academic year.
• Teaching enhancement funds cannot be used to support a faculty member’s presentation of their research at conferences, workshops, or invited talks.
• Any equipment bought with teaching enhancement funds becomes the property of the university.

Content of Proposals

The faculty member wishing to obtain Teaching Enhancement Funds must prepare a clear and concise proposal that defines the request and its relationship to the faculty member’s discipline. Applicants must follow the specified format, include all information requested, and write the proposal such that those outside the applicant's field can easily understand it.

Proposals should not exceed 1500 words in length and must contain the following:

1. Completed Cover Sheet:  Proposals will not be reviewed if the cover sheet is not completed, including all necessary signatures.
2. Description of Activity: Must include the goals of the project/activity, relationship to department, school or college curricular plans, how the project will contribute to the knowledge and professional growth of the applicant(s) leading to improved instruction, and the plan for evaluation of the effort.
3. Timetable: Must include work to be accomplished (including clearly defined additional work supported by a stipend), notice and schedule for workshops, workshop brochure, potential visitation dates for speakers, etc.
4. Budget: Mustspecifically detail all expenses (e.g., materials, production costs, expenses for workshops or speakers, stipend if being requested, etc.). For projects involving technology, please consult Technology Services (IT) to determine cost estimates and IT's ability to support the plan.
5. Summary: Must describe the faculty member's teaching role in the academic unit and strategies already implemented to improve instruction.

APPLY FOR TEACHING ENHANCEMENT FUNDS

Review Process

Faculty members must submit their proposals directly to their Chair/Director, who will endorse and sign the proposal. The Chair/Director will then forward the proposal to the school or college Dean for endorsement and signature. In the event of competing proposals, the Dean should indicate the priority of the proposed projects. The Dean should submit electronic copies of all proposals, endorsements , and ratings to Jennifer Moody (jmoody@odu.edu) in the Faculty Senate Office for delivery to the Chair of the Faculty Senate Faculty Status and Remuneration Committee (Committee G). 

1. Copies of the proposal, including the endorsements of the Chair/Director and Dean, will be distributed to the members of Committee G. Members of the committee will review the proposals and make recom­mendations for funding.
2. Committee G will forward its recommendations to the appropriate Executive Vice President.
3. The Executive Vice President considering all previous endorsements and recommendations makes the final determination and notifies the faculty member of the funding decision, in writing, with copies of the correspondence to the Dean of the College and the chair of Committee G.

Evaluation Criteria 

Proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• The extent to which the proposed project or activity meets the intent of the teaching enhancement funds as it relates to the improvement of the quality of instruction.
• The extent to which the proposal describes and documents how the proposed project/activity will contribute to the faculty member's professional growth and quality of instruction at Old Dominion University.
• The extent to which the budget is complete and cost-effective.
• The extent to which the applicant follows the specified format.

Cost sharing with the department and/or college is encouraged.

Final Report

In the year following funding, successful applicants are encouraged to include a summary of outcomes achieved using the faculty enhancement funds with their submission of annual evaluation materials for the subsequent academic year.

Timetable

*This is the deadline to submit Form 4031 to be processed in time to ensure a faculty member will receive any funds in their final paycheck before the end of the fiscal year and also to meet procurement deadlines for purchases to ensure they are officially received before the end of the fiscal year.