The $1 million Curriculum Development Fund announced June 1 by UWindsor president Alan Wildeman is now accepting applications to support units planning and implementing academic program renewal and development.

“In order for the University to thrive,” says Dr. Wildeman, “the University’s programs must continue to reflect the advancement of our disciplines, and appeal to today’s and tomorrow’s students.”

The fund is intended to provide systematic support for collaboration, exploration, and some of the heavy lifting involved in program renewal, says provost Douglas Kneale, whose office is coordinating its launch.

“We want to ensure that the time and effort put into these activities will result in sustainable and energizing programs that units are proud of,” Dr. Kneale says.

The fund offers three progressive stages of funding:

• up to $15,000 for groundwork, data gathering, and curriculum analysis;
• up to $10,000 for development of an enrolment plan; and
• up to $50,000 for implementation of the approved enrolment plan.

The final plan could involve a range of strategies, such as rebranding, program repackaging, changed delivery pathways, program re-design, interdisciplinary initiatives, systematic retention initiatives, or new programs, depending on what best fits the unit’s needs and goals.

Units pursuing initiatives through the fund may also take advantage of working sessions to help them with data analysis, curriculum mapping, survey design and implementation, curriculum development, learning technologies, and so on. They will also have the option to work collaboratively with other project teams for information and resource exchange.

The application process is simple: units submit a one-page letter of intent. Details for what to include are outlined in the guidelines posted on the provost’s website. A committee chaired by the provost will begin reviewing submissions this summer, and will continue to review applications as they are received until the fund has been fully allocated.

“I look forward to the journey!” says Kneale. “This is an important opportunity to build departmental expertise as well as institutional support for ongoing program renewal.”

Read the call for the University of Windsor Curriculum Development Fund. For more information, contact Beverley Hamilton at beverley@uwindsor.ca.