CLIF Grants

Centred on Learning Innovation Fund (CLIF)

Call for Proposals
Deadline extended to: Monday, 24 February 2025

Overview

Download the
CLIF application An Applicant's Guide to Applying for a CLIF Grant Submit CLIF Final Report

The theme of the 2025 Centered on Learning Innovation Fund (CLIF) grant is Education for All Who Want It: Enhancing Accessible Learning at UWindsor. This year’s CLIF theme builds on the University’s strategic priorities with a dedicated focus on accessibility – particularly through the lens of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA, 2005). As it pertains to higher education the AODA emphasizes multiple dimensions of accessibility and its relationship to inclusivity and equity consistent with recent scholarship. The AODA presents us with recommendations that are well-founded, practical, and open to diverse creative and critical interpretations. This year’s CLIF grants will be awarded to proposals that have the potential to provide meaningful education to diverse learners at the University of Windsor.

Although the AODA includes 185 recommendations, we urge applicants to focus on those directly relevant to teaching and learning – that is, recommendations 43, 46, 47, 49, 50, 54, 55, 60, 64, 69, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 103, and 135. We invite proposals that address one or more AODA recommendations from a variety of disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary perspectives.

Those interested in applying for a CLIF grant this year may find the following links helpful in crafting their proposal:

Possible topics and themes dealing with AODA recommendations may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Identification and conceptualization of high-impact pedagogical interventions addressing one or more specified AODA recommendations;
New and/or improved strategies to connect UWindsor programs with community organizations and/or leaders, particularly those that enhance accessibility and are relevant to specific AODA recommendations;
Approaches to solving common problems regarding accessible teaching and learning practices that help faculty members develop understanding and skills that contribute to pragmatic and effective solutions to problems of accessible learning, especially those relevant to specific AODA recommendations;
Analyzing and evaluating approaches to pragmatically addressing problems of accessible learning, particularly those relevant to specific AODA recommendations;
New approaches to collaboration between units to facilitate efficient, effective, and accessible teaching and learning at the University of Windsor – relevant to specific AODA recommendations;
Multi-modal approaches to improving teaching and/or learning that incorporate accessible teaching and learning strategies, particularly those relevant to specific AODA recommendations.

Purpose
The purpose of the Centred on Learning Innovation Fund is to stimulate the development, implementation, and assessment of effective and/or innovative teaching and learning.

Criteria
Preference will be given to projects that:

are clearly relevant to the theme;
offer a compelling rationale and a clear plan for all stages of the research process;
build on existing research and scholarly literature;
establish a clearly meaningful assessment plan and procedure to evaluate the effects and consequences of the project
present a clear and detailed plan for use of the grant funds and budgeting;
demonstrate potential for educational impact;
emphasize collaboration; and
innovate.

Award Categories

Departmental/program applications showing how the proposed project could affect an entire program/department: a maximum of $5,000
Individual, including collaborations among individuals: a maximum of $2,500

Applications must be submitted by the principal applicant electronically by 11:59 pm, 24 February 2025.

Eligibility
Applications are encouraged from:

All disciplines;
Instructors employing any or all modes of university course delivery;
Individuals holding a full-time teaching appointment (including tenured and tenure-track faculty, Learning Specialists, and Limited Term faculty and AAS appointments) at the University of Windsor for the term of the grant (May 2025 through April 2026); and
Individuals or teams (teams may include students and/or part-time faculty members as co-investigators).

Applications Procedure
Applicants must complete the application form including a project description and rationale (2 pages maximum), a detailed proposed budget, as well as a clear assessment plan and procedure with well-defined criteria.

Please indicate which AODA recommendations your proposal is intended to address within the body of your project rationale.

Conditions of the Award
Reporting
Grantees will submit a final report demonstrating the findings and confirming completion of the project by 30 June 2026. Please note: Abstracts and reports of successful applications may be posted on the CLIF webpage.

Funding
Funds will be disbursed in one installment and must be spent by 30 April 2026. Please take into account whether research ethics clearance is needed as you prepare your application. For more information, please contact the Office of the Research Ethics Board at ex. 3948, or via email at ethics@uwindsor.ca.

Ineligible Expenses
Course release is not an eligible expense

Expenses with Limited Eligibility

Regional travel for research purposes cannot exceed 20% of the total award;
Campus hospitality (e.g., working lunches) cannot exceed 10% of the award amount (no alcohol is permitted);
Equipment and apparatus (including computer hardware) cannot exceed 20% of the award amount.

Please feel free to contact CTL for advice and assistance in preparing your proposal (clif@uwindsor.ca), or contact Michael K. Potter, CLIF chair, directly via email to pottermk@uwindsor.ca.