Academic Innovation

We seek proposals for courses that will meet at least one of the following SBC categories:

• Evaluate and Synthesize Researched Information (ESI)
• Speak Effectively before an Audience (SPK)
• Understand Technology (TECH)
• Understand the Political, Economic, Social, and Cultural History of the United States (USA)

Explore SBC Learning Outcomes

We encourage proposals that will focus on AI literacy or civic discourse.

Enrollment Targets:

• In-person courses: at least 45 students.
• Asynchronous, online courses: at least 100 students.

Individual recipients can receive up to $5,000.

Projects that will be developed by teams of faculty can receive up to $3,000 for each co-instructor.

Faculty will receive the state funds directly when the course has been approved by the appropriate curriculum committee.

Submissions must include:

1. A letter of support from chair(s) that recognizes a tentative commitment to offer the course soon after it's approved by the curriculum committee(s).
2. A course proposal, no more than three pages double spaced, that includes a course description and student learning outcomes and considers the following questions:
   1. How does this course align with the associate SBC learning outcomes?
   2. How does it achieve the overarching objectives of the EDGE Fund and Stony Brook Curriculum?
   3. What is the proposed curriculum design and content?

Optional materials:

You may choose to include supplemental materials, such as:

• Draft syllabus.
• Assessment plan.

An instructional designer will be available for consultation.

With guidance from the Office of Educational Effectiveness, recipients will participate in assessment activities to track outcome effectiveness.

Faculty developing online courses must also:

• Build course shells,
• Complete the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching's Online Teaching Course,
• Participate in the SUNY Online Course Quality Review Rubric process after course development.

Any SBC-certified course is eligible for this micro-grant opportunity, as long as the course will be taught during the 2026-2027 academic year.

Micro-grants are one-time awards and cannot be used for recurring expenses.

They should be used to expand classroom resources, or pursue opportunities that will promote general education pedagogy.

Acceptable expenses could include:

• Class supplies,
• Small equipment,
• Conference registration fees,
• One-year license to purchase university-approved software like Adobe Pro or Gemini Pro,
• Student support for a special project.

Faculty may make requests of up to $1,000.

Submissions must include:

1. A letter of support from department chair(s) confirming the SBC course will be taught in the 2026-2027 academic year.
2. A proposal, no more than two pages double-spaced, describing how the funds will support the course experience.
3. A budget detailing the requested expense.

Micro-grant recipients will work with the Provost's Office to transfer the funds.