The Fund invites proposals from faculty members endorsed by their department or program for new or reimagined courses in any subject at any level. Faculty are encouraged to submit proposals for courses with the potential to be offered on a continuing basis. One to three years of funding are available based upon project scope. All faculty members are eligible to apply to the Fund. Proposals from tenure-track and tenured faculty will be given priority in the selection process, as will courses with medium to large enrollments.

Awards may be used for a variety of purposes, including: 

• Summer stipends for course development
• Costs related to new educational technologies, class trips, guest speakers, and other enhancements

Faculty who are proposing complex courses may need to plan their course for a subsequent semester so that there is adequate time to gather resources. 

The purpose of the 250th Anniversary Fund for Innovation in Undergraduate Education is to incent and support innovation in undergraduate teaching and learning at Princeton. With the endorsement of their department or program, faculty members may submit proposals for the creation of new courses or the enhancement and redesign of existing courses in any subject at any level.

While the criteria for evaluation are flexible, the committee will consider whether the proposal has the potential to: 

• Address a significant gap in the curriculum
• Create new and accessible pathways through the curriculum
• Introduce new pedagogical methods, especially those that can be more broadly disseminated
• Serve large numbers of students
• Establish interdisciplinary or interdivisional communities of practice
• Shed new light on how students learn (through the use of a well-designed learning assessment plan)
• Advance other University priorities (e.g., service, international, online)

A complete application consists of the components listed below. Once within the online application form, you may save information and return to it prior to your final submission. You may also upload external documents and files through the online application. Apply beginning December 2, 2024.  Completed applications should be submitted by January 31, 2025. 

•  Project Information
•  Project Description
•  Evaluation
•  Funding Request
•  Project Submission for Departmental Endorsement
•  Final Submission by Chair

Please note that a request for departmental endorsement will be automatically emailed to the department chair, or an other individual that you specify in the application, when you submit the proposal. The endorsements and other letters of support are not required to be submitted by the application deadline.

Staff at the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning are available for consultation on the development of proposals. Contact Kate Stanton to schedule an appointment. 

The application timeline for the 250th Anniversary Fund for Innovation in Undergraduate Education is designed to offer faculty ample opportunity to receive guidance and feedback on the development of ideas. The strongest proposals are often developed in consultation with the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning and other University programs that have relevant expertise such as the Princeton Writing Program, the Council on Science and Technology, or the Program for Community-Engaged Scholarship.

• Application Opens: December 2, 2024
• Informational Workshop at McGraw Center: TBD
• Application Deadline: January 31, 2025
• Committee Deliberations: February - March 2025
• Awards Announced: Mid-April 2025
• Funds Transferred: July 2025
• Final Report Deadline: May 2026  

250th Fund for Innovation in Undergraduate Education - Panel Discussion

The date and location will be determined.

Join deputy dean of the college, Elizabeth Colagiuri, and faculty panelists for a discussion of teaching projects developed with support of the 250th Anniversary Fund for Innovation in Undergraduate Education. The 250th Fund is the University's principal resource for supporting innovation in the undergraduate curriculum. Take advantage of this opportunity to hear from colleagues about their new and redesigned courses. Any faculty member interested in learning more about the 250th Fund or submitting a proposal is welcome. There will be time for questions and the opportunity to meet McGraw Center and Council on Science and Technology staff who can assist with the proposal process.

The 250th Anniversary Fund for Innovation in Undergraduate Education typically supports expenditures such as those in the following list. Major equipment or capital expenses are not eligible for Innovation Fund support. Questions about budgeting for items not mentioned should be directed to Racheal L. Jones. Also note the special considerations below.

Acceptable Expenditures

• Faculty summer salary; typically one summer stipend per proposal. The typical award is $12,500, plus benefits.
• Research assistance for course development (graduate or undergraduate). The typical award does not exceed $6,000.
• Collection of new teaching materials
• Computer software or other costs related to adoption of technological innovations
• Unusual instructional enhancements
• Subsidies for summer programs
• Modest subsidies for break-week travel in conjunction with courses
• Stipends for guest speakers

Special Considerations

• Please consult University travel policies if your proposal entails break-week trips. Break-week travel cannot conflict with other scheduled classes (i.e., Thursday departures during midterm week) are not permitted.
• The 250^th Anniversary Fund does not provide teaching relief or additional FTE for term-time teaching.
• Special AI allocations to support experimental teaching formats require additional review by the Office of the Dean of the Faculty.
• Faculty who draw summer support from other sources such as University funds and/or research grants should consult with the Dean of the Faculty regarding their eligibility for summer salary. Questions concerning faculty summer salary should be directed to Associate Dean for Finance Jordan Tegtmeyer.

Recipients of awards from the 250th Anniversary Fund for Innovation in Undergraduate Education must submit annual reports for as long as they receive funds. The reports should account for the use of funds and assess the successes and challenges of the initiative. 

Funded projects will be listed and described on the McGraw Center and Office of the Office of the Dean of the College websites, and recipients may be invited to discuss their teaching at panel discussions, workshops and other events.

The 250th Anniversary Fund committee consists of the dean and deputy dean of the college, the senior associate dean of the faculty, and the director of the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning. A faculty committee reviews all applications before the final stage of the selection process and makes recommendations to the committee based on how directly the proposed courses respond to University priorities (e.g., service, international, cultural studies, online learning). Awards are announced in late March or early April.

While all faculty members are eligible to apply, proposals from tenure-track and tenured faculty will be given priority in the selection process. The committee seeks to support courses that have the potential to be offered on a continuing basis and applicants may seek up to three years of funding.

View projects supported by the 250th Fund for Innovation in Undergraduate Education.