Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Faculty Fellows Idea Lab Funded Program 

Proposal Deadline: May 1
Funding Amount: $4,000 stipend, plus collective access to $10,000 in group project funds
Program Duration: 12 months

Program Overview

Community-Engaged Alliance (CEA) invites applications to an updated iteration of our Faculty Fellows program, a cornerstone initiative designed to create innovative ideas on enhancing student civic outcomes. The primary aim of the Idea Lab is to produce actionable ideas to address the question: How might we generate more civic-minded graduates in the state of Indiana? Through this initiative, we hope to uncover new practices that enrich the collegiate experience, explore innovative ways to leverage technology, develop assessment models that help us understand the impacts of this work more comprehensively, and deepen the connection between community and higher education.

This year-long, cohort-style program includes three in-person retreats around the state of Indiana as well as monthly, virtual working meetings. Participants are expected to attend all meetings and retreats from start to finish. Exact dates for these retreats and working meetings will be decided on by the cohort in their first meeting.

Fellow Cohort Funding

• Stipend – each applicant selected will be awarded a $4,000 stipend
• Retreat Expenses – CEA will cover retreat expenses such as the facility, lodging and food (mileage not included)
• Project Funds – each cohort will have collective access (along with up to 3 other accepted applicants) to $10,000 to fund the group project implementation.

Program Objectives

The Faculty Fellows Idea Lab will focus on creating a well-articulated recommendation or set of recommendations regarding how we might generate more civic-minded graduates in Indiana. The recommendation(s) should be insightful, actionable, based on research, carefully considered, and informed by both the lived experiences of the participants and their students. Potential themes may include:

• Defining and proposing new high-impact practices
• Proposing new teaching and learning techniques and strategies
• Cultivating civic-minded students in virtual learning environments
• Identifying best practices for integrating AI in community-engaged scholarship
• Developing new assessment models for measuring civic mindedness in students

The output will be a research brief published by the fellows and CEA, offering insights and recommendations for connecting students with their communities and leveraging societal changes to improve democratic outcomes.

Program Structure

1. Formation of the Idea Lab - Participants will establish a culture that prioritizes humility, dissent, and experimentation. This phase includes exercises aimed at deconstructing logical assumptions and fostering a quest for truth over confirmation.
2. Ongoing Retreats - Cohort participants will be expected to attend three in-person retreats around the state of Indiana. Exact dates for these retreats will be decided during the first meeting. We believe this is the best way to cultivate a strong culture of collaboration and idea generation.
3. Training and Skill Development - Faculty Fellows will undergo training to break down complex problems and proposed solutions to their most fundamental parts. This approach aims to clarify reasoning for diverse audiences beyond academia.
4. Action-Oriented Conversations - CEA will invite participants to take part in facilitated discussions on problem-solving techniques, systems-level thinking, stakeholder feedback, and strategic planning. These sessions will help visualize associated challenges and clarify potential paths forward.
5. Expert Engagement - In the latter half of the project period, Faculty Fellows will engage with experts in fields related to their potential recommendations. This interaction will provide insights on translating theoretical frameworks into actionable strategies for colleges and universities.
6. Archiving and Dissemination - All materials generated will be archived for future reference and disseminated across CEA member campuses, enhancing the impact of the program.

Eligibility Criteria

Faculty members at CEA member campuses

• Commitment to innovative approaches to civic engagement and scholarship
• Expressed dedication to the principles of humility, dissent, experimentation, and deliberative dialogue
• Willingness to collaborate and participate actively in the Idea Lab

Proposal Requirements

Interested faculty are required to submit the following by the proposal deadline:

1. Investigator Information
   • Full Name
   • Academic Institution
   • Professional Title
   • Email Address
   • Phone Number
   • All of the information above for any co-investigators
2. Fiscal Officer*
   • Full Name
   • Professional Title
   • Email Address
   • Phone Number
   • *Fiscal Officer refers to the individual who is a designated financial signatory for the campus and/or department. The Fiscal Officer will fulfill the financial reporting requirements and manage all financial aspects of the grant. The Investigator cannot also serve as the Fiscal Officer.
3. Motivation for Participation
   • Why are you motivated to participate in the Idea Lab?
   • What do you hope to achieve through participating in this program?
   • How have your previous experiences in higher education informed this motivation?
4. Collaborative Approach
   • How will you ensure that you encourage a culture of humility, dissent, and experimentation within the cohort?
   • Provide examples of how and when you’ve worked collaboratively in the past as well as what you learned from those experiences.
   • What are your biggest strengths as a collaborator?
   • What are some areas in which you can improve as a collaborator?
5. Innovation
   • What are some examples of when/how you have used innovative or groundbreaking approaches to your teaching, learning, writing, or engaged scholarship?
   • How have you incorporated the use of technology in your teaching, learning, writing, classroom, or engaged scholarship?
   • Describe a time when you had to adapt your teaching or research methods in response to changing circumstances. What did your process look like?\
   • What steps have you taken to stay updated on emerging trends or practices in your field? How have you applied the new knowledge you gained?
   • Describe a time when you took a calculated risk in your teaching or research. What was the risk, how did you calculate that risk, and what did you learn from that experience?
6. Knowledge of Community-Engagement and Civic-Engagement
   • How do you define community engagement and civic engagement?
   • Why do you believe these principles and practices are important in higher education?
   • Briefly describe your experience in community-engaged projects or community-engaged research. What was your role and what were the outcomes?
   • How do you identify and establish partnerships with community members or community organizations?
   • What challenges have you faced during community-engaged work and how did you find a way to overcome them?
   • In your view, how can community engagement evolve in higher education to better serve both students and communities?
   • Give one example of an innovative practice or approach you might suggest during this Idea Lab.
7. History of Assessing Civic Mindedness
   • What methods, models, or tools have you used to assess civic mindedness in your students or community partners?
   • What methods, models, or tools are you interested in using to assess civic mindedness in students or community partners in the future?
   • Why do you believe the methods, models, or tools mentioned above accurately assess civic mindedness?
8. Career Evolution
   • How does your potential involvement in this cohort further your career goals?
   • How do you plan to use the skills, knowledge, and relationships created through this cohort later in your career?
   • How do you envision the findings and recommendations of this cohort influencing civic engagement practices at your institution or within the broader landscape of higher education in Indiana?

Optional Information

1. Letter(s) of Support - Letter(s) of Support can be submitted from a senior administrator, community partner, or any relevant stakeholders.
2. References - If you use quotations, refer to prior research, or make mention of your previous work, please provide a reference list in a standard format (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.)

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Commitment to collaboration and community engagement
• Clarity of how this cohort is an outgrowth of past experiences and a path toward future goals
• Perceived innovative potential
• Quality of experience using key tenants of the Idea Lab (humility, dissent, experimentation, etc.)
• Proficiency of base-line knowledge on community-engaged scholarship, assessment, and civic engagement.

Submission Process

Please submit your completed proposal online. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. For questions regarding this RFP, please contact grants@engagedalliance.org.

Conclusion

The Faculty Fellows Idea Lab represents an exciting opportunity to advance the landscape of civic learning and engaged scholarship in higher education. We look forward to receiving your proposals and working together to generate groundbreaking ideas that enhance student engagement and community connection.