Mellon Grant Opportunities

Last updated 9.12.23

The Humanities Engaged: Generating Learning, Remaking Community

The Andrew W. Mellon Grant aims to advance work in the engaged humanities across the university and builds especially on ongoing faculty interest in cross-disciplinary collaboration, digital scholarship, and partnerships between the WFU Reynolda campus, historic Reynolda, WFU at the Innovation Quarter, and our surrounding community in Winston-Salem and beyond.

Please see below for more information on these exciting opportunities in the Engaged Humanities provided by a second major grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. 

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Engaged Humanities Course Grants

Course Development stipends of $3,000 each will be awarded to faculty during Fall 2023. Course enhancement funds for existing courses are available for Fall 2023 and Spring 2024. Applications for Course Redesign and/or Development Grants are due by October 15, 2023.

The purpose of these Mellon Foundation Course Development and Course Enhancement Grants is to extend the work of last fall’s Mellon-funded University and the Neighborhood Conference by encouraging faculty to connect coursework and students to local neighborhoods, community organizers, and community organizations. Grants can be used for a variety of purposes, and faculty are encouraged to be creative in their approaches.

Some possibilities include (but are not limited to): 

• Exploring and/or addressing ongoing issues of environmental and spatial justice in  Winston Salem; 
• Researching the history of redlining, community health, and individual well-being in  Winston Salem and Forsyth County; 
• Developing a systems approach to issues of food justice, access to education, and/or  transportation infrastructure; 
• Experiential learning, broadly defined

Course Development Stipends in the amount of $3,000 will allow faculty to redesign an existing course, or develop a new one by focusing on issues of particular importance to those neighborhoods in proximity to the University.  

Course Enhancement Grants awarded to faculty can be used at any time during the Fall 2023 or  Spring 2024 semester to offset costs associated with an existing course for supplies,  transportation costs, community stipends, etc. 

Submission Guidelines for Course Development Grants 

Interested faculty members should submit a one-page proposal that identifies: 

1. Your name and department; 

2. The title of the proposed new course, redesigned course, or project; 

3. A narrative overview that explains how the course addresses issues of local concern and  how it promotes engaged research and/or experiential learning; 

4. A draft of possible student learning outcomes;  

5. A brief, preliminary assessment strategy for measuring the success of the course; 6. The semester when the faculty member anticipates offering the course. Grant-funded courses must be taught either during the Spring or Fall 2024 semester. Please consult with your department chair regarding your plans. Successful grant applications are contingent upon departmental approval.  

Submission Guidelines for Course Enhancement Grants 

Interested faculty members should submit a one-page proposal that identifies: 

1. Your name and department; 

2. The title of the proposed project; 

3. The amount requested; 

4. A brief narrative overview that explains how the faculty member intends to use the funds; 5. The course and semester when you anticipate using the enhancement funds.  

Proposal Deadlines:  

Applications for Course Redesign and/or Development Grants are due by October 15, 2023. Applications for course enhancement grants will be accepted and awarded on a rolling basis.  

Please direct all questions and submit proposals to Associate Dean Eric Stottlemyer.