EIU Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

Academic Program Innovation (API) Grants: 

Applications are due by noon, Friday, September 13th 2024

Program Guidelines and Application Instructions

Academic Program Innovation (API) grants will support projects designed to foster new curriculum innovations, enhance the academic reputation of the university, and impact enrollment.

Amount: The maximum amount per grant will be $5,000.

Eligibility: Applicants must hold status as a full-time EIU faculty member (either Unit A or Unit B). Department chairs are eligible to apply.  

Duration: Grant funds must be expended in accordance with Business Office deadlines during the fiscal year in which the grant is awarded.

• Travel: The applicant must show that the proposed activity requires travel to the destination specified.
• Student help: Wages must be appropriate to the task, as defined by EIU classifications.
• Equipment:  The applicant must show that the equipment is needed for the proposed activity and is otherwise unavailable.  Equipment purchased with the funding is the property of the university.
• Commodities
• Contractual Services
• Summer salary
• Other: The applicant must show that some other type of expense is required to make the API-funded project viable.

• Campus student service-based activities
• Programs focused solely on mentoring students
• Research and creative activity projects with limited potential to increase EIU enrollment and student interest
• Projects with small prospects for bringing external distinction to EIU
• Equipment needs based solely on research activity

• A final report will be due by on the last day of the fiscal year in which the grant is awarded. The report will detail the achievements of the project.  A final report form can be found here. 

• The recipient of the API Grant will serve as Financial Manager of the Fund/Org created in Banner (this is also known as a FOAPAL). API Grant funds must be expended in accordance with Business Office deadlines during the fiscal year in which the grant is awarded.

Two criteria will be used to assess applications:

• • Projects that create new curriculum that will enhance Eastern’s academic reputation
  • Projects that support innovation in student learning
  • Projects that support innovation in program accessibility
  • Projects that enable Eastern to evolve to address new learning interests of students
  • Projects that provide innovative program pathways that will attract students to EIU

• • Previous record of curriculum innovation
  • A commitment to design, implement and disseminate results
  • Record of performance or presentation of creative works in external venues
  • Record of involving students as collaborators in external engagement
  • Interest in prior learning assessment or competency-based learning models

Submission of Proposals:

• Proposals are not intended for a lay audience and should be written for review by someone who is trained in the faculty member’s field.
• All relevant attachments (as specified in the application) must be included with the initial submission.
• Department Chair (or immediate supervisor) signature is required in the application.

Proposals submitted by a single individual: In any given round of funding, an individual may submit no more than one proposal for which they will serve as the sole project director. An individual who submits such a proposal may still submit one or more collaborative proposals. *

*Applicants who submit more than one proposal per round of funding should explain how working on more than one project will be feasible.

Other Internal Funding: A faculty member is eligible to apply for an API grant that will be concurrent with a grant from the Council on Faculty Research. The applicant must demonstrate that the projects are clearly distinct from one another.

Evaluation of Proposals:

• September: Proposals are submitted by noon on due date. Late proposals will not be reviewed.
• Proposals will be reviewed by a committee consisting of the Dean of the Graduate School, a Director of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, and an additional dean selected by the Dean of the Graduate School and approved by the Provost.
• Grants are announced by October.

Other Internal Funding Opportunities:

Projects that foster new curricular innovations but would not impact enrollment can be funded in other ways. Please visit the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs' Other Internal Funding webpage for more information.