The Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Curriculum encourages all faculty members in the College to enrich current courses or to propose new courses that will enhance the undergraduate experience, especially by service learning or travel. Proposals to enhance summer and winter offerings also are welcomed. The maximum award is $1,500.

Proposals are accepted on a continual basis; there is no deadline.

Proposals should request funds for one of the following areas:

• Courses that include service learning. Funds are available to develop or to support a service learning component for a new or an existing course.
• Courses that include a travel experience. Funds may be used to develop or to support a travel component for a new or an existing course. The component may be integral to the course or a post-semester option. International travel or travel that promotes a multicultural perspective especially is encouraged.
• Courses that enhance summer or winter educational experiences. Funds may be used to develop or support unique, student-centered educational experiences for the summer or winter sessions.

Specific use of funds. Funds may be used for expenses associated with course development and course research, such as for books, software, teaching supplies, and other materials; for support of unique experiences and activities for students; and for appropriate guest speakers (generally requiring matching funds from the department). Funds may not be used for faculty or teaching assistant salaries or for faculty travel expenses normally covered by departmental funds. All proposals must indicate how funds will be spent. The maximum award is $1,500.

Proposal format. Proposals should be submitted as a one to two page letter to Helena Dettmer, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Curriculum, 120 Schaeffer Hall. Proposals are not accepted through email. Proposals should address the following areas:

• Course overview. In a short paragraph, please give the proposed or actual course number, title, and a brief description of the course and of the course audience; the expected or approximate enrollment figures; and the number of times the course has been or will be offered annually. Briefly describe the role of the course within the departmental curriculum or/and within the General Education Program if applicable.
• Rationale for proposal. Please describe the enhancements suggested for an existing course or the proposed content for a new course, explaining how these relate to one or more of the objectives of the Curriculum Development Fund, such as service learning, travel, or summer/winter session enhancement. State why the proposal should be funded.
• Faculty background. Please provide a short paragraph introducing any research and teaching interests that relate to this funding request.
• Use of funds. In one paragraph, briefly describe how the funds will be spent. (Please keep in mind the approved possible use of funds, noted in the category above, Specific use of funds. Funds may not be used for faculty or teaching assistantship salaries or for travel expenses normally funded by the department.)
• Signatures. The faculty member writing the proposal and the DEO must both sign the letter.

During the 2007-2008 academic year, six projects were funded for a total of $8,000. The funds were used to support the development of innovative undergraduate courses, especially those incorporating service learning and travel, as follows:

• The Department of Geography and Professors Rajagopal and Brands offered a winter travel course to India, 44:197 International Development: Microfinance for Women-Run Enterprises. Funds were awarded to cover expenses of related course materials. Twenty students were enrolled.
• The Department of Anthropology and Professor Margaret Beck were supported with an award of $500 to be used this fall for four field trips in the new course Raw Materials in Archaeology 113:153. Currently, 12 students are enrolled.
• The Department of Political Science and Professor Redlawsk were granted $1,500 to continue development of a survey conducted by the student members of the spring course 30:119 Problems in American Politics. The funds were used to collect a random sample of households; to prepare high-quality reports; and to cover phone calling expenses. Nineteen students were enrolled.
• The Department of Geoscience and Professor Ingrid Peate were awarded $1,500 to support 12:113 Geosciences Summer Field Course, a senior capstone experience and part of a five-college consortium. The funds will be used to off-set student transportation costs and expenses of materials. Four students from The University of Iowa will be joining fifty other students from the consortium at the field experience this summer.
• The Department of Geography and Professor Rex Honey were awarded $1,500 to help develop 044:177 Environmental Justice, a new course exploring the impact of environmental problems on the poor. . The funds will be used for expenses related to the development of contemporary case studies in Africa this summer, with the course to be offered at a future date.
• Finally, the Department of Dance and Professor Armando Duarte were supported with a grant of $1,500 for the development of the course 137:157 Brazilian Carnival. The course, which focuses on the music, dance, and theatrical effects of the annual carnival in Brazil, includes an optional winter travel component.

For more information or if you have questions, please contact Helena Dettmer, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Curriculum, 335-2633.