Program Development Grants

The University of Illinois at Chicago’s (UIC) Office of Global Engagement (OGE) and Study Abroad Office (SAO) are committed to increasing access to education abroad opportunities for UIC’s diverse student body. Faculty-directed programs are one model of education abroad programming that can help provide access to students who are typically underrepresented in education abroad. To assist in the development of these programs, we are pleased to make available program development grants for UIC faculty and staff members interested in proposing a new program.

The Spring 2025 application cycle will open January 2025. 

Award Details Heading link

UIC students on the Italian Language and Culture in Salerno program with faculty member Maria Iusco. Maria is holding a plate of Italian food.
UIC students on the Italian Language and Culture in Salerno program with faculty member Maria Iusco.

OGE will award up to three multi-year study abroad program development grants each academic year. During year one of the award, the grants will support faculty and staff members in their development of a new faculty-directed program and should cover expenses associated with:

  • Travel expenses related to a site visit
  • Professional development opportunities for program leaders such as attending an education abroad conference

In addition, during year two, OGE will provide a limited number of scholarships to the first students to enroll in the program during its first year of operation.  The total amount of the two-year grant will not exceed $6,000.  

While OGE is interested in supporting the development of any new faculty-directed program, proposals that include the following will receive priority:

  • Proposals for programs based in Africa, Central/South America, or Asia
  • Proposals for programs that include an internship/field placement, research, or service learning component
  • Proposals supporting the development of interdisciplinary programs involving faculty, staff, and students from more than one academic unit
  • Proposals from academic units that will provide additional funds during either year 1 or 2 of the grant
  • Proposals for the development of programs for academic areas/units that do not currently have a faculty-directed program

Eligibility

Current UIC faculty or staff members who have an idea for a new faculty-directed study abroad program are eligible to apply. Preference will be given to applicants who:

  1. Are not currently leading a faculty-directed program
  2. Proposals from those who have not previously received grant funding

Applicants will need to include a letter of support from their department head detailing:

  • support for offering the program and classes within the timeframe below
  • how the proposed program aligns with academic unit goals
  • a statement about what funding resources the unit can provide to help increase student access to the program or an explanation as to why this isn’t possible at this time. Ideas include funds for student scholarships, funds to subsidize the overall program cost to students, and/or funds to cover faculty travel expenses, thereby lowering the overall cost to students.

Applications with faculty or staff from more than one unit will need to include a letter of support from each department head.  Recipients will need to propose the program by AY 24-25 and offer it by AY 25-26. Recipients who leave UIC before their grant is disbursed will not be funded.

 

Submit the application as a PDF to the Study Abroad Office at sao@uic.edu. Applications must include the following:

  • Applicant and Sponsoring Unit Information
    • First & Last Name, Title/Rank, and Home Department of applicant
    • Information about any other UIC faculty/staff to be involved
    • All campus units to be involved with the program
  • Overview of the Faculty-Directed Program (1-2 pages)
    The overview should include:

    • An explanation of the link between the proposed program host location and the academic focus of the program
    • The course prefix and number, title, and number of credits to be offered and an explanation of why this will be an attractive offering for students (ex: does the course satisfy major, general education, or other requirements?)
    • The students for whom the program will be ideal and your ideas for recruitment. Proposals that make clear and specific reference to an ability to partner with stakeholders across campus will be considered more favorably
    • How the proposed program fits within the sponsoring academic unit’s curriculum or broader strategic goals
    • Early ideas for learning activities and field excursions that will provide opportunities for experiential learning and rich cultural interaction
    • Any potential on-site partners you might already have. (Proposers are not required to already have on-site partners identified)
  • Sustainability Plan (up to 1 page)
    • How is the program positioned to increase the likelihood that it will be offered on a consistent basis? Consider staffing/involving multiple faculty/staff members, the frequency with which you intend to offer the program, recruitment strategies for future years, and opportunities for funding support beyond this one-time grant.
  • Budget and Budget Narrative (2 pages: 1 page detailed budget, 1 page budget narrative)
    • Provide a detailed budget with specific line items that demonstrate how the grant funds will be used (either for a site visit or to attend an education abroad conference). This is not a budget for the study abroad program but a budget explaining how you plan to use the grant funds.
    • Provide a budget narrative explaining why the grant will be instrumental in helping you develop the program and how the funds will be used
    • Grant funds are not eligible to be used to pay stipends, salary, or other compensation for individual faculty, staff, or students and should not be used to pay for items prohibited by UIC’s Office of Business and Financial Services.
  • Timeline of Events
    • Please include a timeline of when your grant activity will take place. The timeline is referring to the grant activity, such as the site visit or conference attendance, and not the timeframe of the actual study abroad program to be proposed.
  • Letter of Support from Department Head(s)
    • Please provide a letter from the head of each academic unit involved with the submission. The letter should indicate that the faculty member(s) or staff involved in this submission will be afforded sufficient time in their workload to successfully develop and offer the program. The letter should also explain how the proposed program fits within the sponsoring academic unit’s curriculum or broader strategic goals and include a statement about whether the academic unit will provide contributing funds. Matching funds are not required, however, proposals from academic units that include financial support will be stronger. Ideas for financial support include, but are not limited to:
      • Funds for student scholarships
      • Funds to cover upfront costs for students (ex: passports, airfare scholarships)
      • Covering the faculty member’s stipend (summer programs only) and/or travel expenses to lower the overall cost for students
      • If an academic unit cannot contribute funds at this time, a brief statement about why this is not possible is appreciated.

Selection Committee

Representatives of the International Advisory Council will serve as the selection committee.

The next grant cycle will open Spring 2024.

Please note that there are two deadlines. The first deadline is for the grant application:

  • Grant application deadline: March 15th, 2024
  • Recipients notified by end of the spring 2024 semester
  • Recipients carry out grant activities within the course of the next year and must propose a program according to the below deadlines within AY24-25 for programs to occur in AY24-25 or AY25-26.

The grant application is separate from the program proposal deadline, which falls the year prior to when you intend to offer the program:

Summer/Fall Programs: program proposal due June 1st
Winter Break Programs: program proposal due October 31st
Spring/Spring Break Programs: program proposal due March 1st