TCI Grants for Advancing Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA)

The Vice Provost for Academic Engagement and Student Achievement is responsible for soliciting grant proposals for innovative ideas that address issues of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) in teaching and learning at WSU. In spring 2022, a new program joined the Smith Teaching and Learning Grants in this arena: the Transformational Change Initiative (TCI) Grants for Advancing IDEA.

TCI IDEA grants fund a broad range of collaborations and projects of varying scope. There must be at least two core collaborators; a faculty member must be identified as the project lead, but post-doctoral fellows and/or graduate students may serve as co-leads or as additional collaborators.

TCI IDEA applications are due March 13, 2022, with grants awarded and announced in mid- to late April.  Project work will be done throughout summer and fall, and completed by mid-December; project outcomes will be shared the next spring at TCI events and on the website.

TCI IDEA grants:

  • Foster conversation, reflection, insight, and understanding of IDEA within the WSU community.
  • Support interactions between WSU campuses and the surrounding community.
  • Produce materials/resources that advance the university’s equity work in all teaching and learning contexts.

Which IDEA Grant Is Right for Me?

While the Smith Teaching and Learning Grant and TCI IDEA Grant programs may look similar upon a cursory glance, there are distinct requirements and key differences between the two. Our The “Which IDEA Grant is Right for Me?” section of faculty award overview page explains the nuances.

TCI IDEA Grant Project Examples

TCI IDEA Grants are innovative, creative, relatively short-term, and might involve instructors collaborating on projects such as these:

  • Reading groups to reflect on IDEA
  • Developing strategies to address students’ diverse academic needs
  • Creating equity-oriented assignments
  • Identifying anti-racist approaches to teaching
  • Interdepartmental workshops on IDEA
  • Community-engaged projects

See more examples in the TCI IDEA Grants RFP.

Download the RFP

Download our request for proposals to obtain detailed information about the TCI IDEA grants, and for guidance on how to prepare your proposal. The RFP features a rubric describing criteria in terms of competitiveness.

What You Need to Apply

Briefly, you will provide the following information and documents using our application form below to apply for a TCI IDEA grant:

  • Applicant information
  • Project proposal

For More Information

Additional information about the grant is available from Erika Offerdahl, TCI IDEA grant administrator.


TCI Grants for Advancing IDEA Application Form

The application period for submitting proposals for the 2023 round of TCI IDEA grants is now closed. Submitted applications are reviewed soon after the application deadline of Monday, March 13, 2023. Awards are announced in April 2023.