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Smith Teaching and Learning Grants

The Vice Provost for Academic Engagement and Student Achievement is responsible for soliciting grant proposals for innovative ideas that enhance teaching and learning at WSU. Projects are sought that address effective teaching at WSU. Applications are due in spring; the deadline for the next round of Smith Teaching and Learning Grants is Friday, March 20, 2026. Smith grants are typically awarded and announced in mid- to late-April.

The Smith grant program was established through the Samuel H. and Patricia W. Smith Teaching and Learning Endowment, begun in 2000 when WSU President Smith retired.

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Focus Areas for Award Cycles

Proposals are typically sought that address a few specific areas through innovative practices that improve student learning. This year, successful proposals must address one or more of the Eight Principles of Effective Teaching that have been outlined by the Center for Teaching and Learning at the University of Texas:

  1. Deliberate and intentional planning: e.g., aligning course design through universal design principles; diversifying resources; identifying barriers and their solutions
  2. Construction of knowledge: e.g., scaffolded student learning; earlier and more frequent assessment design and implementation
  3. Active engagement in learning: e.g., developing activities that help students build knowledge at a deeper and longer-lasting level
  4. Relevance to disciplinary experiences: e.g., experiences that help students think like a practitioner
  5. Use of assessment data and feedback: e.g., developing a variety of methods to assess student learning and provide formative and summative feedback
  6. Shared responsibility for learning: e.g., giving more responsibility to students for their own learning
  7. Learning from peers: e.g., developing projects where students learn together
  8. Establish and support a class climate that fosters belonging for all students: e.g., adapting materials and resources that students can identify with; syllabus and/or assessment redesign

Download the RFP

Download our request for proposals (PDF) to obtain detailed guidance on how to prepare your proposal.

If you need more information, please contact Karly Gomez or Bill Davis, Vice Provost for Academic Engagement and Student Achievement.

What You Need to Apply

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

  • Applicant information
  • Project proposal
  • Chair or director’s endorsement
  • Curriculum vitae

Don’t Forget the Chair’s Endorsement

You will be asked to upload a chair or director’s signed endorsement of the project. This document attests that the fund recipient(s) will have continued employment at WSU in the applicable academic year.

Please note: Proposals without the chair’s endorsement will not be accepted.

Smith Grants Application Form

1Applicant Info and Project Title
2Project Proposal Upload
3Chair, Director, or Equivalent
4Curriculum Vitae

Note: Please contact our web coordinator if you encounter any problems with this application form so we can provide you with further assistance.

Applicant Information and Project Title

Primary applicant name*
This is the person who would be considered the principal investigator on this grant proposal, which may have multiple applicants.
Email*
Co-applicants
Full Name
Email
College
Department
Campus
 
  1. Applicant Info and Project Title
  2. Project Proposal
  3. Chair or Director's Endorsement
  4. Curriculum Vitae