Faculty Support
Washington State University faculty are tasked with providing the highest quality education to all undergraduates in majors across the institution.
Their front-line efforts have an immediate and lasting impact on the learning taking place by our students. These educators strive to employ the most up-to-date techniques and methods so they can deliver the best courses and supplementary learning experiences.
Available Awards
Innovation in Teaching and Learning: Smith Grants
Each year, grants are awarded to faculty seeking to innovate. To reflect national conversations in higher education related to effective teaching and learning practices, the Provost’s Office is pleased to offer the Smith Teaching and Learning grant programs available to instructors at WSU.
Smith Teaching and Learning grants are made from the Samuel H. and Patricia W. Smith Teaching and Learning Endowment, a fund established in 2000 to honor retired WSU President Sam Smith and his wife, Patricia. The Smith grants have funded dozens of projects that led to teaching endeavors that have impacted the educations of thousands of WSU students over more than two decades. These focus on one or more faculty who have ideas to improve class instruction; projects can stretch over the course of an academic year.
Faculty Efforts in General Education
The Richard G. Law Excellence Award for Undergraduate Teaching is a special faculty award that acknowledges extraordinary efforts in teaching by faculty participating in University Common Requirements (UCORE) programming. The Law Award has been awarded every year since 2013.
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Smith Teaching and Learning Grants
Each spring DAESA accepts applications for Smith Teaching and Learning grants. Visit our Smith grants page to download a copy of the request for proposals and apply for a grant.
Applications for Smith grants are due in spring.
Richard G. Law Excellence Award for Undergraduate Teaching
Applications are accepted in spring for the Richard G. Law Excellence Award for Undergraduate Teaching. Visit our Law Awards page to download a copy of the request for proposals and apply for an award.
Applications for Law Awards are due in spring.
Which Faculty Support Grant or Award is Right for Me?
Who Is Eligible to Apply for Each Grant or Award Program?
The Smith Teaching and Learning Grant has some restrictions derived from its funding endowment. It is limited to faculty on any WSU campus with instructional responsibilities, appointed half-time or more, and with continuing employment in the next academic year following that of the time when an application is submitted. The grant team can consist of a single faculty member. Those who have won a Smith grant in the last four years are not eligible to apply for a Smith grant.
Richard G. Law Excellence Awards for Undergraduate Teaching are open to all to all faculty—including short term, career-track, and tenure-track—on all WSU campuses whose teaching has included at least one UCORE class for the past three years. Gaps due to sabbatical leaves do not affect eligibility.
What Types of Support by Each Program?
Smith grants are intended to support projects that have a defined focus area which must be addressed for an application to be successful. For the 2024-25 cycle, Smith Grant 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.
Law awards are given to recognize outstanding teaching by faculty in WSU’s UCORE general education program. Competitive nominees or applicants exhibit a strong commitment to the values of general education as encapsulated by the Law award criteria.
What Are the Project Durations and Expected Deliverables?
Project development and implementation for Smith grants can span the next academic year from time of application with a final project report due on August 15.
The decision tree diagram shown below may help individuals identify the right grant program to support their innovative teaching and learning project.
