The Center for Teaching & Faculty Development (CTFD) offers a number of funding opportunities to support the teaching and professional development of faculty members at UMass Amherst, including team-based and individual Mutual Mentoring Grants funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Lilly Fellowships, IMPACT Grants for Blended Learning, and Summer Writing Fellowships. Please see below for more information and application instructions for each of these opportunities.

Flex Grants for Teaching/Faculty Development

Flex Grants are individual teaching/faculty development grants that are intended to support professional development related to teaching for all MSP bargaining unit faculty and librarians. They are funded by the campus through the MSP contract.

Expenses that can be covered by these grants may include: travel to enhance teaching or area knowledge; membership in professional associations; classes or workshops to enhance teaching or area knowledge; books; software; equipment; catering a meeting or seminar; inviting a speaker to campus; hiring a graduate or undergraduate student; and other resources that enhance professional development related to teaching.

The application period for 2012-2013 grants has ended. Please refer all questions to .

Lilly Teaching Fellowships

Established in 1986, this competitive award program enables promising junior faculty to cultivate teaching excellence in a special year-long collaboration. Each year eight to ten teaching fellows are selected to work closely with the CTFD on individual projects which typically involve developing or redesigning a course.

The fellows assess their teaching and their students' learning through classroom visits, reviewing of course materials, and student feedback. Lilly Teaching Fellows attend a bi-weekly seminar on college teaching organized by the CTFD, and work with a senior faculty mentor to anticipate many of the challenges and rewards of teaching here at the University. The year features three signature aspects: an annual retreat, bi-weekly seminars on college teaching, and a teaching development project. The Fellows' home departments receive stipends to defray the costs of release time.

The Lilly Teaching Fellows Program will be on hiatus during AY 2013-2014 to conduct an internal program assessment. We hope to introduce a renewed program to promote early-career teaching excellence in AY 2014-2015. Please refer all questions to the .

The Mellon Mutual Mentoring Grant Program

The Mellon Mutual Mentoring Team and Micro Grant Programs are funded by a multi-year grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. These programs support the development of context-sensitive mentoring and professional networks, designed by and for faculty. The CTFD awards up to ten Team Grants of up to $10,000 each per academic year, and up to 15 Micro Grants of up to $1,200 per year. The application period for 2013-14 Mutual Mentoring Grants is now open. Proposals are due on or before Monday, March 25, 2013 at 5 PM E.S.T. For grant information and applications, please see here. Please refer all questions to .

Microsoft IMPACT Grants for Blended Learning

The Microsoft IMPACT Grant for Blended Learning supports the design of blended courses that enhance learning through new and innovative uses of technologies. The IMPACT grant awards up to four department-based teams up to $10,000 each per academic year. The $10,000 IMPACT Grants are generously funded by Microsoft’s Academic Evangelism Program, with additional support from CHFA, CSBS, CNS, and the Provost’s Office. Awardees also receive: consultation on pedagogy and technology; one-on-one and group support during course planning, implementation and assessment; hands-on technological training; and select Microsoft software. The application period for 2011-2012 grants has ended. Please refer all questions to .

Periodic Multi Year Review (PMYR) Grants for Professional Development in Teaching

PMYR Grants are designed to support the teaching development goals of tenured faculty. After the successful completion of the PMYR process, faculty members are invited to submit a proposal to the CTFD for a project to enhance their teaching. In the past, faculty projects have included incorporating instructional technology into their teaching, redesigning courses to include more active learning techniques, and attending conferences or purchasing resources to benefit from the latest content knowledge and pedagogy in their discipline. The CTFD welcomes a wide range of teaching development activities.

Proposals for 2012-13 PMYR Grants for Professional Development in Teaching (for faculty who completed their departmental PMYRs in 2011-2012) are currently being accepted. The due date is 5:00 PM on Monday, November 26, 2012.

For a detailed description of the program as well as proposal guidelines, please see here. For sample proposals by topic, please see: course redesign, technology, or other. For more information, please contact .

The Distinguished Teaching Award

The purpose of the Distinguished Teaching Award (DTA) program, a feature of the UMass Amherst campus for over 30 years, is to honor exemplary teaching at the highest institutional level. Both faculty and graduate students, nominated by students or alumni, are eligible for this highly-competitive award. DTA winners receive a monetary prize and are recognized at both the Undergraduate and Graduate Commencements. For more information about the DTAs and nomination forms, please visit the Provost's Office website. Questions may be referred to .

College Outstanding Teacher Award

The College Outstanding Teacher Award (COTA) program was instituted as a complement to the Distinguished Teaching Awards, and is administered by the Provost's Office and the individual Colleges. The purpose of the award is to honor faculty members for their teaching accomplishments at the College level. The awards are given during the spring semester, and recipients are recognized at Undergraduate Commencement. For more information about the COTA, please see the award guidelines or contact .