UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence have announced the recipients of its 2023-24 Advancing Equity and Inclusion grants.  

“We are happy to be able to continue to offer these grants to support Penn State faculty and administrators as they strive to make significant and substantial changes that will advance teaching for equity and inclusion,” said Angela Linse, associate dean and executive director of the Schreyer Institute. “We hope to be able to increase the amount dedicated to this grant program in future years if financial constraints ease.” 

Advancing Equity and Inclusion Grants  

These grants support projects that have the potential to influence teaching and learning beyond an individual course and are meant for projects at the level of programs, departments, schools, divisions, colleges or campuses. Consistent with the Schreyer Institute’s mission, projects must advance excellence in teaching. All project teams must be led by a faculty member and include other full- or part-time instructors. The team may also include students and staff.

The next opportunity to submit a proposal for this grant program will be in the spring 2024 semester. All proposals require a consultation with a Schreyer Institute consultant prior to submission. More details are available at schreyerinstitute.psu.edu.  

Recipients of the 2023-24 grants 

Belén Rodríguez Mourelo, Academic Affairs, Penn State Berks — "Learning Community to Inspire and Advance Inclusive Practices"

This grant supports a yearlong learning community among program chairs, division heads, and general education coordinators at Penn State Berks. The purpose of this learning community is to work together following expert advice to intentionally examine programs/discipline groups and to interrogate the curriculum about inclusive practices. The goal is to learn how to analyze and assess programs in order to introduce best practices concerning inclusive- and diversity-engaging pedagogy. The funding provided by this grant will support two initial guest speakers/ facilitators.  

Betty Harper and Christopher Barnes (Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research), and Alicia Dowd (Center for Study of Higher Education/Equity Pedagogy Network) — "Centering Equity in Program Assessment"

This grant supports the Centering Equity in Program Assessment workshop, which will provide faculty with resources that standardize equity as a vital component of program assessment. An invited speaker will share practical tools for developing and implementing program learning assessment practices that reduce bias while improving transparency. Members of Penn State’s Equity Pedagogy Network will engage workshop participants in conversations that will help them explore and apply equitable assessment practices.  

Melanie Boston, Office of Global Programs, Penn State Abington — "Intercultural Development on Campus: Shifting Perceptions"

Funds from this grant are used to support activities and conversations about intercultural competence and to invite a speaker who will lead workshops on intercultural development for the campus community.  On a diverse campus, faculty and staff have to communicate effectively with students from different cultural backgrounds and increase their own intercultural competence. Funding for this grant project will also allow participants to explore the connections between DEIB and intercultural competence.  

The Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence is part of Penn State Undergraduate Education.