Applications are now being accepted for the ASA Teaching Enhancement Fund (TEF) Small Grants Program.  These grants are intended to support projects that extend the quality of teaching in the United States and Canada . A TEF grant may be given to an individual, a department, a program, or a committee of a state/regional association. Two or three grants will be awarded this year, for up to $1000, based on the recommendation of a review panel with teaching expertise. The principal criteria for the award are that the project is likely to enhance the teaching of sociology and student learning, and serve as a seed-project that will continue to have systemic impact in years to come. The criteria are intentionally flexible in order to accommodate innovative proposals.  

Proposals limited to a maximum of five pages should: (a) describe the project and the intended audience or beneficiaries, including acknowledging very briefly related literature, (b) explain how the financial support would be used by providing an itemized budget, (c) describe the expected benefits of the project, including how it will enhance the teaching of sociology/student learning and the systemic impacts, (d) indicate how the project might have lasting benefit and/or transportability (e.g., over time to other instructors, departments, or disciplines), and (e) describe how success or impact will be assessed (e.g., through a simple evaluation involving some type of data, broadly defined).

While ASA membership is not a criterion for applying or being selected for this grant, if and when a grant award is made, the recipient must be a current ASA member. ASA membership involves acceptance of and adherence to the ASA Code of Ethics, which is critical to the implementation of the grant project. Grantees must also provide documentation of pertinent IRB approval for the funded project.

Applications are due February 1, and should be sent to American Sociological Association, Academic and Professional Affairs Program, 1430 K Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005