Xavier University of Louisiana
NIH Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD)
Curriculum Development or Enhancement Mini-Grants
Requests for Proposals
We invite you to apply for a BUILD mini-grant! The XULA NIH-BUILD grant (known as
Project Pathways) supports faculty and departments with the development or enhancement
of junior- and senior-level courses in biomedical disciplines. Through this generous grant,
Xavier’s eligible faculty are able to receive release time/summer salary and additional resources
to assist with the implementation and assessment of the proposed course changes. This initiative
is expected to provide a curriculum/course infrastructure that uses innovative instructional
strategies, taught by highly trained professionals, regularly assessed for effectiveness and revised
based on these assessments and, in consequence, gives students the knowledge, skills and mind
set they need to become successful biomedical researchers. Additionally, the resulting
improvements in the structure and instruction methods used in the targeted courses are expected
to result in increased retention and graduation rates, higher Senior Comprehensive Exam and
Subject Test GRE scores for students enrolled in those courses, and ultimately more Xavier
students going on to receive the Ph.D. and entering biomedical research careers. Funded projects
will be those whose development or enhancement has been identified by the departments as in
need of attention based on the detailed results from the GRE Subject Tests, Senior
Comprehensive Exams and/or Major Field Tests.
Eligibility and Application Process
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Any full-time faculty member within the Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science,
Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, Public Health, and Sociology departments at Xavier
University of Louisiana who teaches or plans to teach junior- or senior-level courses within
the Department may submit proposals. However the proposed course must have been
identified by the Department Head as one in need of improvement or development based on
assessment of results from the GRE Subject Tests, Senior Comprehensive Exams and/or
Major Field Tests.
The faculty receiving funds will be required to:
o attend pedagogical programming sessions, including P-MAX faculty mentor training,
faculty development workshops and Science Education Research Group (SERG)
meetings.
o make presentations at program meetings;
o submit a progress report at the end of the funding period; and
o submit assessment reports annually for at least three years after the course changes have
been implemented and evaluated.
Groups and individuals may receive only one mini-grant award per academic year.
Proposals must be submitted to Dr. Maryam Foroozesh, Chemistry Department Head and
Research Enrichment Core Director, via email at mforooze@xula.edu. Proposals will be
accepted until February 15, 2016.
Funded participants may request one course release during the academic year or one-month
summer pay. If this is a collaborative project, the faculty involved may split the release time
or summer pay in a way that supports their effort on the project.
Applicants must follow the proposal requirements and format described below.
Proposals should include a letter of support from the appropriate department head.
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If the proposal is for the development of a new course, after its submittal to the Program, it
must also be routed through the appropriate process, including obtaining the approval of the
Dean and the Academic Council.
Funding decisions will be made and communicated to applicants within two weeks of
proposal submission.
Proposal Requirements and Format
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Cover Page – see attached
Project Summary (not to exceed 200 words) – Provide a clear description of the proposed
project along with a statement of objectives.
Statement of Need (not to exceed 200 words) – Provide a clear description of why the
course development or enhancement is needed at Xavier University of Louisiana, citing
results from the GRE Subject Test Scores, Senior Comprehensive Exam and/or Major Field
Test.
Project Description (not to exceed 750 words) – Include the following:
o a clear and logical description of the proposed project and how it supports the BUILD
initiatives and their ultimate goal to increase the number of Xavier students entering
biomedical research careers;
o a clear outline of the proposed goals and outcomes; and
o a description of how the proposed project will impact the new or existing course offerings.
Assessment Plan (not to exceed 200 words) – Include the following:
o a clear description of how you will evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed project; and
o a clear description of the data sources you will use to document successful
implementation and outcomes associated with the project.
Timeline – A brief timeline for your project indicating when the course project will be
implemented and evaluated.
Budget – Include a budget justification for salary support and any needed course
development supplies. Use the appropriate fringe benefits rates in the calculation of the total
budget requested.
Letter of support – Attach a letter of support from the Department Head.
If you are in need of clarification in writing your proposal, please contact Drs. Maryam
Foroozesh (mforooze@xula.edu) or Tiera Coston (tcoston@xula.edu) for assistance.
Xavier University of Louisiana
NIH Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD)
Curriculum Development or Enhancement Mini-Grants
Requests for Proposals
Grant Proposal Cover Sheet
Name(s):
Department(s):
Title of Project:
Applicant(s)’ Signature(s):
Department Head(s)’ Signature: