In response to feedback gained during the 2017 Listening Tour and led by the Office for Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity, university leadership has established the Inclusion Transformation Fund to support research, scholarship, and special projects related to and/or advancing diversity and inclusion. Funding opportunities will be available to faculty, staff and students at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels, as well as to postdoctoral researchers and research associates.
To help achieve its mission and goals, the Office for Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity will use this fund to support research, scholarship and projects that promote diversity and inclusion on campus and beyond. With an initial investment, President Barbara R. Snyder established the Inclusion Transformation Fund, to be managed by the Office for Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity. Additional support will be developed through donor solicitation as well as other funding sources (e.g. grant applications).
Current faculty, staff, students (undergraduate and graduate/professional) and researchers (postdoctoral researchers/research associates) are eligible to apply for funding to support research, scholarship and projects in any discipline, so long as there is a major component that includes the study, advancement, and/or impact on diversity and inclusion efforts.
The university will pilot the following process for this fund and will make adjustments to it, as needed. Each semester, projects from the five categories will be selected (no more than one per category): faculty, staff, graduate/professional student, postdoc/research associate and undergraduate student. Grants will be available in amounts up to $5,000.
Applications will be accepted and reviewed by members of the Diversity Leadership Council during a set period of time (“application period”) for the following academic year, and announced during the spring semester. Applications must include the following:
- Applicant name and contact information
- Program of study/discipline
- Abstract of project (up to 500 words)
- Personal statement on diversity and inclusion work (500-1000 words)
- Amount requested (up to $5,000)
- Description of funding needs (up to 500 words)
Following this announcement, the Office for Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity will begin accepting applications immediately. The application period will close on Feb. 28. Grant recipients will be announced on March 5.
Faculty, staff, students and researchers interested in applying for project funding should submit proposal packages to Regina Gonzalez, director of diversity and strategic initiatives, via email to regina.gonzalez@case.edu.