Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Mini Grants

The Wilson College of Textiles Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee is pleased to announce DEI mini grants for undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty and staff of the Wilson College of Textiles. These mini-grants will provide financial assistance for trainings, conferences, research, immersion activities and programming that strengthen excellence in diversity and inclusion for individuals or the community at Wilson College.

Individuals and communities are invited to apply. Individual proposals should be submitted by one person and the funding must support their experience. Communities are defined as any group of two or more, such as a department/unit, student organization or other groups within the Wilson College of Textiles.

DEI mini grants are funded by the private support of the Textiles Diversity & Inclusion Fund.

If awarded, DEI mini grants may be subject to income tax. Please consult your tax professional to determine.

Individual Opportunities

Training

Any professional development training course or workshop, which will further one’s understanding of diversity, inclusion and equity will be considered. In addition to registration fees, the costs associated with travel may also be included in the proposal budget.

Conferences

Conferences related to an area of study, leadership development or provide a significant networking opportunity will be considered. In addition to registration fees, the costs associated with travel may be included in the proposal budget.

Research

Proposals related to furthering diversity, equity and inclusion within research activities or the development of new research collaborations will be considered.

Immersion Activities

Immersion activities such as unpaid or low-paying internships, scholarly reassignments for faculty, externships, the development of collaborative partnerships/projects or other types of industry immersion will be considered. Travel and living costs associated with these activities may be included in the proposal budget.

Examples of Individual Opportunities

• Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI)
• Racial Equity Institute
• Diversity Abroad Conference
• Developing Cultural Competence (DCC) Student Certificate Program

Community Opportunities

Structural Diversity, Access and Equity

Maintain continuous improvement in the numbers, retention, matriculation and promotion of historically underrepresented students, faculty, administration and staff.

Institutional Infrastructure

Establish a process for the ongoing monitoring, assessment, evaluation and revision of institutional practices, policies, and procedures to ensure equitable and inclusive outcomes.

Climate and Intergroup Relations

Create and sustain a Wilson College environment of respect and civility that builds an equitable, compassionate, collaborative, innovative and sustainable community through opportunities for diverse interactions, community dialogue and debate, and ongoing intercultural learning.

Formal and Informal Curricula

Ensure diverse perspectives and inclusive pedagogies are included in the content of courses, programs, teaching, learning approaches and experiences across all academic and non-academic programs.

Student Learning and Development

Create leadership experiences and career pathways that prepare students to engage actively in an increasingly diverse, interconnected global society.

Examples of Community Opportunities

• New faculty or staff development training
• Underrepresented population recruitment program/event (faculty, staff or students)
• A community-based event in partnership with a community organization
• New mannequins of various skin tones and body sizes
• IDI Training for Textiles Student Organizations

Eligibility Criteria

The DEI mini grant award application program is open to students, postdoctoral scholars, faculty and staff in the Wilson College who meet the criteria listed below. Visiting scholars, emeriti and adjunct faculty are not eligible to apply.

Undergraduate Student Criteria

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Have completed at least one year of study in a Wilson College of Textiles administered program
• Be in good academic standing
• At the time of the application, the applicant must be considered a full-time student and be registered for classes. If traveling between semesters, the applicant must be a full-time student and registered for the current semester and the semester or term following travel (unless the applicant graduates prior to the term following travel).
• Preference will be given to applicants who have not received an award in the two previous years.

Graduate Student Criteria

• Have completed at least one semester in a Wilson College of Textiles administered program
• Be in good academic standing
• At the time of the application, the applicant must be considered a full-time student and be registered for classes. If traveling between semesters, the applicant must be a full-time student and registered for the current semester and the semester or term following travel (unless applicant graduates prior to the term following travel). 
• Preference will be given to applicants who have not received an award in the two previous years.

Postdoctoral Scholar Criteria

• Currently in good standing as related to the terms of Section 6. Expectations of Postdoctoral Appointees.
• Active appointment with secured funding for duration of travel or activity, extending past the dates of travel.
• Preference will be given to applicants who have not received an award in the two previous years.

Staff Criteria

• Considered full-time (at least .75 FTE), benefits-eligible position, with a term appointment expected to be continued for the duration of the travel or development activity, extending to 12-months post travel or development activity.
• Employees must be in “good standing” to apply, for which they have received a final overall rating of at least “meets expectations” or higher on their last annual performance appraisal, and they are not on an active performance improvement plan nor active disciplinary action.
• Not eligible to those who have been given notice of separation or resignation
• SHRA individuals must be considered to have achieved career status, having successfully completed an initial probationary period of 12-consecutive months of creditable service.
• Preference will be given to applicants who have not received an award in the two previous years.

Faculty Criteria

• All faculty ranks are eligible, whether non-tenure track, tenure track or tenured; so long as the remaining eligibility categories are satisfied.
• Considered full-time, benefits-eligible position, with a term appointment expected to be continued for the duration of the travel or development activity, extending to 12-months post travel or development activity.
• Employees must be in “good standing” to apply.
• Not eligible to those who have been given notice of separation or resignation
• Preference will be given to applicants who have not received an award in the two previous years.

Community Criteria

• Must be a group of two or more individuals who are Wilson College of Textiles faculty, staff or students. 
• If the submission is on behalf of a department/unit or student organization, they must be within the Wilson College of Textiles. 

Amount of Award

The maximum award amount is $500. Proposals with budgets less than or up to $500 are equally encouraged. It is anticipated that five (5) awards will be available per request for proposal (RFP) cycle; however, the number of awards in any RFP cycle is based upon funds available.

If you are a recipient of an award, the funding cannot be transferred to a different experience from what was originally submitted and approved. You may combine your award with additional funding if your budget exceeds the maximum award amount. However, you may not request a reimbursement above the actual expenses incurred. 

Instructions

1. Complete the application for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Mini Grant. The application must be completed and submitted online. Please be prepared to upload the following documents.
   1. Individual Opportunity
      1. Undergraduate and graduate students must have a completed recommendation by a faculty or staff member as a part of their proposal. Recommendations must be submitted online by the submission deadline.
      2. Information pertinent to the program / event (i.e.: brochure or website link)
      3. Budget
   2. Community Opportunity
      1. Organizational structure
      2. Information pertinent to the program / event (i.e.: brochure or website link)
      3. Budget
2. Submit a completed proposal. Submission deadline is 5 p.m. on October 31, 2023.

Review Process

Applications will be reviewed by a Review and Selection Committee, who will also make the award selections. All anticipated awards, some awards, or no awards can be granted during any RFP cycle.

For the RFP cycle beginning October 1, 2023 and ending October 31, 2023, all else being equivalent, priority will be given to applicants who complete their development experience by March 31, 2024.

Grant recipients will be notified of the award by November 30, 2023.