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Applications

Applications for the 2023-2024 Partnered in Teaching and Learning grants will be accepted between 24 April and 5 June 2023.

We encourage eligible teams and individual educators to submit proposals which will advance and implement the Partnered in Teaching and Learning Strategy. There are three grant categories:

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Application Process

All applications must be submitted via this Microsoft Form by June 5, 2023, 11:59 p.m. The Microsoft Form will be available on April 24, 8 a.m. A complete application package contains:

  • The PTL Grants Application Form (.docx download)  with all applicable sections completed (Sections 1-4 for Seed grants; Sections 1-5 for Grow/Garden grants)
  • Letter of Support from department/unit/faculty leadership [Garden grants only] 
  • Explicit agreement to the eligibility conditions, and acknowledgement of both the financial and general terms and conditions associated with the grants.

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Eligibility Criteria Learn More

Grant applications must meet basic criteria or they will not be circulated to reviewers.

Financial Guidelines Learn More

Application budgets will be checked for compliance with financial guidelines.

Terms and Conditions Learn More

All grant recipients must agree to the grant terms and conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Contractually limited appointment instructor?

Yes, so long as you will be employed at McMaster for the duration of the grant term, and your home department/unit allows you to hold grant funds in a departmental or research chartfield. If you are uncertain, please contact your department/unit administrator to confirm.

Contract staff member employed through Unifor?

Yes, so long as you will be employed at McMaster for the duration of the grant term, and your home department/unit allows you to hold grant funds in a departmental or research chartfield. If you are uncertain, please contact your department/unit administrator to confirm.

Graduate student?

No, grant recipients must be able to hold funds and supervise employees. Please partner with a staff or faculty member employed by McMaster University who can oversee funding and personnel.

Undergraduate student?

No, grant recipients must be able to hold funds and supervise employees. Please partner with a staff or faculty member employed by McMaster University who can oversee funding and personnel.

Lead applicant on another PTL grant application?

Yes, though the two projects must differ substantially.

Lead applicant on a Leadership in Teaching & Learning Fellowship Application?

Yes! But you cannot receive funding for the same project you received the LTL fellowship to support. If you apply for both and receive both, you will be asked to select one or the other.

Individual from another institution or community group?

No, grant recipients must be able to hold funds in a McMaster University chartfield and supervise McMaster employees. Please partner with a staff or faculty member employed by McMaster University who can oversee funding and personnel.

Lead applicant on another PTL grant application?

Yes!

Lead applicant on a Leadership in Teaching & Learning Fellowship Application?

Yes! But you cannot receive funding for the same project you received the LTL fellowship to support. If you apply for both and receive both, you will be asked to select one or the other.

Graduate student?

Yes!

Undergraduate student?

Yes!

Individual from another institution or community group?

Yes!

Co-applicant on another PTL grant application?

Yes!

Better suited for a Seed, Grow, or Garden grant?

Complete this branching scenario via Microsoft Forms to find out!

Better suited for a PTL grant or an LTL fellowship?

Complete this branching scenario via Microsoft Forms to find out!

A research project?

According to McMaster’s Research Accounts Policy,

“Research is comprised of research activity and research related activity and definitions are as follows:

  • Research Activity – The investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery or interpretation of knowledge, the systematic collection or revision of knowledge in light of new facts or theories, the development and application of methodologies to increase knowledge and the practical application of knowledge to specific problems or circumstances.
  • Research Related Activity – Activities closely related to research. Examples include but are not limited to testing and evaluation; the collection and manipulation of data; writing, editing or translating; and the communication and/or discussion of research results, including the organization of meetings.”

For more details on research vs. operating activities, please see Appendix A of the Research Accounts Policy.

Going to require ethics approval?

McMaster University follows the guidelines set out by Tri Council Policy Statement 2. Scoping of research versus non-research and projects requiring research ethics approval can be found on the Government of Canada Panel on Research Ethics website.

For further clarification or decision-making, please contact MREB or HiREB via email.

Communicating effectively with reviewers?
  1. Remember that each application will be reviewed by a student, a staff member, and an instructor.
    • Choose accessible language that can be understood by individuals from a variety of contexts
    • Avoid unexplained jargon, acronyms, and concepts
  2. Make sure your proposal aligns with the goals of the grants program and each answer is fully relevant to the questions posed.
    • Explain the “why”: what necessitates this project and how will it advance the Partnered in Teaching and Learning Strategy?
  3. Don’t bury the lede
    • Keep your writing as clear and concise as possible
    • Structure your answers in a logical manner so the main points are laid out in the beginning of the answer or paragraph(s)
Identifying clear methods to assess my project’s impact?

Consider whether any of the following types of impact assessment might apply:

  • Generating novel insights which contribute to an existing knowledge base
  • Contributing to a body of evidence via quantitative and/or qualitative data collection and analysis (surveys, focus groups, student feedback, average grades before and after intervention, etc.)
    • Analysis of engagement and satisfaction metrics for new co-curricular programming
    • Analysis of net learning gains to identify impact of interventions in a course/program
  • Engaging in dissemination (i.e. publications, workshops, presentations, etc.)
  • Reflections on outcomes from the partnership and project work itself (i.e. relational, learning, employability, community benefits, etc.)
Including a powerful letter of support?

Provide the following guidance for the letter writer:

  • Include the project application and consider highlighting key points or outcomes that could be included in the letter
  • Emphasize that the letter’s purpose is to endorse the project and provide an explanation for how the project work might be supported during and after the project year
    • “Support” may include:
      • Recognition that the project will benefit the department/unit/faculty
      • Financial support on an ongoing basis
      • In-kind financial support for the grant year
      • Additional teaching assistant support
      • Administrative support to hold grant funds within a department/unit/faculty chartfield
      • Administrative support to hire project staff/student employees
      • Commitment to supporting the grant recipient’s dissemination of their findings/outcomes with peers (i.e. department workshop/talk)
Including bibliographic information on the form?

This year, we have a Word document instead of an MS Form! So adding references is easier. Though citations are not included in the word count, we suggest applicants use them sparingly. Reviewers are not expected to consult the references cited in the application.