Current Funding Opportunities

CALL FOR PROPOSALS: Title VI Grant for Developing Interdisciplinary Innovative Thematic Asian Studies Courses (Year 2)

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded Baylor University a Title VI grant to support East Asian languages and the Asian studies program. As part of this grant, we are excited to announce a Call for Proposals for curriculum development in Asian Studies. This curriculum development grant aims to expand Asian Studies courses for undergraduate education at Baylor and provide students with a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of East Asian* cultures, history, literature, and societies and their role in the global economy and political landscape. The grant will support the development of new courses that focus on thematic, interdisciplinary, and/or team-taught approaches to studying Asia.

OBJECTIVES: This initiative seeks to achieve the following objectives:

1. Foster innovation: Develop new courses that push the boundaries of traditional Asian Studies, incorporating interdisciplinary and thematic elements.
2. Enhance student learning: Provide students with a more comprehensive and contemporary understanding of East Asian cultures, history, literature, and sociology.
3. Promote team teaching: Encourage collaboration among faculty members to create richer learning experiences.
4. Contribute to global education: Increase awareness of Asia’s significance in the global economy, technology, and history.

The grant will be awarded to up to three course development proposals for this fiscal year. Individual and team grant amounts will vary based on the proposed budget and the number of participants involved. The maximum award is $5000 per individual and $7500 per team.

ELIGIBILITY: All full-time faculty members who hold permanent positions at Baylor University are eligible to submit proposals for this grant.

AWARD USAGE: Awards are intended to recognize faculty members for their efforts in course development, which include designing and implementing new courses. The award should be utilized in the summer of 2025. Please note that the university’s policy on summer pay takes precedence. The recipient may choose to apply the award to fund travel directly related to course development, such as exploratory trips to the country for which the course content is being developed or travel to attend a related workshop to enhance the pedagogical knowledge of the course content on the chosen theme or region.

APPLICATION MATERIALS: To apply for this grant, please submit the following documents:

• A cover sheet (1 page);
  • Include name, rank, department or program affiliation, award usage
  • Short CV/Bio (1-3 pages);
    • Include condensed details from CV including courses taught and publications on Asia.
  • Project description (1-2 pages);
    • outline of your innovative course idea focusing on Asia* and justification
    • detailed plan for course development including the course title, course objectives, how you intend to incorporate interdisciplinary, thematic, and/or team-taught elements
    • timeline of your project, including when it will be started, and completed, and when the developed new course will be offered
    • a budget for your proposed course development such as how and when you plan to use the award/funds
    • other resources you plan to use, and other internal grants you plan to apply for to enhance the development of the project
    • details of your travel plan, and the subject of workshops if the funds are applied to travel. The awardees need to follow Baylor’s faculty travel policies for travel authorization and expense reimbursement.
  • A statement of support from the department chair or program director

REQUIREMENTS: All recipients of this grant need to turn in a mid-project report as of 9/30/2025 and a final report upon the completion of the project. Recipients are required to seek course approval through the university undergraduate committee and cross-list the course with Asian Studies. The report should include all outcomes of the funded project.

DEADLINE: The deadline for submitting proposals is April 15, 2025. The award will be announced before May 5, 2025. The committee strongly encourages submissions from those who have not been a recipient of this course development grant.

The For any questions or clarifications, please contact Dr. Xin Wang, Director of Asian Studies. Please submit your proposals to Dr. Xin Wang by email: xin_wang@baylor.edu

We look forward to receiving your proposals and learning more about your ideas for teaching East Asia’s cultures and societies at Baylor.

* For this award, “Asia” is defined as geographic, economic, cultural, and political Asia.