Diversity Mini-Grants
The Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) encourages faculty, staff and students to participate in the Diversity Mini-Grant program that provides investments in initiatives that advance diversity, equity and inclusion.
The purpose of the mini-grants is to address, promote and enhance our goal to create and sustain an inclusive learning, living and working environment where all members of the SMWC community feel they are welcomed, valued, respected and heard. We seek proposals for new ideas as well as opportunities to fund successful existing campus projects that can be enhanced or expanded.
Guidelines
This program supports proposals that promote awareness, skills, and knowledge about issues to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, religion, national origin, and political beliefs.
Proposals must align with one or more of SMWC’s DEI strategic initiatives that address:
Campus Climate
- Enhance the campus environment of respect and civility that promotes the identities of all people.
- Shift the culture toward becoming more just and equitable and creating a sense of belonging on campus for all students, including those who are non-residential.
Access and Success
- Increase recruitment and retention of diverse students, staff, and faculty and activities that support greater transition and integration to campus life.
Education and Scholarship
- Provide meaningful and critical engagement across different cultures and perspectives within and beyond the classroom through sustained dialogue, reading groups, guest speakers, etc.
- Support professional development for inclusive pedagogies in the content of courses
Eligibility
All faculty, staff and campus students (including non-residential) are eligible to apply. Each may only receive one mini-grant per academic year. Student organizations and departments are encouraged to apply. In order to encourage collaborative work among members of the campus community, teams are encouraged to include students, faculty and staff from different backgrounds and areas.
Criteria
Applicants may request up to $400. DEI anticipates awarding up to eight mini-grants per academic year. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and will be awarded until the funds are depleted.
The Diversity Mini-Grants must align with one or more of the three DEI focus areas. Proposals are accepted and reviewed for all diversity-related areas, with the following specific target areas: issues related to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, religion, national origin, and political beliefs.
A panel composed of members of the Diversity Council will review the applications and determine awards. Proposals will be evaluated primarily on the following:
- relationship of the project to the specified goals of the SMWC DEI Strategic Plan
- perceived impact of the project on advancing diversity, equity and inclusion and creating a more diverse, equitable and inclusive learning and working environment at SMWC
- feasibility of completing the project within the timeframe proposed.
Examples of DEI Mini-Grants
- Guest speakers
- Cultural celebrations
- Student groups or clubs attending off-campus conferences
- Professional development training
- Art as activism
- Books for discussion groups
- Panel discussion on various religious diversity
- Social justice panel
- Raise awareness of the LGBTQ+ community
What cannot be funded
- Equipment – computers, digital cameras, printers, etc.
- Administrative support to initiate the project
All projects must be completed prior to April 1, 2023.