Academic Commons Seed Grants

Academic Commons Seed Grants: Cultivating Faculty Ideas that Transform

The Academic Commons Seed Grant program is dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation, inquiry, creativity, and growth among Saybrook University faculty. Rooted in the university’s commitment to humanistic and transformational teaching and research, this program aims to enhance faculty teaching and research capabilities, foster innovative pedagogy and scholarly collaboration, and support the ongoing development of faculty as scholars, teachers, mentors, and change agents. All projects must be faculty-led, but faculty members may choose to collaborate with students or staff on these projects. As designed for FY 2025-2026, this program has $40,000 in internal funding available for faculty Academic Commons Seed Grants.

Grant Eligibility

• Any full-time or adjunct faculty member may apply. Staff and students may be involved in faculty-led projects.
• Collaborative proposals (e.g., interdisciplinary teams or faculty-student teams) are encouraged.
• There is a limit of two (2) total Seed Grant awards per applicant per fiscal year.

NOTE: If the proposed grant activity can be covered by faculty professional development funds, these funds must be spent before the faculty member becomes eligible for Academic Commons Seed Funds. Additionally, all seed grants are subject to the same research compliance requirements as any other sponsored project. 

There are two main categories of Academic Commons Seed Grants:

Teaching & Learning Innovation Projects (TuLIP) Seed Grants

Teaching & Learning Innovation Projects (TuLIP) Seed Grants are non-recurring funds that support faculty-led initiatives that enhance learning, promote pedagogical innovation, and align with Saybrook University's mission of humanistic education and social transformation.

TuLIP funds help ensure that Saybrook can drive innovation by exploring emerging trends; utilizing state-of-the-art technology; sharing findings through the university and other media; and building the capacity of faculty, staff, and students through knowledge-sharing initiatives. By fostering a collaborative learning environment, the investment in these areas will enhance the overall impact and sustainability of teaching, learning, and research within the university.

The maximum award amount for a single TuLip grant is $3000. For ideas on how TuLIP funds can be spent and the types of projects they can support, see Potential Budget Items and Uses for TuLIP Grants (PDF).

Launching Opportunities To Unfold Scholarship (LOTUS) - Faculty Research Seed Grants

The LOTUS Faculty Research Seed Grant Program is designed to cultivate the growth of faculty research and scholarship that advance Saybrook University’s humanistic and transformational mission. The program provides targeted support through three distinct funding pathways that nurture faculty development across the research lifecycle:

1. Research Training Grants (up to $2,000) to support faculty participation in external research or grant-writing training;
2. Research Dissemination Grants (up to $1,500) to assist in sharing completed research through publications, presentations, or conferences; and
3. Research Assistant Grants (up to $1,000) to fund Saybrook student research assistants.

Together, these opportunities aim to unfold new pathways for faculty scholarship, mentorship, and research capacity-building across the university.

Seed Grants Criteria & Review Process

For a list of the steps involved in the application, review, and award process, see the Proposal & Review Process page. For grant criteria, see the Academic Commons Grant Application and Evaluation Rubric Alignment Guide (PDF).

Seed grant applications are sent to faculty reviewers blindly, without the applicant's name. All reviewers will utilize the Academic Commons Seed Grant Evaluation Rubric to make decisions. TuLIP grants will be reviewed by Saybrook Faculty Ambassadors.  LOTUS grants will be reviewed by faculty volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering to be a faculty reviewer for the LOTUS grants, please contact Laura Brewer at lbrewer@saybrook.edu. 

Applying for a Seed Grant

When ready to apply for a Seed Grant, please begin by completing the Academic Commons Seed Grants Proposal Form.

In filling out the form, you will be asked to indicate which type of Seed Grant you are applying for (TuLIP or LOTUS). Once we review the form data, a member of the grant review committee will be in touch regarding your application. We strive to make decisions on all applications within 4 weeks of the application date.

Questions?

For questions about Teaching & Learning Innovation Projects (TuLIP) Seed Grants, contact Ray Bailey at rbailey3@saybrook.edu.

For questions about Launching Opportunities To Unfold Scholarship (LOTUS) - Faculty Research Seed Grants, contact Laura Brewer at lbrewer@saybrook.edu.