ABCS Course Development Grants: March 26	Print Issue
February 16, 2010, Volume 56, No. 22

The Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships announces course development grants to promote Academically Based Community Service (ABCS) courses that integrate research, teaching, learning and service. Over 150 courses from a wide range of disciplines and Penn schools have linked Penn undergraduate and graduate students to work in the community. The grants support University faculty to develop new courses or adapt existing courses that combine research with school and community projects (see www.upenn.edu/ccp/ for a list of ABCS courses).

Grants will be for no more than $4,000 per project. These funds can be used to provide graduate and undergraduate support, course support and/or summer salary ($4,000 is inclusive of E.B. if taken as salary).

Funded by the Netter Center, course development grants facilitate faculty in developing new and substantially restructured undergraduate and graduate level courses that engage students in real world problem-solving projects in conjunction with schools and community organizations located in West Philadelphia.

The following criteria will be used to evaluate proposals:  

1. Academic excellence

2. Integration of research, teaching and service

3. Partnership with schools, community groups, service agencies, etc.

4. Focus on Philadelphia, especially West Philadelphia

5. Evidence as to how the course activity will involve participation or interaction with the community as well as contribute to improving the community

6. Evidence as to how the course activity will engage undergraduate and/or graduate students in real-world problem-solving research opportunities

7. Potential for sustainability

Please format proposals as follows:

1. Cover Page

1.1 Name, title, department, school, mailing address

1.2 Title of the proposal

1.3 Total amount of funding you would like to receive

1.4 100-word abstract of the proposal (include a description of how the course will involve interaction with the community and benefit the community)

2. A one-page biographical sketch of applicant

3. A two-to-four-page mini-proposal

4. Budget detailing how you intend to use the requested funding

Proposals should be submitted to the Netter Center for Community Partnerships by Friday, March 26, 2010.  Please e-mail proposals to Anne Schwieger at anneschw@pobox.upenn.edu.