Criteria for evaluating faculty-student engagement funding requests

OUR GOAL: to stimulate more high quality faculty-student engagement at UVA.

These are not strict rules, but guidelines based on our experience with hundreds of projects to date. There will alway be creative exceptions.

• How many students will participate?

  As a general rule, we find that between 2 and 12 students is ideal.  Too few, and the cost per student can be high.  Too many, and the chance of building close lasting bonds is diminished.

• Will there be multiple interactions over time?

  A single event, such as attending a live performance, may not create enough sustained interaction to build relationships that go beyond the cursory. Having a few get-togethers leading up to the performance – to plan logistics, learn about the playwright, the time period, etc. – can build lasting relationships.

• Is there a social component?

  The age-old tradition of sharing meals and conversation helps faculty and students learn more about each other and find common ground. By getting to know a student’s interests and talents, a teacher is better able to serve as mentor and guide, making introductions, suggesting courses to try, books to read, research to pursue.

• Does it take place outside the classroom?

  Creative activities that go beyond normal classroom routines are often the most memorable and meaningful. Mead funded activities need not be for academic credit.

• Is there a shared sense of purpose?

  Are faculty and students undertaking a task or exploration together? Instead of the one-way classroom dynamic, where teachers impart information and students absorb it, does the engagement allow all participants to share in the journey?

• DOES IT NEED TO HAVE AN ACADEMIC OR RESEARCH PURPOSE?

  The goal is to stimulate meaningful personal engagement beyond normal classroom routines. While many faculty use do Mead funds to enhance their classes with field trips or dinners related to their courses, purely social engagements are acceptable.

• Will the funds be applied directly to the engagement? 

  Mead funds should directly support professors engaging with their students. They should not be used to hire teaching or research assistants to lighten a professor’s load so that the professor can then engage with students. Likewise, we prefer the funds not be used to hire or travel someone else to conduct the primary engagement, such as a guest lecturer, although it may be acceptable to provide a modest honoraria. 

• Is the activity something the faculty member is already doing, and is it already being funded by other sources?

  Our preference is to function as one-time seed money, helping new ideas get off the ground.  Then, in cases of exceptionally successful engagements we may be willing to fund the activity a second time to give professors a chance to seek ongoing funding from their departments or other sources. We do not fund existing activities that already have other sources of funding.

• Is the request within the $3500 Limit?

  To make sure we can honor as many requests as possible, we limit the amount to no more than $3500. Most faculty use ask for only a few hundred.

• Will it take place within a reasonable time frame?

  Proposed activities should be completed within the current or following semester.  If the request is made during the fall semester, the activity should be completed by spring graduation. If the request is made in the spring semester, the activity should be completed by the start of winter break.

• Will the funds count as income to the professor or students?

  This is a tricky area. Some expenditures, especially significant travel reimbursements, may be viewed by the IRS as income, which may require tax reporting and payments or even put a student’s scholarship at risk. Elizabeth Joyner ( etjoyner@virginis.edu ) at the Alumni Association can provide more guidance.