Incredi-Bull Leader Mini-Grant
v. 10/10/2016
Funded by USFSM’s Quality Enhancement Plan, Incredi-Bull Critical Thinking
Description: The aim is to enhance critical thinking on our campus, and/or the recognition of
our students/graduates as critical thinkers in the broader community. Therefore, this grant* is
intended to encourage and support a critical thinking project related to campus leadership,
mentoring, scholarship, or teaching beyond one’s own course.
Eligibility: Faculty or staff who have earned the “Incredi-Bull” designation for one or more of
their courses and have used – or have a specific plan to use – the Commitments Survey
(Appendix F of QEP report) to obtain feedback from students about the effectiveness of the
course and assignments for enhancing their critical thinking skills. Faculty who have already
received this grant are eligible for additional grants after the conclusion of the previous grant;
however, preference will be given to applicants who have not yet received this grant.
Award amount: Varies based on number of awardees and fund availability. In general, we
anticipate awarding one to four grants per year, in the amount of $500 to $2,000 depending on
funding availability.
Award cycle:
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Proposals accepted beginning: January 1
o First round accepted beginning January 1, 2017.
o Last round deadline March 31, 2020.
Annual proposal deadline: March 31
Annual decision: April 28
Execution: One year minimum for project development and execution.
Report due: August 1 following project execution period. Missing this deadline may
result in forgoing the second disbursement (below).
Disbursement: half to be triggered for disbursement upon the grant decision; half
triggered upon satisfactory review of final report.
* Note that the grant can disburse as a stipend (taxed) or be used for approved “Education and
General” USF Expenditures, so that faculty who would prefer to use the full (untaxed) funds to
offset these expenses may do so.
Application Review body: A fixed group of 3 faculty and 1 staff will review all grant
applications and recommend award winners to the implementation committee based on ratings,
discussion, and available funds.
Final Report Review body: QEP Director, Core Curriculum Coordinator, and most relevant
disciplinary representative.
Award criteria:
In the opinion of the committee, the proposed project has the potential to:
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Positively impact the Campus Environment, Curriculum, and/or Faculty Development
Positively impact student learning
Appeal to the campus community
Create impact that lasts beyond the duration of the actual project timeline
In the opinion of the committee, the proposal is:
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Reasonably thorough and concrete
Feasible, in terms of budgeted funds, time, and logistics
Beneficial to proposer’s own scholarship, teaching, and/or service
Submission requirements:
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Proposal document no more than 1,000 words that addresses the award criteria
Include budget (does not count toward word limit)
Include CV
Any supporting documents (e.g., syllabus)
Submit as Word document to Incredi-Bull Critical Thinking Administrator (Jenny Post,
[email protected])
Final Report criteria:
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Addresses each element of the proposed project
Concise, well-organized summary of the project, its immediate impact, and potential
long-term impact
Description of how funds were used
One summary paragraph that can be integrated into the 5th year QEP Impact Report