Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning is proud to offer two types of funding opportunities for STEM faculty. The goal of these opportunities is to allow STEM faculty to have additional resources to experiment in their pedagogy and to help better support the needs of STEM students at George Mason University. STEM faculty includes all faculty engaging students in topics of science, technology, engineering and/or math. STEM education funding is not limited to CEC and COS.
The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.
STEM Education Grants
Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning is accepting applications for summer grant projects.
One grant recipient from each team will be expected to submit a proposal for a Teaching Talk Session or a digital resource at the 2026 Innovations in Teaching in Learning Conference. Applications for summer grants are due April 7th. Notifications of applications will be sent by April 21st.
Stearns Center would like to fund faculty to do one of the following:
· A) Improve or update a course or department level curriculum. This can be approached in a variety of ways including (but not limited to) revision or redesign of assignments, new active learning approaches, inclusive teaching, increased student engagement, & improved academic success of students.
· B) Capacity building. Working as a collaborative team to make changes to single or multi-section course sustainability and expansion. Again, these proposals should consider how to expand student success strategies or unify a course or department’s curriculum. For this option, artifacts could include (but are not limited to), new or updated course materials (i.e., assignments, assessments) that are used by multiple instructors for the same course.
For both grant options, faculty should produce a final artifact that can be shared with other STEM faculty and submit a final report/reflection. Proposals should explain what change is being made, the proposed impact on students, and how the impact of the change will be measured. Grant recipients will also be expected to attend one faculty development session during the summer or fall semesters in 2025. There will be a funding check-in scheduled with each grant team to transfer initial funds, review fiscal year 2025 spending and a third meeting to review fiscal year 2026 spending.
Grant applications should include the proposed budget (maximum $5000). Eligible expenses include instructor stipend (as dictated by college/rank – max $1000 per instructor), student wages/stipend (student must be identified by name in the grant application). Limited other expenses include gift cards, purchase of registration or print/video materials and purchase of subscription to data collection, transcription, and or data/analysis software (with justification of need). Food and external speakers/consultants will not be funded. Your proposal format does not matter so long as you have addressed what we have requested here and submit one PDF. Please note that SC members and affiliates are not eligible to apply as PI or member of these grant funded teams.
Unless provided with a strong rationale, 50% of stipends will be paid out prior to June 30 and 50% to be paid out between July 1-Aug15. Proposals should therefore indicate whether non-wage/stipend money is intended to be paid in fiscal year 2025 or fiscal year 2026.
Proposers should provide a brief schedule for their project work, outlining main goals by month (May, June, July, August).
All money must be spent by August 11th with the final report submitted by September 8th.
Grant applicants should send materials to [email protected] with the subject heading Summer STEM Education Grant Application FY24-25.
Faculty Fellow in STEM Education
Stearns Center continuing professional development program has three main umbrellas: design, engage and assess. These pillars are the cornerstone of effective teaching at George Mason.
The faculty fellow will work closely with the STEM Education specialist to develop resources specific to STEM faculty around the essential actions and growth opportunities that faculty can take when it comes to these three pillars.
Check back for information about how to apply for future positions.