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Disciplinary Communication Grants (DCG)

The Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education (VPDUE) and the Academic Senate Committee on Educational Policy are pleased to announce the availability of funds to assist with instructional improvement initiatives for grants focused on Disciplinary Communication. 

For 2018-19, we seek to fund about 10-20 projects for a total expense of up to $150,000. The program is expected to continue through 2018-18, possibly longer depending on the rate of use of funds.

  • Proposals are to be submitted using the format provided with the annual call.
  • DC Grant Proposal deadline: Friday, December 22, 2017 and Thursday, March 29, 2018 sent via email to the Academic Senate, senate@ucsc.edu.
  • Funding available: July 1, 2018
  • Final report required: July 1, 2019

Purpose:
The purpose of Disciplinary Communication Grants (DCG) is to enhance writing proficiency and accomplishment within majors by promoting innovation and assessment of new approaches to DC education.

Example projects:

  • Undertake a formal analysis of the existing DC offering to inform plans for the future
  • Facilitate collaborations with the writing program
  • Launch a writing tutoring program
  • Create an online or technology-assisted course
  • Develop a new course or DC pathway in the major
  • Support graduate students assisting underprepared or ESL students

Decision Making:
The Senate Committee on Educational Policy (CEP) will recommend to the Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education proposals receive funding based on the priorities listed above and the department’s justification for the request.

2018-19 Grants Awarded:

List of departments receiving a Disciplinary Communication Grant for 2018 2019 academic year. Column one lists the department. Column two lists the proposal title. Column three is the amount funded. Column four is the final report.
Department Proposal Amount Funded Final Report
Art Research and Re-structure Writing for Artists Course $16,000 Final Report
EE Biology Improving Undergraduate Scientific Writing Through Enhanced Training of Graduate Student and LSS Tutors in DC Courses in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology $16,000 Final Report
Environmental Studies Environmental Studies Writing: Innovations in Numeracy and Co-Authored Writing $16,000 Final Report

2017-18 Grants Awarded:

List of departments receiving a Disciplinary Communication Grant for 2017 2018 academic year. Column one lists the department. Column two lists the proposal title. Column three is the amount funded. Column four is the final report.
Department Proposal Amount Funded Final Report
Psychology Improving Scientific Writing through Guided Iteration $23,889.60 Final Report
Sociology Modular Writing Curriculum to Support DC Courses in the Sociology Department $30,521 Interim Report;
Final Report
Writing Program Writing Pathways: Tracing Students’ Writing from C2 to the DC $10,200 Due 7/1/2018

2016-17 Grants Awarded:

List of departments receiving a Disciplinary Communication Grant for 2016 2017 academic year. Column one lists the department. Column two lists the proposal title. Column three is the amount funded. Column four is the final report.
Department Proposal Amount Funded Final Report
Anthropology The Anthropology Department Writing Assistant Center Program $15,000 Final Report

2015-16 Second Round of Grants Awarded:

List of departments receiving a Disciplinary Communication Grant for 2015 2016 academic year. Column one lists the department. Column two lists the proposal title. Column three is the amount funded. Column four is the final report.
Department Proposal Amount Funded Final Report
Anthropology The Anthropology Department Writing Assistant Center Program $10,000 Final Report
Mathematics Hybrid Teaching Model for Precalculus (Math 3) $20,985.56 Final Report
Molecular, Cell, & Developmental Biology Development of Disciplinary Communication Teaching Resources for MCD Biology Courses $16,100 Final Report

2015-16 First Round of Grants Awarded:

List of departments receiving a Disciplinary Communication Grant for 2015 2016 academic year. Column one lists the department. Column two lists the proposal title. Column three is the amount funded. Column four is the final report.
Department Proposal Amount Funded Final Report
Biomolecular Engineering New Technical Writing Course for Biomolecular Engineers $7,000 Final Report
History Teaching Support and Assessment for Pilot Version of “History 100: History Skills and Methods” $23,016.38 Final Report
History of Arts & Visual Culture Rethinking the Disciplinary Communication and Methodology Course: HAVC 100A $22,650 Final Report
Politics Politics Department Writing Tutoring Program $6,774.25 Final Report
Writing Program Writing Support for Graduate Students Teaching Disciplinary Communication (DC) Classes (deferred to 2016-17) $8,050 Final Report

2014-15 Second Round of Grants Awarded:

List of departments receiving a Disciplinary Communication Grant for 2014 2015 academic year. Column one lists the department. Column two lists the proposal title. Column three is the amount funded. Column four is the final report.
Department Proposal Amount Funded Final Report
Anthropology Anthropology Writing Assistant Program $10,000 Final Report
Community Studies Communicating Across the Curriculum $12,186 Final Report
Computer Science Technical Writing and Communication in Computer Science $11,188 Final Report

2014-15 First Round of Grants Awarded:

List of departments receiving a Disciplinary Communication Grant for 2014 2015 academic year. Column one lists the department. Column two lists the proposal title. Column three is the amount funded. Column four is the final report.
Department Proposal Amount Funded Final Report
Anthropology Anthropology Writing Assistant Program $7200 Final Report
Environmental Studies The Environmental Problem Solving Writing Tutor Program $15,020 Final Report
Film & Digital Media A Disciplinary Communication Redesign for Film and Digital Media $13,000 Final Report