Catalyst Innovation Program
MSU is dedicated to enhancing digital learning experiences for students. The Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation (CTLI) is committed to supporting new ideas to improve the student experience through seed grant opportunities that align with the program's goals of enhancing digital learning experiences and inclusivity. By integrating digital strategies into pedagogy, we can enrich student learning and streamline assessment and analysis. Many impactful digital learning innovations at the institutional level often begin with small, experimental projects. These innovations may arise from unique pedagogical approaches in individual courses, cross-disciplinary collaborations, or responses to student feedback and needs analysis. This funding program is intended for one-time, just-in-time funding, to test ideas or achieve incremental improvement. Proposals that require recurring funding to sustain the innovation should be specific for how they are seeking on-going funding outside of the Catalyst Innovation Program.
How to Apply
Catalyst Innovation Program (CIP) proposals must be submitted through our application portal. Participants should include the following in their proposals:
Description (aim, hypothesis, and rationale) of the innovation project and idea
Implementation approach
Evaluation and assessment plan
Budget with rationale
Review Process and Evaluation Criteria
The Catalyst Innovation Program offers up to $10,000 in funding for creative and innovative uses of tools, technology, and pedagogical approaches. These funds are intended for experimentation in areas with the potential to enhance student learning experiences on a digitally-immersed, global campus. Please note: Funds are restricted, and designated only for one-time expenses of software, technology, equipment, and services (either external vendors or internal through a service center with a controller’s office approved ratesheet). Catalyst funds cannot be used for salary lines or recurring expenses.
Our priorities include:
- Articulates clear alignment of the project to a student learning objective(s) e.g., “Students will enhance their systems thinking skills by using the virtual reality program Noda to build concepts maps collaboratively.”
- Aims to increase access, as defined as “providing the means for all qualified, motivated students to complete courses, degrees, or programs in their disciplines of choice" (Online Learning Consortium, n.d.) e.g., universally designed experiences.
- Fosters more equitable and inclusive digital learning environments e.g., making course materials more accessible.
- Utilizes learning analytics to enable adaptive or personalized pedagogy.
- Incoporates mechanisims and/or tools for implementing real-world and innovative assessment strategies.
- Incorporates mechanisms and/or tools for increasing student engagement e.g., through participation, collaboration, peer learning, etc.
Project proposals will be evaluated by the following criteria:
- It aligns well with one or more of our priorities
- Readiness to implement
- Opportunity for scalability or reuse in a different course
- Well-articulated assessment and evaluation plan
- Solid plan for sustainability
We will not fund proposals that:
Request funding for salary lines, direct hourly-payroll, or personal compensation.
Lack a clear plan for implementation, evaluation, or sustainability (for the future outside of the one-time grant).
Do not align with the program's goals of enhancing digital learning experiences and inclusivity.
Intend to start a broad (multi-user or multi-course) educational technology pilot. These should seek advice from MSU IT.
Important Dates:
- Preparing for Catalyst - Information Session: Friday, Sept. 20, 2025 (link)
- The Call for Proposals opens: Monday, Sept. 30, 2024 (application link opens Sept. 30, 2024, closes Oct. 25,2024) on that date)
- Proposals are due: Friday, Oct. 27, 2024
- Awards will be announced: Friday, Nov. 8, 2024
Funding available through: In the current semester or before the next. Also, by Jun. 30, 2024 (Preference will be given to projects that can utilize the award before this deadline). *This grant happens twice a year in the Spring and the Fall.