Gen Ed Funding & Award Opportunities

Promoting Excellence in General Education

The goal of the “Promoting Excellence in General Education” campaign is to demonstrate the importance of general education to the undergraduate experience by meaningfully supporting and rewarding instructors of general education courses. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign wants to truly embrace in a visible way general education as foundational knowledge across disciplines and highlight the Gen Ed Program as a chance for students to develop a better understanding of themselves and the opportunity to become more engaged citizens. This campaign provides two funding opportunities to faculty: Innovation in Gen Ed Courses Award, and Gen Ed Professional Development Award. Funding is provided by the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and overseen by the Director for General Education.

Questions may be directed to gen-ed@illinois.edu

Objectives

The objectives of Promoting Excellence in General Education are:

  1. Enhance General Education: To improve the quality and coherence of the General Education Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign by providing visible and meaningful support to instructors.
  2. Support and Reward Instructors: To establish awards and professional development opportunities that recognize and incentivize excellence in teaching within the General Education Program.
  3. Promote Educational Innovation: To fund innovative approaches to general education courses that enhance the overall learning experience for students.
  4. Increase Awareness and Engagement: To promote General Education Program awareness and engagement among faculty and students.
  5. Sustainability and Long-term Impact: To ensure the sustainability of the campaign by seeking partnerships and by integrating successful innovations into existing course offerings.
Innovation in Gen Ed Courses Award
Gen Ed Professional Development Award

Campus Awards & Funding

There are additional awards and funding opportunities offered through campus.

The Inclusive Course Redesign Initiative (ICRI)

The Inclusive Course Redesign Initiative or ICRI began in Spring 2023 as an initiative focused on inviting faculty to consider course redesign with equity and inclusion at the core. Inclusive course redesign is a process of intentionally designing course materials and activities to be accessible and welcoming to all students, regardless of their backgrounds or abilities. By working with partnership with CITL instructors can create a more equitable learning environment that supports the success of all learners. Inclusive course redesign can involve changes to course syllabi, assessments, classroom policies, and more.

Student Success Awards

Student Success Awards are given to outstanding members of the student success community who exhibit exemplary dedication to the student success initiative.

Provost’s Initiative on Teaching Advancement (PITA)

Provost’s Initiative on Teaching Advancement (PITA) grants “support faculty with the implementation of instructional and pedagogical innovation that has a high probability of enhancing education at Illinois”

Investment for Growth Program

Investment for Growth Program has a goal to be responsive to high and emerging demand programs that lead to financial sustainability and additional sources of revenue. 

Office of the Provost Campus Awards & Honors

Faculty are formally recognized with a number of campus awards, honors, and distinctions. The Office of the Provost administers and helps support many awards and honors. Campus award programs recognize excellence in faculty leadership, public engagement, teaching advancement, and instruction, including a category recognizing Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching