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New Program Development Grants

The New Program Development Grant supports the intellectual and pedagogical work of designing high-quality global learning experiences. This grant funds the creation of faculty-led programs, and cohort-based study abroad programs that challenge students to address contemporary global issues through deep, international engagement.

This grant supports faculty in the early stages of program design moving from a conceptual framework to a formal proposal. Grants are intended to facilitate:

  • Curriculum Design: Developing course syllabi with global learning integrated.
  • Site Assessment: Conducting initial site visits to vet potential vendors, housing options, and local academic resources.
  • Feasibility: Building a sustainable budget model to ensure long-term viability.

Timeline

Call for Proposals
  • Primary Cycle: March 1
    (for the following fiscal year)
  • Secondary Cycle:* August 1 
Application Deadline
  • Primary Cycle: April 15
  • Secondary Cycle:* September 1
Award Notification
  • Primary Cycle: May 1
  • Secondary Cycle:* September 15
Award Disbursement

Grant fund transfers to departments are contingent upon budget finalization and approval, typically expected by the end of September. In the interim, departments and colleges are responsible for covering upfront costs.

*Secondary Cycles will open if funds remain from the Primary Cycle. Before submitting a proposal for a Secondary Cycle, contact marielle@vt.edu to confirm the cycle's availability.


Preparing to Apply

Award Amount:
Up to $3,000 per grant for program expenses (e.g., travel for site development, instructional materials, or partnership cultivation).

Matching Requirement:
A minimum $500 departmental/college match (cash transfer or documented expenditure) is required.

All full-time Virginia Tech teaching faculty (tenure track, collegiate, professors of practice, and long-term lecturers) interested in developing or expanding global education programs are eligible. Shared authorship is encouraged, but awards are capped at $3,000 per proposal.

Proposals will be evaluated based on four core pillars:

  • Innovation: Distinction of the program or partnership model.
  • Impact: The potential to result in high-quality student experiences with clearly defined academic goals and a high volume of recurring student mobility
  • Access: Supporting student success by reducing financial barriers and creating pathways for all students, regardless of financial and academic circumstances.
  • Sustainability: Articulation of a clear plan for the program or partnership to continue and grow in future years

Preference will be given to proposals that demonstrate the following:

  • Thematic Demand: Programs filling in a geographic/thematic gap in the current Virginia Tech portfolio
  • Geographic and Disciplinary Diversity: Programs that expand the university's footprint into less traditional regions and strengthen global engagement in new academic fields
  • Strategic Alignment: Programs aligned with Virginia Tech’s strategic aspirations and/or the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and those demonstrating interdisciplinary collaboration 





Submit Your Application

Apply Via Email






Application Sections

Applicant Details:

  • Name
  • College
  • Department
  • Contact information

Financial Transfer:
Departmental E&G fund number for the award transfer.

  • Project Summary: Describe the program and site visit objectives. Explain how the curriculum represents immersive, respectful, and reciprocal global engagement.

  • Intercultural Development: Detail how the proposed program increases opportunities for reflective experiential learning, meaningful community engagement, and intentional intercultural learning and skills development.

  • Implementation Plan: Provide a clear timeline for the fiscal year (logistics).

  • Impact: Define student learning outcomes, both academic and co-curricular (e.g., intercultural competencies, workforce skills) and the plan for program longevity.

  • Access: Outline specific steps to ensure the final program is designed to be affordable for all students, regardless of financial circumstances.

Letter of Support:
From the Department Head/Dean confirming matching funds and academic alignment.

Maximum Length:
Three (3) pages (excluding Letter of Support).

Submitting:
Submit as a single PDF to Marielle Wijnands with "Program Development Grant" in the subject line.




After-Action Report

Recipients are expected to submit a 2–4-page after-action report to GEO within 60 days of project completion with the following information:

Budget:
Recipients are required to submit a report on fund expenditure

Program Blueprint:
copy of the developed course or program schedule, highlighting specific high-impact activities. A description of how the program moves beyond observation to create a mutually beneficial relationship with the host community. A brief statement (if applicable) of which UN Sustainable Development Goals are integrated into the curriculum and how.

A summary of the local partners engaged during the development phase. If travel for site development occurred, a brief report on the safety, accessibility, and pedagogical suitability of the location.

Access:
Specific measures taken to minimize financial barriers. Documentation of how the program accommodates diverse students’ needs.

Sustainability:
A brief statement on how the department will sustain the program