The Office of the Provost is excited to announce the launch of the two initiatives to support faculty in the development of new or substantial redesign of a course on a topic or theme aligned with the region’s workforce and career readiness needs. Proposals and applications are now being accepted for the Ideate, Design, Execute, and Assess (IDEA) Initiative and the the Curriculum and Pedagogy (CAP) Fellowship. The deadline for all proposals and applications is November 20, 2025. Awardees will be notified of their award on or after December 15, 2025, with work taking place in either the spring or summer 2026 semesters.
Ideate, Design, Execute & Assess (IDEA) Initiative
The Office of the Provost invites full-time faculty to submit innovative proposals for new, credit-bearing interdisciplinary academic programs. We’re looking for creative programs that meet the evolving needs of students and the state of Maryland, going beyond what is currently offered at UMBC or within the University System of Maryland (USM).
Awardees will receive:
- Course Release/Summer Funding: One semester of course release time (3 credits) and/or a summer stipend up to $5,000.00 as appropriate.
- Development Team: Access to university resources to conduct market analyses and budget preparation, and to create the proposal in the appropriate format.
- Innovation & Pedagogy Support: Opportunities to consult with colleagues on microcredentials, various course delivery modalities, and innovative teaching practices.
- Assessment Design: Opportunities to consult with an instructional designer to develop robust course and program-level assessments.
IDEA Application
You can find the IDEA proposal application and instructions here. All questions must be answered to be eligible for consideration. Please upload your completed proposal here.
Curriculum and Pedagogy (CAP) Fellowship
The Office of the Provost is accepting proposals for course development or redesign centered around topics or themes aligned with emerging or in-demand workforce needs in Maryland (see MHEC’s in demand areas and the Department of Commerce’s Key industries).
This initiative aims to produce courses that directly incorporate emerging or in-demand career-readiness needs in the state of Maryland.
To apply, faculty must outline their proposed course and demonstrate how it aligns with one or more of these annual focus areas. The application should be supported by the department chair who will confirm that the faculty member will teach the course at least twice in the next two years.
Awardees will receive:
Stipend: A maximum of $1,500.00 may be awarded.
Professional Development Funding: Option to identify and attend an educational experience (formal seminar, workshop etc) to help you redesign or develop a course that integrates an emerging or in-demand area. For example, professional development on course design or about the topic that you plan to integrate into the course. The amount awarded may vary.
Course Design Support: Opportunities to consult with an instructional designer.
CAP Fellowship Application
You can find the CAP Fellowship application and instructions here. All questions must be answered to be eligible for consideration. Please upload your completed application here.
For questions concerning the IDEA and CAP Fellowship programs, please contact Dr. Crystal Williams, assistant vice provost for curriculum development, at crysw1@umbc.edu.