overview

It is clear we are in the midst of change—social, political, economic, environmental, technological—and that all of these changes profoundly effect higher education. These challenges and opportunities include:

• Educational technology (disruptive innovations, such as online learning, which, coupled with mobile devices, can put the sum total of world’s knowledge in your hand).
• Student demographics (leveling off or decline in growth in the number of high school graduates; striking shifts in race, ethnicity, and country of origin patterns).
• Student expectations for college (24/7 delivery of services, individualized and variably-paced learning, universal accessibility).
• Cost control (growing concern about college affordability and “return on investment”).
• Accountability (in addition to “assessment” and “learning outcomes” focus on “competencies” and “gainful employment”).
• Globalization pressures (growing demands to “internationalize” the curriculum, provide relevant opportunities to study abroad, open global campuses).

To respond effectively to these trends, RIT must continue to develop innovative teaching and learning methods and models.

To that end, the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs is rededicating the Provost’s Learning Innovations Grants program (PLIG) to the support of innovative teaching and learning modes and models in ways that will help shape the future of teaching and learning at RIT.

PLIG can provide funding for two types of faculty-initiated projects:

1. The Proof of Concept program provides seed funds for projects that explore promising new modes or models of teaching and learning.
2. The Adaptation and Implementation program provides funds to coordinate the broader adoption of a proven mode or model of teaching and learning.