Seeding Strategies to Close the Calculus Equity Gap

Purpose

Closing the equity gap in calculus is critical because calculus functions as a gatekeeper for students interested in pursuing STEM majors and careers. Women and students from historically underrepresented groups are disproportionately impacted by the calculus barrier. This grant opportunity endeavors to incentivize the use of effective strategies to close the calculus equity gap at California's public colleges and universities.

Description

Based upon this research and guided by Learning Lab’s approach to systemic change, this RFP, “Seeding Strategies to Close the Calculus Equity Gap”, is designed as a department-level funding opportunity to encourage the implementation of select promising curricular and pedagogical strategies to close equity gaps in calculus course sequences. Through this RFP, Learning Lab intends to award 30-35 grants of up to $100,000 per awardee for up to two years. Approximately $2.5 million will be awarded to California Community Colleges (up to 25 grants), and approximately $1 million combined will be awarded to California State University and University of California campuses (up to 10 grants, combined). To apply for a “Seeding Strategies to Close the Calculus Equity Gap” grant, applicants must: Be a public, postsecondary institution in California; Propose to implement one or more promising strategies from the calculus report; (summarized in this RFP beginning on page 3) to improve the calculus course sequence; Identify a department chair or dean as the project PI; and Include an institutional cover letter signed by the PIs/Co-PIs and the institution’s president/chancellor, vice chancellor/vice president of instruction, or provost or equivalent. Applicants are requested to read Charting a New Course and required to propose implementation of one or more of the curricular or pedagogical strategies in the Calculus at their respective institutions. Please consult the Seeding Strategies webpage, Funding Priorities tab for information on eligible strategies. To be considered for funding, applicants must file a Statement of Intent that identifies the institution (and any partnering institutions through a consultation model or parallel implementation model, if applicable), and provides the names of PIs/co-PIs and a brief project summary. The Statement of Intent must be submitted through Learning Lab’s Application Portal by 5:00pm PT on Thursday, February 3, 2022.