Writing Program Funding Opportunities

1. Course Enhancement Funds (guest lecturers, special trips, performances, etc.)

  • The CAS Academic Enhancement Fund
    The Virginia Sapiro Academic Enhancement Fund (AEF) (sometimes called the “popcorn fund”) enables CAS faculty members to build unique learning opportunities into their undergraduate course syllabi, using historic and contemporary Boston as an extended classroom and taking advantage of the city and University as magnets for leading academics, artists, and experts. Activities and events sponsored by the AEF include class trips to cultural performances, guided visits to local exhibits and institutions, and encounters, both formal and informal, with distinguished visiting scholars. In some cases, students themselves play an active role in designing and carrying out AEF-sponsored events. You can visit the AEF website to read a description of the fund and to complete an application. Note that funds are limited, and by the end of September (sometimes even by the first week of classes), their fall funding is typically fully allocated, so you will need to plan ahead. Typically the AEF asks you to pay for expenses out of pocket and submit for reimbursement using Concur and a code they will provide you; see the directions at the bottom of the Forms page for that process.
  • Hub Course Enhancement Funding
    The Hub Course Enhancement Fund provides funding so faculty can experiment with an innovative approach to teaching one or more of the BU Hub areas or take advantage of special opportunities for exciting general education learning experiences in BU Hub courses. All BU faculty teaching Hub classes (therefore, all WR courses) may apply for funding. Expenses might include those associated with attending cultural events, engaging with local communities, or materials needed to incorporate more experiential, collaborative, or project-based pedagogy into a Hub course. (All undergraduate Writing Program classes are Hub courses.) Awards are typically capped at $500 and are approved on a rolling basis, typically with about 3-4 weeks of lead time. Visit the CTL website for more information.
  • Arts Integrating Grants
    Administered out of the BU Arts Initiative office, arts integration grants support the use of the arts as a tool for teaching non-arts disciplines. Faculty may apply for up to $500 to support arts-related expenses for undergraduate and graduate courses. Possible initiatives might include a visiting artist, a class visit to a performance or exhibition, or arts material for the classroom. (Funds may not be used for refreshments.) Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and funds are limited.

2. Professional Development/Travel/Conference Funding

  • CAS: The College makes travel funds available to CAS lecturers for travel to conferences: domestic conferences up to $750 and international conferences up to $2000. To apply, please submit to  wpadmin@bu.edu the following items:
        1. a brief description of the conference and your role in it (e.g., delivering a paper)
        2. a brief statement about how the conference is relevant to your research and teaching
        3. an estimated budget (Note: If you want to request the maximum support, your budget must exceed that maximum.)

Upon receiving this information, the Director will review it and either ask for additional information or forward it to the College with an endorsement. For more information, please see the CAS Faculty/Staff handbook.

3. Publication/Production Funding

  • Center for Humanities: The Center for Humanities offers Publication Production Awards. Faculty may apply for funds to support production costs after a peer-reviewed monograph with direct relevance to the humanities has been accepted for publication but before it has gone to press.

4. Writing Program Faculty Seminar Reimbursement Funds

  • Full- and part-time lecturers who attend all four sessions of a WP faculty seminar will be awarded $200 in professional-development/research funds. $200 is the limit per lecturer per year, regardless of how many faculty seminars one attends. Graduate students are not eligible for these funds but will receive credit toward the Graduate Writing Certificate. Expense reports related to conference travel must be submitted within 30 days of completing the trip. Because faculty seminar funds do not roll over from one year to the next, ALL expense reports must be submitted no later than May 30 of the academic year the Faculty Seminar was taken.
  • Please note that these funds are NOT available as a stipend; you may purchase books or conference/professional organization fees (or arrange for the purchase of tech items or office supplies) according to the directions below.
    • Books: Purchase books out of pocket from any online vendor other than Amazon (Alibris, Google Play, Barnes & Noble, etc.) or from any brick-and-mortar, then submit an expense report via BUworks. Directions on how to complete a report can be found on the Forms page (scroll down to “Reimbursement).
    • Office Supplies: Do not purchase them out of pocket. Search W.B. Mason (www.wbmason.com) for the items you want, then send Dan a list of Item #s. Dan will place the order on your behalf.
    • Tech Items: Do not purchase them out of pocket. Search Apple (www.apple.com), Lenovo (www.lenovo.com), or SHI International (www.shi.com) for the items you want, then send Dan a list of Manufacturer Part #s. Dan will place the order on your behalf.
    • Membership Dues / Conference Expenses: Pay for membership dues, conference registration fees, or conference travel and lodging out of pocket, then submit an expense report via BUworks. Directions on how to complete a report can be found on the Forms page (scroll down to “Reimbursement). Expense reports related to travel must be submitted within 30 of completing the trip.