Strategic Initiatives Grant Program

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Purpose

The College of Fine Arts Strategic Initiatives Grant Program provides targeted funding to support faculty and staff activities that directly advance the annual priorities identified in the College of Fine Arts Strategic Plan. The program is designed to encourage faculty and staff innovation, support effective teaching, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, support research and creative activity, enhance student experiences, and increase external funding competitiveness. Funding priorities will be identified annually by the Dean's Office.

2026-2027 Strategic Priority

For the 2026-2027 funding cycle, proposals must directly support a Goal of the College of Fine Arts Strategic Plan. Priority consideration will be given to projects that advance one or more of the strategies under each Goal.

1. Innovate Through Creative, Intellectual, and Cross-Disciplinary Endeavors.
   1. Develop flexible curricular pathways and interdisciplinary initiatives across schools and departments.
   2. Create opportunities for social, cultural, artistic, and intellectual exchange among faculty and students.
   3. Support faculty and student innovation in research, scholarship, creative activities, performances, exhibitions, presentations, and professional practice.
2. Provide Student-Centered Teaching, Mentorship, and Experiences.
   1. Explore contemporary adaptive pedagogy establishing partnerships with faculty and professional advisors to prioritize teaching and faculty mentoring.
   2. Strengthen existing and develop new bridges of collaboration and mentorships with community partners.
   3. Educate students to be ethical citizens and arts leaders in a global community.
3. Foster Community, Connection, and Belonging.
   1. Enhance discipline-specific student, faculty, and staff wellness initiatives.
   2. Identify opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to engage with our communities.
4. Cultivate Sustaining Resources, Facilities, and Support Services.
   1. Establish an intentional approach to prioritizing resources that fulfill our mission, values, and goals.
   2. Increase funding and revenue generating opportunities.
   3. Support an infrastructure to facilitate processes to obtain internal and external grants.

Strategic Initiatives Grant Program: Full-time Faculty

Open to all full-time College of Fine Arts Faculty. Preference will be given to:

• Faculty who have not received College of Fine Arts internal funding during the current FY.
• Projects that demonstrate strong alignment with the annual strategic priority.
• Projects involving collaboration across departments, schools, colleges, or external partners.

Applicants may submit multiple proposals during a funding cycle. Funding decisions will be based on project merit, alignment and impact on the Goals of the Strategic Plan, and available resources. Receipt of a prior CFA grant in the current fiscal year does not disqualify an applicant from additional funding throughout the year. Applicants may select only one funding category per grant application.

Funding Categories

Strategic Initiatives Grant Program: Staff & Part-time Faculty

Open to all College of Fine Arts Staff & Part-time Faculty. Preference will be given to:

• Staff & Part-time Faculty who have not received College of Fine Arts internal funding during the current fiscal year.
• Projects that demonstrate strong alignment with the annual strategic priority.
• Projects involving collaboration across departments, schools, colleges, or external partners.

Applicants may submit multiple proposals during a funding cycle. Funding decisions will be based on project merit, alignment and impact on the Goals of the Strategic Plan, and available resources. Receipt of a prior College of Fine Arts grant in the current fiscal year does not disqualify an applicant from additional funding opportunities throughout the year.

Application Materials

A complete application includes:

• Project Description (150 words maximum): Describe the proposed activity, project, event, research, teaching initiative, creative activity, or grant development effort.
• Strategic Plan Impact Statement (200 words maximum): Explain how the project supports a current College of Fine Arts Strategic Plan Goal(s) and the associated strategies it directly contributes to achieving.
• Faculty Biography (100 words maximum): Provide a brief biography highlighting accomplishments from the previous two years related to research, creative activity, teaching, leadership, or student engagement. This biography may be used for College of Fine Arts communications and promotional materials.
• Headshot or Project Photograph: Provide a high-resolution image suitable for college communications and social media.
• Itemized Budget including Strategic Incentive Add-ons.

*Additional Requirements for Grant Submission Support:

• Funding opportunity announcement, RFP, or solicitation
• Funding agency information
• Anticipated submission date
• Estimated proposal budget

Application Procedure

Applications must be completed in the College of Fine Arts Internal Grants Portal. The portal will generate a single PDF that must be downloaded and submitted via email to Tracy Rohrer, Assistant to the Dean. Click the button below to access the portal:

College of Fine Arts Internal Grants Portal

Funding Cycle 1: Deadline: Second Monday in September

• Projects funded during this cycle must occur during the subsequent Spring semester.

Funding Cycle 2: Deadline: Second Monday in April

• Projects funded during this cycle may occur during the Summer or Fall semesters.

Funding requests may be received on a special case basis throughout the year, after consultation with your chair or director. Chairs/directors will recommend a special review of the proposal to the Director of Research and Creative Activity Initiatives.

Award Administration

• All travel requests, reimbursements, and expenses must comply with College of Fine Arts and TCU travel policies.
• Travel requests must be approved through Concur before travel occurs.
• International travel must receive TCU Global approval before Concur submission.
• Consultants, speakers, contractors, and service providers must be under an approved TCU contract before guests arrive on campus and before honoraria or fees may be paid.
• Failure to comply with TCU procurement, travel, or contracting requirements may result in delayed or denied reimbursement.

Post-Award Requirements

Recipients must submit a final outcomes report within 30 days of project completion. The report must include:

• Outcomes Statement (200-300 words): including Strategic Plan Goal direct impacts.
• Photographs and supporting documentation suitable for college communications.
• Grant Submission Support recipients must additionally provide:
  • Proof of proposal submission
  • Proposal title
  • Funding agency
  • Total proposal amount requested
  • Funding decisions and award outcomes must be reported to the Dean's Office and the Director of Research and Creative Scholarship Initiatives when available.