About the PSP Mini Grants
The Appalachian State University Partnership Mini Grants are intended to build relationships between Appalachian State faculty members by engaging in collaborative projects that are connected to internships, student teaching, professional development of educators, and/or student learning (P-12 and preservice educators). The funding should not be used to take the place of current monies, but should be used to expand or refine existing efforts or to begin new initiatives. Partnership districts include Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Elkin City, Hickory Public, Mount Airy City, NC School for the Deaf, Newton-Conover City, Watauga, Wilkes, and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, as well as the Appalachian State Academies at Elkin and Middle Fork.
The following guidelines should be followed in designing a project proposal:
- Groups should include public school educators or administrators, App State faculty, and/or pre-service educators
- Funding for grants is contingent on available resources and number of grants submitted.
- $500-$1,000 is the funding range. Stipends for educators are allowed by the University with specific paperwork. Funds may be used for substitute pay, classroom resources, registration, or faculty pay.
Important Considerations
Projects should be collaborative in nature and focused on the preparation and/or professional development of practicing educators, practicing administrators, practicing faculty members, or current students. Projects should include the involvement of educators, administrators, App State faculty, and/or clinical interns in the planning, implementation, and/or evaluation process, when possible. Here is a tutorial on ways to enhance your PSP Mini-Grant application:
Deadline for Spring Mini-Grant Proposals: March 1, 2024
*All funds should be spent by the end of each round of funding:
- Fall Mini-Grant Funding must be spent by December 31st
- Spring Mini-Grant Funding must be spent by May 15th
- Summer Mini-Grant Funding must be spent by August 31st
Here is the revised Mini-Grant Application for the March 1st deadline, based on the PSP Mini-Grant committee's feedback. It will no longer be a Google Form, but rather it will be formatted as a Google Doc (forced copy). Applications must be emailed to Dr. Rosenbalm no later than March 1, 2024 at 5pm at rosenbalmem@appstate.edu. The Mini-Grant Committee will convene by the 1st week of March to evaluate the applications for the Spring of 2024. Notification of mini-grant recipients will take place by the last week of March 2024. The rubric used to evaluate and make decisions on funding is located at the bottom of the application as a resource and a guide for our applicants. Please let Dr. Rosenbalm know if you have any suggestions or questions about this application or rubric.
Congratulations to the following Summer 2023 Mini-Grant Winners for receiving funding for their projects (up to $1,000!) After reviewing 15 applications from our region, the Public School Partnership Mini-Grant Committee chose to fund the following 6 selected projects this summer, based on their alignment to our goals of collaboration, sustainability, and innovation. According to our evaluation process, the current approved projects are as follows: