Innovation Grants & Awards

Request for Proposals

The Center for Academic Innovation (CAI) awards grants to cover the costs of planning and launching new initiatives, and provide consulting and other services. Grants are funded up to a typical maximum of $5,000, but don’t hold back if you have a really bold idea!

The Center currently is encouraging proposals, on a rolling basis, for Innovation Grants. All funds awarded must be encumbered by June 30th for the year for the year awarded.

Proposals for Innovation Grants should be submitted by email as a PDF to CAI Director Abigail Abrash Walton at [email protected]. Please refer to the the RFP submission guidelines for topics that should be addresses in your proposal.

Grant-Funded Initiatives

The Center for Academic Innovation’s first grant award was to AUNE’s academic leadership team: the six academic department chairs and the vice president for academic affairs’ office. That Rapid Action Innovation Grant has supported the team’s development of a strategic framework for systematically strengthening the sustainability of AUNE’s academic programs.

A sampling of other grant initiative titles and recipients:

• Communicating Science Institute & Certificate Program: Dr. Rowland Russell
• Nature-based Kindergarten and Forest Preschool Teacher Professional Development & Training: David Sobel
• Holistic Special Education Teacher Professional Development & Training: Teri Young and Dr. Jane Miller

Toni Murdock Student Innovation Award

Description: At the May 2016 commencement ceremonies, Antioch University New England will award the fourth annual Toni Murdock Student Innovation Award to an AUNE student whose graduate work has demonstrated a fresh perspective and an innovative or entrepreneurial approach to scholarship or practice that advances AUNE’s purpose of innovation for a just and sustainable society.

Winners of the Toni Murdock Student Innovation Award will receive a $1,000 cash prize.

Selection Process:

AUNE’s Center for Academic Innovation (CAI) has issued a call for nominations.  Nominations should be submitted to Pat Hitchner ([email protected]), in the VPAA’s office, by the nomination deadline of Monday, February 22, 2016.  An application shall include:

• a letter of nomination describing the nominee’s qualifications; and
• at least 2 letters of support from individuals familiar with the student’s work (including a letter from the student’s advisor).

The CAI’s Council on Academic Innovation, consisting of AUNE  alumni, and other innovation experts, will serve as the award selection committee.  The committee will receive and review nominations and letters of support from members of the AUNE faculty or others.

Criteria for the review the nominations include:

• Recipient must expect to complete the requirements for an academic degree and be eligible to participate in the AUNE commencement ceremonies during the award year.
• Recipient’s academic work should exemplify the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship.  Innovation includes but is not limited to:
  • Draws on innovative thinking and/or multiple academic disciplines to understand an issue.
  • Identifies and designs new ways to bring about positive change.
  • Implements innovative solutions to complex social, economic, or environmental challenges.
  • Other ideas or actions that create new pathways for addressing social, economic, or environmental challenges.

Student Award Recipients

2016 Recipient:
Apollinaire William, Environmental Studies doctoral program

2015 Recipient:
Brett McLeod, Environmental Studies doctoral program

2014 Recipient:
Walter “Chuck” Stead, Environmental Studies doctoral program

2013 Recipient:
Eliza Daniels, Applied Psychology master’s program

BACKGROUND:
Tullisse (Toni) Murdock served as Chancellor of Antioch University from 2005 to 2012 and as President of Antioch University Seattle from 1998 to 2005.  During her tenure, Dr. Murdock presided over a period of significant change in the University.  Chancellor Murdock led the University’s efforts to create an integrated and distinctive national university with five regional campuses that serve the unique needs of their respective regions.  She consistently focused her leadership on the University’s mission to provide learner-centered education to empower adult students with the knowledge and skills to lead meaningful lives and advance social, economic, and environmental justice.  The Toni Murdock Student Innovation Award was established by AUNE to honor Dr. Murdock’s extraordinary tenure as an academic leader and Chancellor of Antioch University.