We are pleased to make this call for Spring 2012 Mini Grant proposals to support the ongoing development of SMC’s Global Citizenship initiative. Funding is once again available to support a variety of selected projects (speakers, field trips, professional development, campus events, and more), which may center around any topic that concerns the idea or practice of global citizenship. This includes, but is not limited to, our current academic-year theme of
Health, Wellness and the Pursuit of Happiness. The maximum amount for each award is $3000.
Applications are due 20 January 2012 and are available via the links below:
Global Citizenship Mini grant application, Spring 2012 (doc)
Global Citizenship Mini grant application, Spring 2012 (pdf)Please note that we are currently accepting proposals for projects conducted during the Spring 2012 semester only, and we are not able to reimburse for any expenditures made prior to February 17, 2012. A similar call for mini-grant proposals for projects and activities to be conducted during the 2012–13 academic year will be issued during the latter half of the spring semester.
In preparing your proposals, you may wish to consider SMC’s official definition of global citizenship—
To be a global citizen, one is knowledgeable of peoples, customs and cultures in regions of the world beyond one's own; understands the interdependence that holds both promise and peril for the future of the global community; and is committed to combining one’s learning with a dedication to foster a livable, sustainable world.
—as well as similar ideas that have been woven into the college’s
Institutional Learning Outcomes and Mission, Vision, and Goals. Over the last five years, our initiative often has revolved around the following areas of interest and concern:
- Cross-cultural understanding: awareness of the diversity of cultures, ideas, and practices found among the world’s peoples, and of the historical, geographical, and philosophical contexts through which such cross-cultural understanding is developed;
- Interconnectedness of global systems: investigating the ways in which cultural, economic, ecological, political, and social systems interact, contributing to global trends while impacting lives at the local scale;
- Ecological literacy: promoting understanding of the “footprint” we are leaving on our global environments, and of the ideas and practices of sustainable living;
- International students: developing ways to better support and build community within our international student populations, and build enlightening bridges between our international and domestic students;
- Global citizenship in thought and action: philosophical examination of the idea of global citizenship, and applied practice of those ideas and values through community service, political action, and social entrepreneurship.
As in previous years, the Global Citizenship Council favors proposals that are student centered—such as developing a research project, event, or publication in which students are featured contributors. Our aim is to impact a large and diverse population of our students rather than a few who are part of a select program. Building capacity means creating scalable programs, developing expertise among faculty in the classroom and those leading our programs, and building the campus “know how” to accomplish our goals.
An ad-hoc committee of the Academic Senate will review the proposals and forward its recommendations to Dr. Tsang for final selection. Applicants will be notified of the awards by Friday, February 17.