OFFICE OF SERVICE LEARNING
One University Circle, Turlock, California 95382
209-667-3599
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
For Fall 2025 — Spring 2026 Service Learning Courses
Instructional Support Mini-Grants
The Office of Service Learning invites proposals for grants up to $1,000.00 to support efforts to enhance instruction and to promote innovative teaching and learning strategies around service learning and community-based coursework. Up to ten (10) Mini-grants will be awarded (more may be available depending on funding).
Purpose of Mini-Grants
Instructional support mini-grants can be used for the following purposes:
- To develop and implement service learning centered pedagogies.
- To promote innovative teaching and learning strategies for community-based curriculum.
- To purchase instructional materials, and/or supplies, and software that supports community-based curriculum.
- To facilitate effective assessment of service learning centered pedagogies.
- To pay for student assistants to implement service learning centered pedagogies & student learning opportunities.
- To support travel to service learning related conferences, workshops, meetings, and research sites; travel to learn and implement innovative service learning teaching strategies.
If you have an idea for funding, but aren’t sure if it would qualify, contact the Office of Service Learning Interim Director, Miriam "Maya" Ureno, at 209-667-3779 or murenomoreno@csustan.edu to discuss your potential grant initiative. You are also welcome to schedule a meeting to discuss program ideas.
IMPORTANT: All award money must be spent and receipts submitted to the Office of Service Learning by **Friday, April 24, 2026**. To process awards, applicants must provide original receipts documenting expenditures. Each application should be for a single project/activity.
**Extensions can be granted on a case-by-case basis.**
Grant Eligibility & Reporting
All faculty (including part-time lecturers) are eligible to participate (Full-time faculty will receive priority funding). Faculty new to service learning or those interested in expanding their current service learning course are encouraged to apply.
If you receive funding, you will need to submit a brief year-end report describing the benefits of the funding to your teaching/research, student learning, and the community. Additionally, during the service project, there will be two brief check-ins to see how the project is going.
Faculty who receive funding to support service learning coursework may be asked to participate in a service learning assessment activity.
Deadlines
Grant Proposals are due Friday, October 31, 2025, by 5 p.m.
Award criteria
Proposals will be judged on the following criteria. Each criterion category below is weighted equally.
- Potential positive impact on student learning and faculty teaching/scholarship.
- Ability to continue a project/activity/service through multiple semesters.
- Number of students impacted.
- Impact of service on the community.
Application Procedure
Complete the application form, the supplemental Department Chair’s signature on Friday, October 31, 2025 by 5pm. To receive the paper or PDF form, please send an email request to bhale1@csustan.edu. To receive a list of previously funded activities, please call Breanna McIntyre at x3559. See page 2 for Request for Proposal.