
In June 2022, Learning Lab awarded 15 grants to close the calculus equity gap at public higher education institutions throughout California. To expand the reach of the initial funding opportunity and in response to broad interest, Learning Lab is launching a second round of funding, “Seeding Strategies (II) to Close the Calculus Equity Gap.” Those who either began an application in response to the initial Request for Proposals or submitted an application and did not receive an award are eligible to apply for funding in this second round.
Closing the equity gap in calculus is critical because calculus functions as a gatekeeper for students interested in pursuing STEM majors and careers. Women and students from historically underrepresented groups are disproportionately impacted by the calculus barrier. Researchers have found that of women and historically underrepresented students who entered postsecondary institutions with an interest in STEM, 20 percent successfully completed STEM degrees, compared with a 40 percent completion rate among all students who entered with interest in STEM. This pattern is further evidenced in the report recently published by Learning Lab in partnership with Just Equations, “Charting a New Course: Investigating Barriers on the Calculus Pathway to STEM”, which highlights a growing body of research that identifies the ways in which calculus is not working for many students and identifies promising strategies for improving student learning and faculty instruction in calculus course sequences.
Based upon this research and guided by Learning Lab’s approach to systemic change, this RFP, “Seeding Strategies (II) to Close the Calculus Equity Gap”, is designed as a department-level funding opportunity to encourage the implementation of select promising curricular and pedagogical strategies to close equity gaps in calculus course sequences.
Through this RFP (Seeding Strategies II), Learning Lab intends to award 15 additional grants of up to $100,000 per awardee for up to two years. California Community Colleges, and California State University and University of California campuses may apply. Awards will be made on a rolling basis between August and December 2022. Grant projects may commence upon execution of the grant agreement.
Learning Lab’s funding opportunity “Seeding Strategies to Close the Calculus Equity Gap” (I and II) is designed to further the intent of the Grand Challenge: Overcoming the Calculus Barrier to STEM Success.
This opportunity prioritizes funding colleges and universities that experience equity gaps in calculus access and success. Applicants must provide data regarding existing equity gaps on their campuses. Moreover, proposed projects must have potential to improve learning outcomes and close equity gaps for undergraduate STEM students.
Applicants are requested to read Charting a New Course and required to propose implementation of one or more of the following curricular or pedagogical strategies within the calculus course sequence at their respective institutions. Each set of strategies below is cross-referenced to the corresponding relevant sections of the report:
“Course” in the above strategies refers to any of the college-level courses within the calculus sequence at the respective institution (not to include remedial courses) .
To apply for a “Seeding Strategies to Close the Calculus Equity Gap” grant, applicants must:
The Online Application Portal link goes live on August 1, 2022.
Applicants may submit all required materials through Learning Lab’s Online Application Portal, beginning on August 1, 2022 at 12:01am PT. Applications will be reviewed and awards to projects made on a rolling basis, until all award funding has been committed or December 16, 2022 at 5:00pm PT, whichever occurs earlier. Notice shall be provided on Learning Lab’s website when Seeding Strategies II is closed.
Within the application portal, applicants will be required to confirm the institution (and any partnering institutions through a consultation model or parallel implementation model, if applicable), STEM courses impacted, and the names of PIs/Co-PIs.
Applicants will also be required to upload two documents. The first upload will be a single PDF document that will include the Institutional Cover Letter and Project Narrative. The second upload will include the Detailed Budget in Excel. These elements are described in more detail in the RFP.
The documents within this section are intended to be helpful resources as your project team develops a proposal. There is no requirement for their use (with the exception of the Budget Template). Click on the buttons below to download.
An initiative of the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research in partnership with the Foundation for California Community Colleges, Learning Lab aims to improve learning outcomes and close equity gaps across California’s public higher education segments, particularly in the STEM disciplines, by leveraging technology tools and the science of human learning to foster student success in online and hybrid course environments.