First-Year Seminar Mini-Grants

Mini-grant support for your seminar

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) makes UIIP Mini-Grant funds available to cover direct expenses, up to a maximum of $500, for each seminar offered. Please note the guidelines below for expenses that can and cannot be covered. The CETL cannot reimburse seminar instructors for expenses that do not meet the First-year Seminar Mini-Grant guidelines.

How to get reimbursed

At or before the beginning of the quarter in which your seminar will be taught, send a request for Mini-Grant support and a proposed budget to the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. The CETL will review your request and identify any ineligible expenses. To expedite the CETL’s review and approval process, please carefully review the eligibility guidelines and restrictions (below) before preparing your request.

After filing an approved Mini-Grant proposal with the CETL, process all eligible allocations and charges through your home department. At the end of the quarter, your department will forward copies of all receipts to the CETL to document approved expenditures. The CETL will then transfer funds to the department to cover eligible Mini-Grant expenses.

To purchase videos or other audio-visual materials with Mini-Grant funds, you must follow the approved Audio-Visual acquisition process (Mini-Grants for CD/DVD purchases). Please note that the CETL cannot process reimbursement for approved A-V materials until both the invoice and the materials themselves are delivered to the CETL. Videos purchased with UIIP Mini-Grant funds become the property of the university and will be stored and cataloged at Shields Library. Arrangements for showing the video in the future can be made directly with Shields Reserve.

Eligible expenses and restrictions

  • Photocopying directly related to the seminar, up to a maximum of $100.
  • Field trip expenses, e.g., Central Garage charges for rented vehicles or cost of admission to a theater or museum.
  • Audio-visual expenses such as purchase of slides, transparencies, and videos.
  • Honorarium (maximum $250 per class) for an outside guest lecturer. (Note:  The guest lecturer cannot be a university employee.)
  • Reference material for the instructor, including books (up to $100).
  • Light refreshments, not to exceed $100 per quarter.

Expenses not eligible for Mini-Grant reimbursement

  • Entertainment expenses, e.g., dinners, Campus Catering, etc.
  • Secretarial or other salary support.
  • Routine costs normally borne by the department, e.g., telephone costs, mail, storehouse charges, etc.
  • Books or other materials required of the students.