Call for Proposals: Center for Virtual Immersive Teaching and Learning (VITaL) Research Grant

SYNOPSIS

The Virtual Immersive Teaching and Learning (VITaL) Research Center Grant and Faculty Fellowship is focused on major, long-term fundamental immersive learning research challenges. The San Diego State University faculty member who receives this grant and associated fellowship will produce transformative research that leads to innovation, and attracts broad scientific and public interest at SDSU, in the border region, nationally and internationally. The VITaL Research Center provides an agile structure that can respond rapidly to emerging opportunities through enhanced collaborations, and the grant award winner will play a strategically important role with the launch of the Center. The award winner will integrate research, innovation, and education, and will broaden participation, and extend communication within the SDSU community.

The VITaL Research Grant and Faculty Fellowship involves a two-phase application, including a preliminary proposal followed by invited full proposals. Both phases are described in this solicitation. The VITaL Faculty Fellow will receive significant resources to pilot and develop major grant-funded research projects that focus on examining the broader impacts of immersive teaching and learning.

The VITaL Faculty Fellowship is open to faculty in all fields at SDSU, and must have the potential for transformative impact in teaching and learning. The University particularly encourages fundamental research and development of projects aligned with budget priorities, specifically including impact on historically challenging (high D, F, W) courses.

PROGRAM OFFICERS

Dr. James P. Frazee, Deputy Chief Information Officer and SAVP for IT,  (619) 594-2893

Dr. Sean Hauze, Director, Instructional Technology Services, [email protected] (619) 594-1348

AWARD INFORMATION

Awardees will be provided with fellowship funding, as well as development resources in order to facilitate development of large (greater than one million dollar award) research grant submissions. Fellowship grant funding is $12,000 (per VITaL Faculty Fellow). Other awardee resources include eXtended Reality (XR) hardware, use of studio space and other facilities, development software, research assistants, production assistants, and professional staff consultation, including instructional design and scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) expertise. 

SUBMISSION PROCESS

Email preliminary proposal to Drs. James Frazee <[email protected]> and Sean Hauze <[email protected]>, including (but not limited to) the following sections:

  • Introduction
  • Goals & Objectives
  • Equipment & Facility Needs
  • Timeline
  • Aligning Grant Opportunities in one or more of the following VITaL Center core areas:
    • Research and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
    • Innovation 
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Proposals should be three to five pages in length.