VPA Community Enrichment Grant
- Erica Blust
Please note: The application portal for the Spring 2025 cycle of the VPA Community Enrichment Grant is now open. Submission deadline is Monday, April 7, 2025, at 5 p.m. ET.
Purpose
A discreet amount of funding is available annually to support VPA community enrichment initiatives to build and sustain a cohesive and inclusive community. Funds are intended to provide for academic events, learning opportunities, or other group engagements that are open to multiple areas of the college as well as faculty, staff, and students across the University. In alignment with Syracuse University’s academic strategic plan, ‘Leading With Distinction,’ and with the College’s academic strategic plan, the application must allow for community building, opportunities for growth, and acknowledge the challenges VPA faces as an academic community.
Funding for this round of competition will be available beginning July 1, 2025. Main project activities (events, learning opportunities, group engagements, etc.) must take place during the Fall 2025 semester and be completed before December 15, 2025. Projects can end prior to December 15 but cannot extend past that date.
Eligibility
All VPA faculty, staff, and full-time students are eligible to apply for Community Enrichment Grant funding.
Proposal Guidelines
At Syracuse University, we envision a campus where everyone feels welcomed, supported and valued. Your application must describe how your proposed activities will help to foster and inclusive and respectful campus community. Projects may involve faculty, staff and/or students from departments outside of the College of Visual and Performing Arts; however, project activities must include participation from more than one VPA department or school. Proposals that include participants from only one VPA department or school will be returned without review.
Applications must be submitted via the Syracuse University Application Portal (http://Syracuse.InfoReady4.com ). Proposal contents include:
Applicant Information - List the name, email address, phone number, primary role, and college unit of the applicant. You may also list up to four (4) co-applicants and their affiliations.
Proposal Details - Include a brief, descriptive title for the application and the total amount requested. Indicate who the project will impact (faculty, staff, students) and which VPA departments and/or schools are involved.
Narrative - In your proposal narrative (500 words maximum), briefly describe each of the following:
The proposed project, including a timeline of related activities.
The objectives or purpose of the project.
How different units of the College of Visual and Performing Arts will be incorporated.
A rationale as to how this project will contribute to building a stronger sense of community and belonging in VPA.
Budget - A project budget must be provided, including the following:
Overall cost of the project and brief breakdown of budgeted items.
Indicate how much of project costs will be covered by your program, department or school.
Indicate how much of the project is covered through other funding, and from where.
Total funds requested in this proposal.
Evaluation
Projects will be evaluated based on the strength of the rationale for the potential contribution to the VPA community, the breadth of potential impact, and the feasibility of the budget.
Post Award Requirements
Once project activities commence and dates and location of events, learning opportunities, or other group engagements are determined, awardees should work with the Office of Academic Affairs to promote engagements across the College and University as appropriate for the funded activity. Awardees will also be required to submit a brief summary report of project results at the end of the grant period.
Deadline for using funds - Monday, December 15, 2025. Funds awarded must be spent and receipts submitted for reimbursement by Monday, December 15, 2025. School and departmental internal deadlines may vary – check with your departmental administrator. Funds not spent by this deadline will be returned to the College for reallocation to other applicants. Requests for extensions are not allowed.
Questions
For questions regarding proposal suitability please contact Seyeon Lee (slee80@syr.edu), associate dean for strategic initiatives and research. For questions regarding budget development or application issues, please contact Christina Leigh Docteur in the Office of Academic Affairs at cdocteur@syr.edu or 315-443-0137.