Dean's Awards for Curriculum Innovation

With the development of new awards sponsored by an anonymous donor, Columbia Mailman has an opportunity to accelerate our curricular innovation through additional resources for faculty, expanding the feasibility of vital instructional growth and continuing a culture of visionary leadership in our educational practice. 

Summary of Award Types

Collaborative Teaching Award

Collaborative Teaching Award is designed to support faculty from different departments/schools to work collaboratively on the design and launch of innovative teaching initiatives that will benefit learners across two or more departments. Awardees will receive in-kind support from the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and funds up to $15,000 for teams of 2-4 faculty from different departments/schools. 

Innovative Course Design Award

The Innovative Course Design Award supports the redesign of existing courses or the design of new courses to improve teaching and learning using innovative learning strategies. Designs advanced by technology or media-enhanced pedagogy are encouraged but not required. Awardees will receive in-kind support from CTL and funds up to $10,000.

Large-scale Learning Innovation Award

The Large-scale Learning Innovation Award offers financial support of up to $20,000 per academic year to support large-scale efforts around teaching initiatives beyond a single course. The project must have the potential for making a significant, lasting impact within a department/school/program beyond the funding period and must be sustainable. Examples may include new program development or innovative technology use across courses

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award grant empowers faculty to engage in Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Research – that is, to lead formal research efforts to better understand and improve teaching and learning in MSPH courses. Projects generally center around measuring the impact of a novel instructional approach. Funding is provided up to $5,000. 

Service-based Learning Award

The Service-based Learning Award supports faculty to innovate teaching methods that combines classroom learning with service to and engagement with the local community, enhancing the collaboration and mutual growth of students, the school, and the surrounding Washington Heights neighborhood. Funding is awarded up to $15,000. 

Application Process

In October, an annual request for proposals is issued at School Assembly. Faculty submissions are made in the fall using the form and criteria for each award type; faculty are also provided with resources to guide and support their proposal development.

Using a rubric, proposals will be reviewed by a committee of faculty representing a range of disciplines at the School, Office of Education leadership, and a student representative, who will provide a recommended set of awards to the Dean.

Announcements and Project Requirments

Awards will be announced annually by December. Faculty will be notified of the award amount and provided with guidance on the project outcome reporting requirement. At the conclusion of the project, the reporting requirement will be submitted to the Dean and, in appropriate cases, publicized to the Columbia Mailman School community.

Proposal Requirements and Application Criteria

Project proposals must include

• Project description 
• Rationale
• Project goals and outcomes 
• Alignment with established research and theory
• Sustainability 
• Evaluation plan
• Budget and justification 
• Letter of support from department chair

Application Dates and Notification Process

Applications Open: November 3, 2025 
Completed Application Due: November 21, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Recipients Notification: By December 5, 2025