Funding for Curricular Development and Pedagogy

Wig Grants (Curriculum, Teaching, & Pedagogy)

Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Wig established the "Distinguished Professorship Endowment Fund" in 1955 to further the teaching mission of the College. This fund is used to support the Wig Distinguished Professorship awards, to help subsidize sabbatical salaries, and to facilitate the biannual trustee-faculty retreat. It is also used to support pedagogical and curricular innovation through grants for course development, teaching innovation, and attendance at teaching conferences. These grants are available to all faculty and full-time faculty on multiyear and continuing contracts. Funds permitting, applications will be considered from all faculty members.

Please note that ongoing and regular expenses associated with a class should be covered by departmental or program budgets. Wig grants are for one-time costs associated with teaching, developing a new course, extensively revising an old course, or making innovations in an existing course. 

For information about Wig grants, please contact Janise Roselle, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, by email or ext. 71747.


Teaching Innovation Grants (Wig Fund)

Small grants (up to $1,000) are available throughout the year to enhance the teaching of a particular course. This fund is meant to cover curricular needs that are unexpected and therefore cannot be met within a departmental budget or through application for a Curriculum Development Grant. Items that have been funded in the past include books, honoraria/meals/lodging for in-class speakers, films, computer software, and student assistants.

There are no deadlines; applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Please fill out an application for Teaching Innovation Grant.

Anticipated total funds available: $40,000


Travel to Teaching Conferences

Small, $2000 grants are available to cover costs for conferences specifically focused on pedagogy or curriculum development. While one might argue that any professional conference may help improve one's teaching, attendance at research conferences or annual professional meetings are usually not funded unless there is a particular focus on teaching.

Allowable expenses include the registration fee, ground and air travel, lodging, and meals while traveling.

There are no deadlines; applications are accepted so long as funds remain.

Please fill out an application for a Travel To Teaching Conferences Grant.

Anticipated total funds available: $36,000


Hahn Teaching with Technology Grants

Please visit the Hahn Teaching with Technology Program website for more information.


Curriculum Development Grants (Application Window: Late February – April 5)

A number of grants, usually ranging from $1,000 to $3,000, are awarded by the Teaching & Learning Committee for the development or substantial revision of courses. These grants are meant to reimburse faculty for items such as books, videos and software (up to $500); student assistants (up to $1000); travel for the applicant (up to $1,000); honoraria for training the faculty member; and conference or workshop registration fees related to preparation for the course (up to $500). If you're applying for a grant that is less than $1,000, please apply instead for a Teaching Innovation Grant.

The Teaching & Learning Committee gives priority to faculty who will be developing new courses or substantially revising existing ones, to faculty who have not received Wig funds for course development in the preceding two years, and to junior faculty.

Applications will be available during the application window listed above and the deadline is April 5, 2023. Applicants should indicate if they have received a Wig grant in the past two years and, if so, the curricular results. Please submit proposals through the online WIG Curriculum Development Grant application during the open application period, late February to early April. The Teaching & Learning Committee will review the proposals in April, and awardees will be notified after the May Board of Trustees meetings. Please note these awards are approved by the Pomona College Board of Trustees and recipients will be notified by the end of May. Awards will become effective July 1, 2023 and must be spent by June 30, 2024.

Anticipated total funds available: $36,000
Application deadline: April 5, 2023. Applications not accepted after this date.