Engineering IDEAS Grants

Inclusivity, Diversity, and Equity Action Seed Grants

Smiling student working on a laptop while sittin on a bench

The Cal Poly College of Engineering fosters an environment based in love, empathy, and respect where all are supported, energized, and empowered. Opportunities to contribute exist for all and a broad range of voices and experiences are necessary as we co-create our future.  We are developing an inclusive community where everyone can be their own unique selves.

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In order to foster this mission, CENG has developed a call for proposals to apply for this funding named Engineering IDEAS Grants (Inclusivity, Diversity, and Equity Action Seed Grants). This resource is open to all Faculty, Staff, and Students of CENG who want to make a difference with creative and innovative solutions to foster welcoming initiatives. These mini-grants are intended for small projects ranging from $200.00 to $1,000.00, with exceptions up to $2,500.00 in special cases. We are also interested in hearing IDEAS to make the online learning environment more inclusive.
  • We are currently accepting all IDEAS Grant applications. Applications are reviewed the end of each quarter.  Apply by week 8 in each quarter.
  • You can expect to hear back from the review committee within approximately 2-3 weeks.

All approved Engineering IDEAS Grants projects require a short report on the impact your submission had on the Cal Poly CENG community. This could take the form of photos, a video, or a written report. You are welcomed to add any additional information on impact (number in attendance, evaluation results, anecdotal information, etc.) Report results and additional comments will become part of our webpage and/or part of our annual report.

The members of the Engineering IDEAS Grants Committee will review proposals each quarter and notify the contact person listed on the proposal form of the status of the proposal within two weeks of the proposal submission.

For information about applying for Engineering IDEAS Grants funding, please contact Zoë Wood in Computer Science at zwood@calpoly.edu.

  • Virtual Training and Workshops for Faculty, Staff, Clubs, Students.
  • Create a fund for students to help with curricular transformation. 
  • Get funding for student/faculty collaborations or undergraduate research.
  • Create a virtual department conversation space  – time and importance allotted to issues of Inclusions, Diversity, and Equity Actions. [IDEAs] 
  • Digital space for IDEAs news in department and club publications.
  • IDEAs Research ideas (in virtual classrooms, with students clubs, IRA’s, or research groups)
  • Virtual Book Circles
  • Create open and accepting virtual environments.
  • CENG J.E.D.I. Council Priorities  (PDF) – What are your ideas to further progress in these areas?

1. Can anyone apply?
Applicants must be affiliated with the college of engineering at Cal Poly.  Students, Faculty, and Staff are all encouraged to try out their IDEAS.

2. When do I have to spend the money?
Any time after you receive notification of the award. We would like to distribute these funds to get projects started, but if you can’t start until Fall, that’s OK too. Just let us know.

3. How long does my report have to be?
The reporting is up to you. Please let us know what form your report will be. This intended to not be a burden though, so it could be a paragraph, video, or set of pictures. The idea is to capture and promote what we are doing.
 
4. I can’t do my IDEA within these budget constraints or I can’t do my IDEA, but I want someone else to do it.
Go ahead and submit your IDEA. The committee will see it and read it and might be able to make it happen at another time. We’re looking for all IDEAs.
 
5. I have an idea for outreach to another school (elementary, junior high, or high school). Would an activity targeting younger students to consider engineering be a good candidate for this?
Yes, this has great potential to change the climate of the College of Engineering.
 
6. I have a virtual, University wide event that is poly-cultural and open to everyone. I assure you, it’s a really great event. It will be huge and shift the WORLD! Would this be something IDEAS would want to help out with?
No. While the members of the IDEAS committee will probably go to your event and want you to be successful, this is not the purpose of this seed money. We are trying to make positive changes for CENG, and can only fund small projects. These IDEAS Grants are to make small differences locally to enact a larger shift in attitude.

Printable Information Flyer  (PDF)

Apply Now!