CR Accepting Applications for Innovation Grants

Press release from College of the Redwoods:

The College of the Redwoods President’s Innovation Fund offers three different grants to fund proposals brought forward from faculty, staff, students, or community members partnering with a CR faculty/staff/student. Applications to apply for these grants are available at:  https://www.redwoods.edu/about-us/Home/Presidential-Innovation-Funds-Grant

The newest grant, the Staff Innovation Grant will provide awards up to $5,000 to support staff, or staff partnering with a community member, for a project that aligns with the District’s Education Master Plan.

This staff grant joins two existing grants – the President’s Economic Innovation Grant and the President’s Academic Innovation Grant. The economic grant supports proposals brought forward from faculty, staff, students, or community members partnering with a CR faculty/staff/student to develop an investable proof of concept. These projects must demonstrate a positive economic impact on both the Redwoods Community College District and the community at large. The Economic Innovation Grant can be as large as $50,000 and must be completed in a year and a half. The President’s Academic Innovation Grant provides mini grants of up to $5,000 to support CR faculty projects, which align with the District’s Education Master Plan.

The Education Master Plan is a long-range, comprehensive plan designed to be an anchor to which the College’s fiscal, annual, enrollment management, and human resources planning processes are linked and which will guide the direction of the college for the next decade. The goal is to take each of the academic programs to the highest level in meeting the needs of CR students and the community.

https://www.redwoods.edu/Portals/222/2022-2032_CR_EMP.pdf

“Our Education Master Plan urges us to strive for something greater than we thought possible,” says College of the Redwoods’ President, Dr. Keith Flamer. “Implementing these three innovation grants demonstrates our commitment to developing creative ideas that are tangible benefits for our students, our college, and our community.”

Students, staff, and faculty, as well as community members who partner with a CR constituent, can apply for grant funds for projects that directly support the six major anchor themes in the Education Master Plan, defined as critical areas for the future:

1. Becoming the preferred transfer pathway to Cal Poly Humboldt.
2. Expanding and prioritizing offerings that prepare students for living-wage jobs.
3. Creating a more nimble and adaptable institution through improved strategic planning.
4. Establishing stronger wraparound experiences for students’ total connection.
5. Pursuing the future of learning.
6. Increasing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Dr. Flamer continues, “I want to thank the College of the Redwoods Foundation for these funds that will help us advance academic improvement, increase partnerships with local industry, connect entrepreneurs on our campuses with those in the community, and expand experiential learning opportunities for our students.”