Teaching Improvement, Experimentation, and Research (TIER) Grants
The Center for Teaching and Learning, with the generous support of the Provost's Office, is pleased to provide Teaching Improvement, Experimentation, and Research (TIER) grants for Brandeis faculty. These grants are designed to support faculty who wish to develop new and/or enhanced ways to enrich their students' learning.
TIER grants typically are offered on an annual cycle, with applications due and funds awarded at the end of the spring semester (i.e. in time for use as early as the summer prior to the following academic year). In 2025–2026, however, we will run a shortened cycle, with applications opening in Fall 2025 with a goal of funding projects focused primarily on the Spring 2026 semester. Please stay tuned for an announcement about the final timetable.
Eligibility and Requirements for TIER grants
Tenured, tenure-track, and multi-year contract faculty are eligible to apply as project leaders. All members of the Brandeis community may participate as collaborators.
Faculty who are awarded TIER grants will be expected to share their project's outcomes with the Brandeis community by writing a short narrative report to be published on the CTL website and/or by making a short presentation at the Celebration of Teaching Day in spring 2026.
Project and Budget Guidelines
TIER grants recognize the importance of the time and energy instructors invest in enhancing their teaching and continuously adapting their courses to best foster student learning.
For each cycle of TIER grants, the CTL will set a maximum award. Please note that fringe is not included in the maximum award amount, though we ask that applicants include fringe in their application budget.
The grants can only be spent in line with university guidelines about faculty and staff travel and human subjects. Examples of expenses may include:
- Equipment, software, supplies, literature, etc., for proposed project use
- Wages for undergraduate or graduate student assistants (please include fringe)
- Stipends for faculty (please include fringe; applicable rates can be found on the Brandeis Office of Research Administration page under the Fringe Benefits Rates section)
- Honoraria for guest speakers (when they are integral to the project)
Criteria for Selection
Proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Potential significance of the project in improving students’ learning;
- Potential breadth of impact beyond a single course (i.e., whether the project can serve communities across Brandeis);
- Clearly stated goals with strong evidence of careful planning, thought and research;
- Proposed metrics that can be used to demonstrate the project's impact (e.g., pre- and post-surveys of the students, etc.);
- Potential sustainability beyond the grant’s conclusion; and
- The viability of the timeline and cost-effectiveness of the budget.
Proposal Support
The CTL is happy to assist you with your proposal. We can help you identify studies that would support your proposed project, design metrics of impact, or just be a sounding board if you need to talk through your ideas. Please reach out to ctl@brandeis.edu with any questions.
Past Recipients
View a list of past recipients of TIER grants