Faculty Community Engagement Grants
The Office for Socially Engaged Practice (OSEP) is accepting proposals for Sam Fox Faculty leading community-engaged courses taking place in either the Fall 2026 or Spring 2027 semester.
We seek applications from Faculty at all ranks who will teach courses that elevate community-engaged learning, scholarship, and/or have practical applications. This includes courses that engage with the St. Louis region through the study of community issues and contemporary topics, as well as courses that partner directly with community organizations and members.
Successful applications will demonstrate a course engagement and budget that enhances their community-engaged teaching and supports mutually beneficial collaborations.
All Sam Fox faculty are encouraged and eligible to apply. Proposals may be for undergraduate or graduate courses.
OVERVIEW
Up to four (4) grants of $2,500 each will be awarded for the AY 2026-2027
Submit questions and inquiries to: samfox-engage@email.wustl.edu.
GRANT SUBMISSION PERIOD
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Applications received after July 31, 2026 will NOT be eligible for review.
ELIGIBILITY
To qualify for a Faculty Community Engagement Grant, your proposal must fulfill the following requirements:
- The collaborative research and/or activities must be focused within the St. Louis metropolitan region or contemporary topics directly related to the St. Louis region.
- The course syllabus includes learning objectives directly related to community engagement.
- If a partner is involved, students must be directly involved in socially engaged and/or collaborative work with a community partner.
- The course must be taught by at least one Sam Fox School faculty member and be listed in Workday under the Sam Fox School (cross-listings are permitted).
- Open to all full-time or part-time Sam Fox faculty (tenured, tenure-track, research, teaching, lecture, and practice).
FUNDING PRIORITIES & CRITERIA
Proposals will be reviewed by a subcommittee including WashU Staff and faculty from various disciplines, and at times, community practitioners and partners. Proposals collaborating with organizations, agencies, non-profits, or individuals outside of Washington University in St. Louis will receive priority. Priority will also be given to courses that are either new or ones that demonstrate modifications to existing courses that align with the study and practice of social engagement.
FUNDING
- All funds must be distributed by June 1, 2027. Faculty will receive a Workday code and training to self-manage their awarded funds.
REPORTING
All Awardees will be required to submit a final report that discusses the goals achieved and describes in as much detail as possible, the content, structure, findings, and course products. This includes materials developed from the course engagement, including but not limited to syllabi, photos, written descriptions of student work, and final student work.
LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS (ARCHITECTURE AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE)
All faculty in architecture and landscape architecture must act per state licensure statutes. Faculty applying for studio funding must review and adhere to the Missouri Licensure Expectations.
DISSEMINATION
Provided materials may be used for public dissemination and archiving purposes. Before dissemination, OSEP will review all material with the lead faculty and collaborators to ensure proper citations and permissions are in place.
POST COURSE EVALUATION
The Office for Socially Engaged Practice is committed to mutually beneficial partnerships and measuring the impacts of SFS collaborations. After the grant, OSEP will conduct an evaluation review of the project with all involved parties. Faculty should expect to provide partner contact information.
Grants are provided by the Office for Socially Engaged Practice through the CityStudioSTL initiative which supports community engagement and outreach projects that bring together students and faculty in architecture, art, and design with partners in the St. Louis region.
