Grant Application

The Dyer Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship invites faculty from all disciplines to submit course development proposals that support innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial thinking at Lafayette College. This ongoing grant program provides support for new or revised courses that explore themes of entrepreneurship within a liberal arts context.

We welcome proposals that encourage students to engage in creative problem-solving, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the development of an entrepreneurial mindset. Faculty from all departments and programs are encouraged to apply. We’re especially interested in ideas that prepare students to think critically and act ethically as they take on the challenges of an ever-changing world.

Course Innovation Grants ($1,000) – Grants of $1,000 are available for faculty looking to integrate innovation and/or entrepreneurship into courses currently offered on campus.
New Course Development Grants ($2,500) – Grants of $2,500 are available for faculty looking to develop new courses that align with the mission of the Dyer Center to increase the creative capacity of Lafayette students to lead and inspire change.

Examples of Potential Thematics for Courses:

  • Ethics and Technology: Explore the ethical implications of technological advancements, social enterprises, and innovation in global markets.
  • Social Innovation and Civic Engagement: Guide students in examining how social ventures and community-oriented innovation can address pressing issues like inequality, food security, and public health. 
  • Creativity and Disruption in the Arts: Examine how the arts challenge conventional thinking and inspire new ways of seeing the world. This course could explore how artistic processes—such as experimentation, iteration, and reimagining norms—are integral to innovation. 
  • Literatures of Change: Study literature that deals with change, transformation, and disruption, including narratives around personal and societal change and storytelling.
  • Environmental Innovation: Introduce students to environmental entrepreneurship by examining sustainable innovations and eco-friendly practices in various industries. Case studies of green businesses and discussions on policy could also be included to show how entrepreneurial thinking can lead to impactful environmental solutions.
  • Cultural Perspectives on Innovation: Highlight how cultural context affects entrepreneurial strategies and innovation across the globe. This course might explore the diversity of approaches to entrepreneurship, emphasizing cultural sensitivity and global awareness as key components of entrepreneurial success.
  • History of Innovation: Voices of Change: Examine innovation through a historical lens, focusing on the contributions and experiences of marginalized communities in the realm of entrepreneurial empowerment. Providing students with a nuanced understanding of how historical contexts shape the trajectory of innovation, revealing both its empowering potential and its limitations for underrepresented voices. 
  • Understanding Value and Impact: Invites students from any field to explore how financial awareness can deepen their understanding of value and impact in various contexts—whether in social causes, creative endeavors, or scientific projects. 

While these examples provide inspiration, we encourage faculty to bring their unique expertise and creativity to the table. We are excited to see how you might explore entrepreneurship and innovation within your discipline, designing courses that open up new perspectives and possibilities for students across the liberal arts. Whether it’s challenging conventional ideas, fostering creative problem-solving, or exploring ethical considerations, we welcome your innovative approaches to preparing students for a world that values curiosity and impact-driven thinking.

The course development grant will include:

  • Financial support
  • Opportunities to consult with the Dyer Center team on entrepreneurial curriculum
  • Networking with colleagues interested in the intersection of liberal arts and entrepreneurship

 

Courses can be in any department, and innovative ways of integrating the entrepreneurial mindset across the curriculum are encouraged.  The Dyer Center is able to support up to two (2) Course Innovation Grants and two (2) New Course Development Grants each academic year.  Interested faculty should complete the following application. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis by the Dyer Center Academic Advisory Committee.

We’re excited to see how you bring entrepreneurship and innovation to life in ways that will resonate with students from all academic backgrounds.  We welcome individual or team-taught courses.

Please submit your proposals, including a course description, the intended semester for the course launch, any required prerequisites, and a statement explaining how the course promotes innovation, creativity, and/or entrepreneurship.

Applications are now closed and will reopen in the fall of 2025. Please stay tuned for updates.