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Provost’s Office announces 20 recipients of Transform This Challenge Grants focused on social equity

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To continue supporting grassroots transformation efforts, the Office of the Provost has awarded a second round of Transform This! Challenge Grants to 20 projects for the upcoming year.

Initially launched in Spring 2020 – prior to the COVID-19 pandemic – the Office of the Provost challenged the WVU community to engage in strategic transformation activities supporting one of the goals identified by a cross-disciplinary team who developed a collective vision for the future of the University.

The 2021 grants challenge focuses on Goal 4: Be a model of social equity. More than 40 project proposals were submitted and 20 were selected for funding. 

Faculty and staff members across all WVU campuses were encouraged to think of creative ways to create avenues for:

  • Recruiting and retaining diverse students, staff and faculty members to WVU;

  • Improving campus climate through intentional initiatives that promote all and support underrepresented groups;

  • Integrating social equity in the student experience and education; and/or

  • Creating opportunities for University community members to engage with a global perspective.

The selected projects cover a range of activities, from experiential learning opportunities, art exhibits and recruitment projects to community conversations, pedagogical discussion groups and racial justice book clubs.

“Once again, I am inspired by the creativity, innovation and commitment our faculty and staff have shown toward improving social equity on our campuses and in our communities,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Maryanne Reed. “These upcoming projects have the potential to open new doors for continued conversation and improvement.”

Grant recipients can begin work on their projects this summer and all must be completed by the end of the Spring 2022 semester. 

Find all the new and previous project descriptions on the Office of the Provost’s Transform This! website.