Current Initiatives

Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges

Big Idea for Academic Collaboration in the Bi-Co

Pilot Grants

Issued by: President Wendy Cadge & President Wendy Raymond
Deadline for Submission: October 28 (Round1); December 15 (Round 2)
Funding Period: Jan 15 - May 15, 2026 

Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges invite academic departments, programs, and cross-unit collaborative groups to propose achievable, innovative pilot projects that promise meaningful outcomes for students, support faculty innovation, and enhance the academic experience across both campuses. We seek big new ideas that will drive academic creativity and continue to ensure that the Bi-Co is more than the sum of its parts. Our goal is to spark initiatives that:

• Strengthen the academic experience and foster intellectual innovation across both campuses;
• Promote sustained collaboration across and between departments, disciplines, and campuses;
• Contribute to the intellectual environment, inquiry, and knowledge that enable undergraduates to thrive.
• Position the Bi-Co nationally as a place big ideas are nurtured and grown into more than the sum of its parts

Proposals may focus on either exploring or planning implementation of innovative, cross-college initiatives.

• Exploration Projects offer faculty opportunities to explore fields and collaborations that do not yet exist at Bryn Mawr or Haverford through shared seminars, speakers, research about similar efforts at other colleges and universities, or other exploratory processes. We expect these projects to result in proposals for next steps including timelines and the budgets required to meet them.
• Planning Projects offer faculty the opportunity to extend and further develop existing collaborations that strengthen and enrich collaborations across Haverford and Bryn Mawr. Such projects might include planning for shared curriculum, developing a structure for shared research experiences for students at both campuses, building a minor into a major or intellectual collaborations in other ways. Proposals should include a clear roadmap including timelines and the budgets required to bring these initiatives to scale. 

All projects should leverage the distinctive strengths of both institutions, foster collaboration across departments and disciplines, and contribute to the advancement of the colleges’ missions and academic distinction

Faculty and staff in all academic departments, programs, and inter-unit initiatives within the Bi-Co are eligible to apply. All proposals must include at least one faculty member and one collaborator each from Haverford and Bryn Mawr.

Proposals should:

1. Clearly Identify an Academic Need or Opportunity - and briefly explain that need or opportunity. 
2. Foster Cross-College Collaboration — Leverage resources, expertise, and opportunities across both Haverford and Bryn Mawr.
3. Define Clear, Measurable Outcomes — Specify the tangible benefits for students or the academic program and describe how success will be assessed.
4. Be Achievable Within the Funding Period — Projects should have realistic timelines, scope, and resource plans.
5. Demonstrate Innovation or Enhancement — Introduce new approaches or significantly improve existing practices to advance learning, scholarship, or collaboration.
6. Extend Bi-College Strengths into new realms — Where possible, draw on the unique capabilities, resources, expertise, and opportunities of each institution to create impact beyond what either could do alone.

Assessment plans should clearly link project activities to intended student learning, engagement, and/or programmatic impact.

• Total funds available across all awards: $50,000. Maximum award: $10,000.
• Funds may be used for materials, student stipends, guest speakers, small in-person gatherings, technology, assessment tools, and other directly related expenses.
• Indirect costs and ongoing salary support for existing faculty/staff positions are not eligible.

Each proposal (maximum 4 pages) should include:

1. Project Type: Exploring or Planning
2. Project Title & Lead Department(s)
3. Project Summary (150–250 words)
4. Goals & Intended Student Outcomes
5. Plan & Timeline
6. Assessment & Evaluation Methods
7. Budget & Justification
8. Sustainability — What will it take (in terms of time and budget) for the project to have a lasting impact beyond the funding period?

Team Members & Roles

Proposals will be reviewed by a committee composed of Haverford and Bryn Mawr presidents and provosts. Selection will be based on:

• Alignment with the purpose and project criteria
• Potential for meaningful enhancement of Bi-Co academic excellence
• Clarity and feasibility of the plan
• Effective use of funds

Applicants will be notified of award decisions by November 14 (Round 1) and January 5 (Round 2).

Send completed proposals as a single PDF to officeofthepresident@brynmawr.edu with the subject line:

“Bi-College Student Outcomes RFP – [Department Name]”

Deadlines: October 28, 5PM (Round 1); December 15, 5PM (Round 2)

Questions about this RFP may be directed to Bryn Mawr Interim Provost David Karen or Haverford Provost Helen White.

• RFP Release: Sept 15
• Proposals Due: October 28 (Round 1); December 15 (Round 2)
• Award Notifications: November 14 (Round 1) and January 5 (Round 2)
• Funding Period: Jan 15 - May 15, 2026
• Report due: May 15, 2026