Women and Mathematics Grants
The MAA plans to award grants for projects designed to encourage college and university women or high school and middle school girls to study mathematics. The Tensor Foundation, working through the MAA, is soliciting college, university and secondary mathematics faculty (in conjunction with college or university faculty) and their departments and institutions to submit proposals. Projects may replicate existing successful projects, adapt components of such projects, or be innovative. Possible projects are to:
- organize a club for women interested in mathematics or mathematics and science;
- provide release time to allow a faculty member to prepare a course on women and mathematics, provided the host institution agrees to offer such a course;
- create a network of women professional mentors who will direct mathematics projects for girls;
- hold a conference for counselors to prepare them to encourage women and girls to continue to study mathematics;
- conduct a summer mathematics program for high school women;
- bring high school women onto a college campus for a Math Day with follow-up;
- structure a program for high school and/or college women to mentor younger female mathematics students with math projects or math clubs;
- form partnerships with industry to acquaint women students with real-life applications of mathematics.
Objectives
The objectives of the TENSOR-MAA Program are to:
- encourage mathematics faculty to develop projects to increase participation of women in mathematics; and
- provide support to project directors.
Nature of the Grant
Grants will be up to $6,000 and will be made to the institution of the project director to be spent within the year. An institution is expected to supply matching funds or in-kind support as an indication of commitment to the project. These grants will not support any institutional indirect costs or provide fringe benefits. To provide maximum flexibility, unexpended funds may be carried forward. Some grants may be renewed for another year, with a three year maximum.
Who May Apply
Grants will be made to:
- college and university mathematics faculty; or
- secondary school or middle school mathematics faculty working in conjunction with college or university faculty.
Characteristics of Effective Programs
While projects will have a high degree of variability, there are some characteristics which effective projects will share:
- Clearly articulated and measurable project objectives;
- Strong academic component, with a focus focus on enrichment, not remediation;
- Sustained activities over a sufficient period of time;
- Highly competent project team;
- Mentoring of each student participant;
- Providing information on careers that use mathematics extensively in a way that will encourage students to pursue mathematical study;
- Use of appropriate role models;
- Involvement of parents, teachers, counselors for pre-college projects;
- Peer support system;
- Institutional commitment.
Proposals
Proposals will be evaluated in a panel which will include members of the MAA Committee on Participation of Women, Women & Mathematics Network, and a trustee of the Tensor Foundation.
The proposal should only include a cover page, the proposal itself (please limit this to three pages), an additional budget page (see below), a two-page (maximum) curriculum vitae, and any relevant letters of support. If the proposal is a renewal please attach a one-page (maximum) report after the cover sheet. The following guidelines should be addressed in the order listed using a font of 11 or 12 point:
Concept: What are your ideas and philosophy about mathematics and education that form a basis for your project?
Rationale: In what way will your institution be a welcome host for the project?
Objectives: What are the objectives of your project?
Activities: What tasks do you plan to undertake for your project? Describe the mathematics content and activities you expect to provide participants.
Personnel: What is the name, position and qualifications of the proposed project director? Who else will be involved in the project? How?
Evaluation: How will you judge the success of this project?
Budget: How will your funds be spent - personnel, materials, release time, etc.? An additional budget page, separate from the three-page proposal and preferably in the form of a spreadsheet, is requested from all proposers.
Commitment: What is the potential for long-term commitment of the host institution?
Future funding: What is the likelihood of institutionalization through local or state funding after start-up funding from the Tensor Foundation?
Timeline: When will you carry out the activities?
Please use this cover page when preparing your proposal.
If you need any assistance preparing your proposal, please do not hesitate to contact Program Director Dr. Florence Fasanelli by calling (202) 966-5591 or emailing ffasanelli@verizon.net.
Submission of Proposals
Please submit all proposal materials to proposals@maa.org by February 12 of the year for which you would like the grant. You will receive notification of the outcome of your proposal by the end of March.
Contact Information
For additional information, contact Olga Dixon, MAA Sponsored Programs Assistant, by email odixon@maa.org or phone 202-319-8498.