First Year Seminar

Who is eligible to apply?

University of Pennsylvania faculty (standing and non-standing) members currently teaching or scheduled to teach a first-year seminar are eligible to apply. Open to anyone teaching a first-year seminar and looking to integrate the arts or support existing arts activities within their course. This grant opportunity is supported through a collaboration between The Sachs Program and the College of Arts & Sciences at Penn.

What do the grants support?

First-Year Seminar Grants support arts activities and arts-driven pedagogy within and related to first-year seminars at Penn.

How much can I apply for?

The maximum request amount is $2,500.

How and when do I receive the grant funds?

Resources are managed between the College of Arts & Sciences and the Departments and Programs hosting first-year seminars throughout the academic year. The Sachs Program reimburses the College for their portion of the support at the end of the fiscal year.

Any questions?

Please email both Associate Dean and Director of Academic Affairs Molly McGlone (mmcglone@sas.upenn.edu) and The Sachs Program Associate Director Chloe Reison (reison@upenn.edu).

Apply

Applications for First-Year Seminar Grants are made available through the College of Arts & Sciences twice a year, generally 1-2 months before the start of each semester.

Review Process

Applications will be reviewed by Sachs Program staff, who will then give their recommendations to the College of Arts & Sciences. Final decisions will be made by the College, and notifications will be sent by the College to applicants as soon as possible after those determinations have been made.

Important Information

The application schedule and procedures for First-Year Seminar Grants may be subject to change.
First-Year Seminar Grants are supported through a partnership between The Sachs Program for Arts Innovation and the College of Arts & Sciences.
The Sachs Program has limited resources and will, therefore, be unable to fund all requests.
The Sachs Program aims to support projects that meet the criteria established for each grant category and align with our priorities for grantmaking. Should a proposal or application not meet the criteria or not align with our priorities, Sachs Program staff may recommend that a previously submitted application be withdrawn.
The Sachs Program supports a creative, culturally diverse, and pluralistic Penn community. We are committed to supporting individuals and groups from all races, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, religions, disabilities, and socioeconomic backgrounds.