[283] Grant money for courses available from MTSU commission through Feb. 9

MURFREESBORO — Money to infuse courses with the experiences and perspectives of women is available at MTSU.

The deadline is Monday, Feb. 9, for faculty to apply for the Curriculum Integration Grants offered by the university’s President’s Commission on the Status of Women.

Three grants worth $1,800 each will be awarded by the commission to support the completion of the revision of a course, the revision of a general education course for a study-abroad program, the creation of a new course, the reconceptualization of a current minor or the creation of a new minor.

Applicants are encouraged to include how women’s concerns intersect with aspects of race/ethnicity, class and sexual orientation. The 2014 grant winners come from the disciplines of human sciences, music and English.

Dr. Lauren Rudd, an assistant professor of textiles, management and design, used her funding to revise Social Aspects of Clothing, a course that examines the cultural, psychological, sociological and economic impacts of clothing and textiles.

“Big designers have been using cultural influences in their runway designs for several years now,” Rudd said. “The students see this, but have no concept of the traditions and importance related to those cultures.

“They also need to be able to design, style, merchandise and sell apparel-related product to a global audience.”

Dr. Deanna Little, a professor of music, revamped the Private Instruction in Flute course to educate her students on the proportions of men and women flutists in the profession.

“As a woman flutist, performer and teacher, I feel it is important to bring awareness of the realities of the profession to my students,” Little said. “This will prepare them better for future careers in music and hopefully empower them to succeed.”

Little said the history of both flute and music composition shows more men at the top of the profession than women, although the ratio of men to women at the top is inconsistent with the ratio of men to women in the profession as a whole.

Dr. Elyce Helford, a professor of English, created Topics in Sexuality: Queer Studies to “explore the history and diverse uses of the concept ‘queer’ in local and global contexts,” Helford said.

“When we study what theorists and activists call ‘queer,’ we are studying those identifications, attractions, attitudes and appearances that resist simple boundaries — such as straight/gay or masculine/feminine,” said Helford.

“Queer studies, therefore, helps us to think outside restrictive labels for self and world,” she added.

Little’s course began in the current spring 2015 semester. Rudd’s course is scheduled for the summer 2015 semester. Helford’s class is slated to begin in the 2016 calendar year.

Priority will be given to courses that are developed or revised for the undergraduate curriculum and those that can be implemented within two years. Eligibility is limited to faculty who have not received a Curriculum Integration Grant in the past four years.

Proposals should include innovative teaching techniques. Given the recent reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, the commission especially encourages proposals that engage students in a better understanding of this pervasive social problem.

Complete application guidelines are available at www.mtsu.edu/pcsw/grants.php.

Inquiries should be directed to Dr. Leah Tolbert Lyons at 615-898-2982 or leah.lyons@mtsu.edu.