Spratlen Award Application Instruction

Program Overview 

Western Washington University is committed to creating and improving efforts to make our campus a diverse and inclusive community. To support these efforts, the Office of the Provost is soliciting proposals from faculty, staff, students, and academic administrators for the implementation of diversity and inclusion initiatives and research projects that further the academic mission of the university. Thaddeus Spratlen program seeks to engage a broader spectrum of faculty, students, and staff in the work of making Western locally responsive and globally engaged. 

This program is open for students and staff, as well as faculty.

The purposes of the Thaddeus Spratlen and Lois Price-Spratlen Inclusion and Diversity Grants Program are: 

  1. To encourage faculty, students, and staff to address the campus goals for building a diverse campus community
  2. To fund programs or research initiatives that seek innovative approaches to diversity and inclusion or seek to provide new data to support the importance of institutional diversity
  3. To promote the development of initiatives that foster an inclusive and welcoming environment that promotes the success of all who work and study at Western

The grants are not intended to:

  • Fund Individual student tuition or housing expenses
  • Fund the purchase of general-purpose equipment (departmental)
  • Supplement externally funded projects

Application Requirement 

Project proposals will be evaluated on how well they reflect the following criteria:

  • The project would enhance the quality of teaching and learning about diversity for all students and community members
  • The project would create a welcoming and inclusive work and learning environment where differences are respected and valued, that offers opportunities for and supports the success of students, staff and faculty
  • The project would improve the recruitment, retention, and graduation of students and/or faculty from historically underrepresented groups
  • The proposal clearly demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed project and that required resources have been or will be secured via this proposal and from any other necessary sources

Maximum award: $2,000 (including all applicable taxes). Grants will be awarded to serve as one-time “start-up” funds and do not represent recurring annual allocations. It is anticipated that one or two proposals will receive funding during each academic year. However, if proposals requesting smaller amounts of funding are received, more grants may be awarded.

Please Note:

  • All expenditures must follow the University’s established purchasing and reimbursement guidelines
  • WWU is not tax exempt. Please remember to include sales taxes (8.7%) in your requested budget if applicable
  • In general, Spratlen Grant funds are expected to be used by the end of the second academic year
  • A written report of grant related activities is required
  • Applications for a Spratlen Grant may be made annually during fall quarter  

To Apply for a Thaddeus Spratlen and Lois Price-Spratlen Inclusion and Diversity Grant: Complete the application eform and attach:

  • A detailed description of your project. (Narrative of three pages or less.)
  • A detailed line item budget (including all applicable taxes)
  • A two-page Biographical Sketch for each Principal Investigator, Project Lead, or Faculty Advisor
    • For student applicants: (Needed)  
      • Resume  
      • Faculty/Staff Advisor Resume 

Application deadline:  December 2nd, 2024

If you wanted an example of past Spratlan projects explore Past Awards and Project Reports page