Art history professor Jane Sharp teaches "Art and Power: The Visual and Literary Culture of the Soviet Century" taking place in the Zimmerli Art Museum Upper Dodge Gallery

Classroom Enrichment Funding Initiative

What is "Classroom Enrichment"?

Classroom enrichment refers to educational activities that enhance and extend learning beyond traditional course instruction, providing students with opportunities for deeper engagement, hands-on experiences, and real-world application of course concepts.

The Classroom Enrichment Activity Funding Initiative offers funds to instructors teaching an undergraduate course at Rutgers–New Brunswick. Small grants are provided to offset the costs of such activities, which could include:

Field trips, including tickets for museums or performances and local transportation (e.g., charter bus, NJ Transit),
Honoraria for guest speakers,*
Expendable supplies or services directly related to the activity, or
Other creative activities that provide interactions and/or hands-on experiences beyond a typical classroom experience.

Instructors also receive dedicated administrative support in coordinating the activity (e.g., processing honoraria, arranging transportation, purchasing supplies, etc.)*Note: honoraria cannot be issued for Rutgers employees, LLCs, or corporations.

Eligibility Requirements for Funding

The activity must be associated with an undergraduate course taught at Rutgers–New Brunswick.
The activity must be clearly connected to learning goals and integrated throughout the course through preparation and follow-up.

Cultivate Creative Learning Opportunities

The examples below showcase activities that have received funding through the initiative.

Students in Haruko Wakabayashi's "From Text to Image in Japanese Art" class participated in a Japanese ink painting activity led by professional ink painting instructor, Hideko Furukawa. Students were able to make their own ink paintings using traditional Japanese materials.
“In class, we had covered Chinese-style ink painting and its impact on Japanese art for two weeks, and in the second week, focused on bamboo painting by Ike no Taiga, an 18^th century painter and calligrapher. We had discussed the meaning of bamboo, the brush strokes, use of empty space, association with Zen, etc. At the workshop, students were given the opportunity to use the ink and brush to paint a bamboo and write their names. They were able to experience the difficulty of painting “freely” in a Zen manner. They also learned the importance of balancing the subject, space, and placing of their own names on the painting.”
Haruko Wakabayashi
Faculty, School of Arts and Sciences, Asian Languages and Cultures
Students in Carrie Ferraro's "Biology, Society, and Ecological Issues" course took a boat ride on the Raritan River via the R/V Rutgers. Students were able to see firsthand how local ecosystems, such as the Raritan River and other river systems, have been affected by human intervention and modified over time. Students used modern technology to collect data such as water-quality measurements and analyzed that data to provide evidence for their claims/interpretations about the condition of the river.
Students in Neal Bennett's "Media Field Production" class took a field trip to various multi-media production sites in NYC including AbelCine, NYU Tisch Martin Scorsese Virtual Production Center, and Puff Media. Students were able to witness the landscape, technologies, and real-world practice alongside media industry professionals and educators.
“The trip gave real-world context to concepts I introduce in the classroom. Students participate in production as part of the course, but at an introductory level with entry-level equipment. This experience allowed them to see how the foundational skills and knowledge they are building translate into higher-level, professional production workflows and industry-grade tools. It made the material feel relevant and achievable rather than abstract. Direct engagement with high-level production personnel and professional talent, in the actual spaces where that work happens, goes a long way toward reducing the apprehension and intimidation many students feel when thinking about entering the media industry.”
Neal Bennett
Faculty, School of Communication and Information

Submit a Proposal

Funding is available to support initiatives for the 2026-2027 academic year. Fill out the form by the priority deadline to receive full consideration for funding. If any funds remain available after the priority deadline, additional proposals received by the supplemental deadline will be considered.

View deadlines and submit a proposal

Akhil Botadra (SEBS '25) works on plant tissue culture techniques in Plant Tissue Culture and Engineering course at SEBS, gaining hands-on experience in plant biotechnology.

About the Initiative

Funded by the Office of the Provost and led by Vice Provost for Experiential Learning, Dr. Charles Keeton, the program echoes the Academic Master Plan and Discovery Advantage report, which promotes student learning through hands-on experiences and interactions with different communities that help students connect course content with the real world.

Explore the Academic Master Plan