The Wickerson Foundation Fund for Educational Leadership and Universal Design
The Wickerson Foundation Fund for Educational Leadership and Universal Design is an internal grant designed to support projects that strengthen Trent University’s inclusive teaching and to support faculty professional development and pedagogical research. The aim of the Wickerson Foundation Fund is to remove barriers to learning, which can be visible and invisible, and to promote authentic inclusion for all students. Barriers to learning can include disability, socio-economic status, implicit bias, stigma and trauma. To address these barriers, faculty are encouraged to consider the needs of all learners through course design, learning experiences, assessments, and the learning environment.
Applicants are invited to submit proposals for projects that foster more inclusive course design and classroom practices through Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and/or Trauma-Informed Pedagogy (TIP). UDL is a framework that guides the design of courses and learning environments to support the largest number of learners through three guiding principles: multiple means of engagement, multiple means of representation of content, and multiple means of action and expression. Trauma-Informed Pedagogy is a student-centered framework that builds inclusive educational spaces by acknowledging the impact of individual or collective traumas on student engagement with course content, policies, and practices. It takes a holistic approach to understanding students and their learning experiences in higher education, accounting for personal, social, biological, and systematic experiences with trauma.
Proposals should clearly relate to UDL and/or TIP in higher education. While applications are invited to submit projects that focus on curriculum modification or enhancements, they are also encourages to systemically evaluate the impact of these approaches through the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). All successful applicants will receive ongoing course design and learning assessment design support from the Trent Teaching Commons.
How to Apply
In order to apply for a Wickerson Foundation Fund for Educational Leadership and Universal Design, candidates are asked to submit the following as Word or PDF files in a single email to teachingcommons@trentu.ca. Complete applications are due by May 31, 2026. You may apply in a group, pair, or individually.
- Project Proposal: This proposal should include a project title, a brief project outline (50 words maximum), a summary of the project goals (including the needs, gaps, and/or challenges being addressed in a specific course), a comprehensive project description (including an evidence-based approach to project design, methods, activities, and impact assessments), detailed timelines, and a proposed budget for the project over the course of 12 months. (4 Pages Maximum, Single Spaced)
- Teaching Philosophy Statement
- Curriculum Vitae
- Letter of Support from Chair, Dean, or colleague
Funds Available
- 2026-2027: $4000 per project (1-year program)
- Fund will run from September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2027
Examples of Eligible Expenses
- Part-time casual wages for research assistants in the classroom (individuals internal to the university; maximum rate of pay based on collective agreements; please include 15% for vacation pay and non-discretionary benefits in budget calculations for hourly wage. For example: $25/hr hourly wage x 1.15 = $28.75/hr cost to employer.
- Honoraria (individuals external to the university)
- Expenses related to equipment, resources, and supplies (such as technology applications or site licenses for open publishing)
- Experiential opportunities for students that meet UDL/TIP principles.
- Professional development for faculty on UDL/TIP
- Consultations with specialists in UDL/TIP
- Honoraria for students to participate in focus groups related to UDL/TIP related curriculum modification or enhancements.
Examples of Ineligible Expenses
- Instructor personal use technology (laptops, tablets)
- Marking support
Research Ethics
All projects that involve research on human subjects require approval from the Research Ethics Board (REB) before funding can be released. Ethics Approval application forms are available from the Office of Research; a copy of the notice of approval from the REB must be submitted to the TTC prior to commencing research, teachingcommons@trentu.ca
Final Report
A final report must be submitted after the project is complete (no later than August 1 following the academic year of funding). The final report must include a financial statement and address the following questions:
- How did the UDL/TIP project impact teaching?
- How did the UDL/TIP project impact students and student learning?
- How could the outcomes of the project be incorporated into regular academic programming?
- How could the outcomes of the innovation be shared with peers?
Criteria for Selection
- Clear consideration of the needs of all learners and strives to remove barriers to learning
- Clear articulation of the project goals, including the needs, gaps, and/or challenges being addressed
- Clear articulation of the methods of the project, including how it will implement specific curriculum modification or enhancements.
- Evidence-based approach to project design, methods, activities, and impact assessments
- Project integrates principles of Universal Design for Learning and/or Trauma-Informed Pedagogy.
- Specific, measurable, and realistic timelines given the scope of the project.
- Budget outlines and justifies all projected expenses.
- Teaching Philosophy Statement, CV, and Letter of Support consistently demonstrate experience in and commitment to exemplary teaching and learning.
Questions regarding the Wickerson Foundation Fund for Educational Leadership and Universal Design can be directed to teachingcommons@trentu.ca.
Additional Resources
Universal Design for Learning (UDL)