The PFCI advances the global engagement goals of Extraordinary Emerson 2030 by supporting faculty in integrating cross-cultural learning and scholarship into the curriculum. Through its projects and initiatives—including faculty-led Global Pathways programs—PFCI strengthens Emerson’s position as a global leader in arts and communication education and expands the College’s capacity to make a transformative global impact.
PFCI provides faculty with opportunities to design forward-thinking academic programs and courses that:
- Increase interdisciplinarity and foster collaboration
- Leverage faculty scholarly, creative, and professional expertise
- Build experiential components into the curriculum
- Expand Emerson's global presence
- Enhance cross-cultural learning and scholarship
The goal of the PFCI is to encourage collaboration amongst faculty and enhance our collective capacity to internationalize the curriculum. This is done through the program's focus on supporting faculty to develop new courses, substantively redesign existing courses and to incubate the development of pre-approved Global Pathways Programs.
For example, Global Pathways Programs at Emerson are intentionally designed and facilitated to meet the needs, interests, and goals that foster student success in a culturally diverse and global society. PFCI will support faculty in order to meet the following goals:
- Build our collective capacity to internationalize the curriculum and to promote more expansive approaches to teaching/learning;
- Develop and refine specific courses, with corresponding pedagogical methods that contribute to these aims;
- Spark innovation in both teaching and learning by actively connecting academic learning, global communities and intercultural awareness. This makes the value of international perspectives as contributors to generative and impactful work in communication and the arts transparent.
- Establish new faculty-led education abroad programs (e.g., Global Pathways Programs).
Ultimately, the aim is to offer curricula that assists students, either at home or abroad, with developing the required values, awareness, skills, and knowledge of intercultural differences to thrive as culturally competent, global citizens.
Key Dates for AY 2026-2027 Grant Application Cycle
December 15, 2025
- Announcement to open the PFCI application period is made.
- The PFCI application form is opened in InfoReady.
March 18, 2026
- Completed PFCI applications due by 11:59 p.m. ET.
By April 10, 2026
- PFCI Selection Committee meets to select the PFCI Awardees.
By April 21, 2026
- Notification letters go out to PFCI applicants
July 1, 2026 through June 15, 2027
- Approved projects conducted.
November 1, 2027
- Awardees submit final online reports for projects conducted during AY 2026-2027.
PFCI Funding
Each awarded faculty member will receive a stipend of $1,200 for their accepted PFCI proposal. Faculty members selected will have the opportunity to apply for further funding for project-related expenses (travel, funds to hire student assistants, materials, etc.).
Note: Stipends are paid as additional compensation and are subject to applicable state and federal payroll taxes. Stipends will be paid in two installments at the end of the summer.
Eligibility
All Emerson College faculty members, inclusive of faculty teaching in Boston, ELA and Kasteel Well, are eligible to apply for projects proposing the development of new courses or revisions of existing courses. Global Pathways Programs can be taught by no more than two faculty members, as programs can be built upon one or two Global Pathways courses.
However, PFCI proposals must be led by a full-time faculty member. The proposals may include part time and/or affiliated faculty members who are at Step Two or above as PFCI team members. The Collective Bargaining Agreement explains that Affiliated faculty who have taught 48 to 123 credits are considered to be at Step Two.
PFCI proposals focused on the development or redesign of courses taught domestically can involve more than two faculty members. For example, multiple faculty can apply to (re)design a multi-section course.
Note: Faculty members may be named in more than one PFCI proposal in the same cycle, so long as the applications are for separate and distinct projects.
Application Questions
Applicants should answer the following questions on their applications:
- Please list the name, rank, and department for each faculty member associated with the proposed course or Global Pathways Program.
- Please provide brief curriculum vitae - no more than 2 pages each - for each applicant or team member. These must be combined and submitted as one document.
- Proposal Title
- Summary of proposed course revision, newly-proposed course or pre-approved Global Pathways Program (1,500-character limit)
- Project Description - Please be as specific as possible:
- The rationale for your project, a statement of how your project will contribute to enhancing global education within the College curriculum.
- Course titles and descriptions for each course to be associated with the program.
- How would the proposed program support existing course and program student learning objectives? Be sure to name the specific course and program-level SLOs.
- The pedagogical approaches to be employed (i.e. methods, strategies, new learning goals, etc.)
- If the proposal is for a team project, detail the role of each person on your team, and the overall contribution that person will make to the project.
- Provide a work plan and timeline for the life of this project based either on the work of the single person submitting this proposal, or the work of each named team member. Please include key benchmarks for each person's progress.
- A clear statement on when the course/project will be implemented. If you are developing or revising a course, specify when you plan to teach it.
- Markers of success over time. How will you know that your project has had an impact on the curriculum? On student learning?
For any project proposing the creation of a new course, share your department's curricular review and approval process.
Evaluation Criteria
PFCI proposals must:
- Contribute demonstrably to Emerson College's ability to provide diverse courses and learning experiences that meaningfully represent global communities, histories, topics, industries, etc,;
- Be submitted by Emerson College faculty members;
- Articulate a clear project, including:
- Rationale for the course revision or development of a new Global Pathways Program;
- Strategy for building a global education experience for students. How will you introduce new materials, pedagogical methods and cultural learning activities? How would the proposed program or course support existing course and program student learning objectives?
- Work plan and timeline for its development and implementation (i.e. if you are developing or revising a course or course module, specify when you propose to teach it);
- Assessment plan; markers of student learning and development over time;
- Steps and timeline of necessary curricular approvals and any cross-registration(s); and
- Plan for sustained engagement of the goals or project within the course, department or school.
PFCI Application Form
- Applications can be submitted via InfoReady. InfoReady is a web-based workflow platform designed to streamline and simplify workflow tasks for academic institutions, including internal funding competitions.
- All faculty can log into InfoReady using their Emerson SSO credentials. After logging in, select the "Presidential Fund for Curricular INnovation" at the bottom of the screen and click the "Apply" button. You can save your application as a draft and return it later, prior to submitting.
- One application form per team should be completed and submitted.
Review and Selection of Applications
Proposals will be reviewed by the PFCI Selection Committee, which is chaired by the Vice Provost for Global Engagement and Programs. The Selection Committee will share their decisions with the Provost for review.
Final Progress Report Requirement
Recipients of the Presidential Fund for Curricular Innovation must submit a final progress report, by November 1st of the year their grant period ends. ORCS will email PFCI recipients with the link to the reporting form prior to this due date.
Contact Information
Questions can be directed to anthony_pinder [at] emerson.edu (Dr. Anthony Pinder), Vice Provost for Global Engagement and Programs.