Purpose of the Program

The Fraser Center for Workplace Issues supports teaching and research on the labor movement and the workplace and provides programs to increase public awareness of labor issues. The Center announces a pilot labor education grant program to be used to support full-time and part-time faculty in developing new and innovative curricula and pedagogy in Labor Studies. The program places strong emphasis on the humanities and social sciences (but not exclusively) and aims to foster the development of new courses that expand the coverage, reach, and format of labor education at Wayne State University.

Developing and Teaching New Employment: Labor Relations and Labor Studies Courses

Support of up to $5,000 can be requested to prepare new courses that aim to enhance Wayne’s Interdisciplinary Labor Studies/Employment and Labor Relations course offerings. These courses must be cross-listed in at least two units (one of which must be Employment and Labor Relations (ELR)). They can have, as their home department, either disciplinary departments, interdisciplinary programs such as AFS, CLLAS, GSW, or PCS, or the Employment and Labor Relations BA and MA programs. At the MA level, all proposed courses should be designed to be incorporated into an online MA in Employment and Labor Relations.

Courses

Courses should focus on specific issues that are thought-provoking and challenging as potential required courses for ELR majors and/or minors or as electives for a wider student audience. The final course syllabi will be submitted to Courseleaf for future inclusion in WSU course bulletins. Syllabi when submitted (along with new course proposal forms) should have clear objectives, outcomes, and evaluation rubric, and promote public education on labor and workplace issues. They also must fulfill Wayne State syllabi guidelines with regard to accessibility and transparency.

Eligibility

All recent or current full-time and part-time faculty at Wayne State University.

Final Project Requirements

(1) A full syllabus for a new cross-listed course that meets WSU syllabus guidelines, with learning outcomes, grade rubrics, and assessment measures. It should provide information on accessibility and student success resources. (2) A short description of how the course supports the development of skills, knowledge, and expertise in the workplace and/or labor relations. (3) A suggested timeline for submitting the course for approval and scheduling. All funded course proposals are due by August 1, 2024, but they may be submitted for review at any time. Recipients will be invited to a labor education and research workshop in spring-summer 2024, where they will be able to workshop syllabi and assignments.

Labor Education Grants

Can be used to partially fund summer salary (including fringe), and/or be used for additional course materials, research expenses, and/or a part-time graduate assistant to support developing online/ digital and/or in-person lectures and assignments; all costs should be included in the budget statement.

Proposal

Individual faculty apply by submitting a 2-3 page outline proposal, with the course listed, its relevance for ELR/Labor Studies curricula, the work plan for summer 2024, an itemized budget, and a timeline for submitting syllabus and miscellaneous course materials before August 1st, 2024. The proposal should be accompanied by an updated and signed Professional Record.

Deadline: May 1, 2024.

Submit materials to Elizabeth Faue, Director, Labor@wayne, ad5247@wayne.edu
The selected teaching projects will be announced by June 1, 2024.