As NIU College of Education leaders invite proposals for 2026-27 Educate and Engage programs that will transport students throughout the region, across the country and around the world, they are hoping to grow the number of local and national trips.
Proposals are due Sunday, March 1.
“Educate and Engage is highly impactful for students because it gives them meaningful, hands-on experiences that help them see the relevance of what they’re learning,” said Carolyn Pluim, associate dean for Academic Affairs.
“When students can apply their academic work in authentic community or professional settings, they build confidence, develop practical skills and begin to form a sense of who they are becoming in their field,” she said. “It’s often the moment when things ‘click’ for them in a new way.”
Because “we’ve recently seen these transformative moments for students traveling abroad, and while global applications are still absolutely encouraged,” she added, “we believe we can reach even more students – particularly those who might not typically have access to these kinds of high-impact learning experiences – through new local and national experiences.”
Funding for approved proposals is available in the next fiscal year (July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027).
“In the spirit of the Graffam grant, the committee hopes to see proposals that truly engage students in experiential learning: projects that bring theory to life through community, school-based or global partnerships,” Pluim said.
“The strongest proposals are intentional and student-centered,” she added. “They clearly articulate a meaningful educational purpose, outline a thoughtful experiential component and provide opportunities for students to actively participate and reflect.”
