Teacher Institute Grants

The West Virginia Humanities Council, serving as the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, administers the Teacher Institute Grant program to support professional development for educators through immersive summer seminars. These grants are designed to enhance humanities education among elementary and secondary teachers in West Virginia by supporting the development and delivery of intensive, scholar-led institutes hosted by eligible institutions. Teacher Institute Grants are available exclusively to colleges, universities, and the West Virginia Department of Education. The primary objective is to deepen teachers' engagement with humanities disciplines such as history, literature, philosophy, archaeology, and comparative religion. Each funded institute must offer at least three graduate-level staff or professional development hours eligible for certificate renewal and salary advancement. The tuition for these hours must be waived or significantly reduced from standard fees, ensuring accessibility for participating educators. Grant awards may be requested up to $20,000. All projects require a 1:1 cost share, including a minimum 25% cash match for grants over $2,000. Seminars must register a minimum of 20 teacher participants, or the Council reserves the right to cancel the program. The seminar should include a detailed daily schedule, involve qualified humanities scholars, and integrate a robust reading list to support the curriculum. Previously funded institutes have explored global cultures and music, and some have included international travel components to Japan, India, and England. The application must demonstrate a substantive humanities focus and provide detailed descriptions of the project’s goals, structure, scholarly content, promotional strategy, and evaluation methods. The project team must include experienced scholars and education professionals. A full budget narrative is required, along with resumes for institute directors. The grant application also requires submission of a proposed reading list and a description of offered credit hours. The Teacher Institute grant has a fixed annual deadline of September 1, with applicants advised to allow at least twelve weeks between the deadline and the proposed start of the seminar. Applications must be submitted through the Council’s Formstack portal and certified by the sponsoring institution’s CEO. Compliance with SAM.gov registration is mandatory for funding eligibility. Additional support or cost share from other sources is encouraged but not required. The Council’s goal through this grant is to enrich the professional lives of teachers and strengthen humanities education across West Virginia. By supporting institutions in providing high-quality, scholarly programming, the Council affirms its commitment to fostering a deeper public appreciation for the humanities.

Ensure at least three graduate-level hours are offered; confirm minimum of 20 teacher participants; waive or reduce tuition for credit hours. Engage humanities scholars early in project planning.