The Eirik Børve Fund for Foreign Language Instruction at Case Western Reserve University offers competitive grants to encourage the development of innovative foreign language instruction with the goal of preparing students for international educational experiences.

Full-time faculty members or full-time lecturers in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures (DMLL), and full-time faculty members in other departments in the College of Arts and Sciences, whether in the arts, humanities, social sciences, or natural and mathematical sciences, are eligible to apply for these grants. 

The expected maximum grant for individual projects is $20,000 for DMLL-led initiatives and $5,000 for all other initiatives led by college faculty.

However, proposals requesting more than the expected maximum amount will be considered for especially ambitious projects that substantially advance the vision of the Eirik Børve Fund. The fund places a special emphasis on using technology and new media in presenting course content to students; ensuring access to both local
and international resources; and developing effective means of assessing program offerings and student learning.

Funding Areas

Applicants may request funding in the following areas.

  1. Capital projects. This category includes but is not limited to:
  • constructing or renovating smart classrooms dedicated to foreign language instruction;
  • developing digital humanities technical expertise and technology infrastructure, with the goal of integrating multimedia competencies and research skills into curricula and assignments;
  • multi-year project proposals are allowed, combining equipment, instruction, and student scholarships; and/or
  • collaborative projects involving up to three languages.
  1. Development of innovative foreign language instructional methods, materials and courses. This category includes but is not limited to:
  • hiring adjunct faculty to accomplish proposal goals or to support course release (including salary and fringe);
  • providing honoraria to support non-CWRU faculty collaboration and accomplish proposal goals;
  • acquiring or creating instructional materials;
  • convening interdisciplinary working groups, made up of faculty and students as well as colleagues from other educational and cultural institutions, to explore questions related to foreign language instruction; and/or
  • seed funds to create new language-related programs to encourage the college to provide salary and benefits.
  1. Professional development for students and faculty members in using or developing research and instructional tools. This category includes but is not limited to:
  • services;
  • software;
  • equipment; and/or
  • attending or organizing workshops and conferences.

Application Requirements

In addition to the cover sheet, complete applications must include:

  1. A brief description of the project (maximum 1,000 words) that includes:
  • a statement of its objectives;
  • explanation of funding needed; and
  • intended outcomes and impact of the project, including a possible future continuation of the project or creation of related initiatives.
  1. Detailed budget and justification: A detailed budget that includes all anticipated expenses and other sources of funding.
  2. Curriculum vitae (maximum three pages) of the applicant(s). If the project includes any visiting speaker or participant, please include their CV and a brief description of why their participation is fundamental for the success of the project.
  3. Letter for support from the applicant’s department chair or, if the applicant is a chair, from a dean, clearly indicating what departmental or other resources might also be available for this project and can be included as part of the funding.

If the project involves technology resources and/or on-campus physical facilities, consult the college’s director of information technology and/or director of facilities management and include in the proposal the results of that consultation, such as anticipated expenses. (Allow time for these consultations in your proposal preparation.)

Review and Award Process

Applications will be accepted in two cycles. The submission deadline for spring and summer projects will take place in early November, with notifications by mid-December. The submission deadline for fall projects will take place in early April, with notifications by the end of the spring semester. Please check back for 2026 and 2027 application deadlines.

All complete applications will be reviewed by the Børve Committee; it will make recommendations to the Office of the Dean, who will make final award decisions. Funds must be spent by the deadline specified in the award letter. Awardees should work with the college’s Office of the Dean finance team to obtain reimbursements for each award.

Final Report

All awardees will be required to produce a final report (ca. 700-1000 words) within four weeks of a project’s conclusion. The report should include:

  • a project activity summary;
  • a statement of progress toward each intended outcome stated in the proposal (include specific details and data);
  • a line-item expense report; and
  • next steps (for example, if the grant funded course development activities, when will the course be offered?).

For questions, please email cas-grants@case.edu.