The Career Center — in collaboration with the Center for Digital Innovation in Learning (CDIL) and the University Council on Teaching (UCT) — launched the Integrative Learning Faculty Grant, a new initiative designed to recognize and support faculty members who are interested in fostering integrative learning in their classrooms.

What is Integrative Learning?

Students bring their whole selves to the classroom. In turn, an integrative approach to learning supports their intellectual, social, and spiritual dimensions as described in The Journey into Adulthood. 

We define integrative learning as the ability for students to make connections between their

• Different classes
• Present and future lives outside the classroom
• Personal values and what the world calls them to be

In the BC context, integrative learning is a way to bring “the three questions” that Boston College frequently uses to frame formation into students’ academic lives.

1. What brings me joy?
2. What am I good at?
3. Who does the world need me to be?

This grant recognizes and supports faculty interested in designing classroom experiences that are formative in the way that they integrate classroom learning and individual reflection to support student formation and readiness for the future.

Grant Overview & Support

The Integrative Learning Faculty Grant was open to all faculty members across all disciplines, particularly those whose courses may not traditionally focus on career readiness and student formation. This award aims to inspire innovative approaches to integrating these concepts into a wide range of academic fields. We also encouraged projects with multiple faculty members, either within the same discipline or across disciplines. Each project that was selected will received a $2000 grant. 

With dedicated support from the Career Center and the Center for Digital Innovation in Learning (CDIL), grant recipients will engaged in a development period to advance their project from initial idea to implementation. The Career Center assisted in aligning course content with career readiness objectives, while the Center for Digital Innovation in Learning provided guidance on incorporating digital tools and innovative teaching methods. 

Selected projects needed to be implemented in one or more courses during the semester immediately following receipt of the grant.

Grant Criteria

Grant recipients were selected based on applications that demonstrated a thoughtful and innovative approach to integrating the following elements into one or more courses. Grant recipients received hands-on support from the Career Center and CDIL in applying these elements to their teaching practice. 

1. Integrative Learning: We sought proposals that clearly articulated how integrative learning would be incorporated into the course. This included making interdisciplinary connections and applying course concepts to real-world situations. We directed applications to the Career Center – CDIL Integrative Learning faculty working group for examples of what this can look like in practice at BC.
2. Career Readiness: Proposals needed to identify how the course would equip students with the core career readiness competencies and knowledge necessary for their future lives and careers. We looked for specific learning activities or assignments that foster career readiness through integrative learning.
3. Reflection: Applicants needed to outline how reflective activities or assignments would be used in the course to help students internalize and apply what they have learned. 
4. Effective Learning Design:  Successful proposals demonstrated a cohesive approach to course development. We looked for an overall learning design that seamlessly integrated the elements of integrative learning, career readiness, and reflection.

Additional consideration was given to those who collaborated within or across departments.

Application Process & Timeline 

Interested faculty members were invited to apply for the award by application form. Applications were reviewed by the University Council on Teaching (UCT), composed of faculty members from across the university. A representative from the Career Center and CDIL was present for the application reviews to ensure alignment with the grant criteria.

Timeline:

• June 2025: Application Opened
• August 17, 2025: Application Deadline
• Mid-September 2025: Recipients were notified
• October-December 2025: Recipients worked with CDIL and the Career Center
• Spring 2026: Recipients implement their project in one or more courses