CREEdO Seed Grants & Proposals

Our seed grant program with Oregon State University Ecampus supports innovative research in online engineering education. By funding preliminary studies and facilitating collaborative grant proposals, we pave the way for larger projects and advancements in online learning.

CREEdO Seed Grants

CREEdO's seed grant competition supports researchers and instructors in OSU's College of Engineering to explore new ways of enhancing online learning. We encourage recipients to conduct their research within OSU's top-ranked online programs in computing and engineering, as they offer valuable contexts for studying online education. This research can improve Ecampus programs and provide insights applicable to broader educational settings.

Competition Goals

The competition aims to enhance current and future online courses and degree programs in the OSU College of Engineering. It encourages the pursuit of new lines of inquiry not already supported by grants and broadens current research efforts to address online engineering education in ways that have the potential for future external funding. Additionally, it provides research foundations for new proposals to external funding programs, such as the National Science Foundation IUSE.

Seed Grant Benefits

Seed grants offer several benefits, including $25,000 for faculty support, support for a 12-month graduate research assistant (GRA) position, including tuition and benefits, and a pool of $8,300 (across all awards) available to support formal assessment. Applicants should request and justify a specific amount based on their needs.

Important Dates: 2025-2026 Competition

October 2025 Announcement posted

February 2026 Proposals due

April 2026 Decisions announced (estimated)

Example Proposal Topics

  • Designing educational technologies to support and enhance online learning, including
    • tools for constructing, discussing, and obtaining feedback on disciplinary representations (e.g., circuit diagrams, process flow diagrams, algorithms, graphs)
    • tools to support the exploration of disciplinary concepts through augmented and virtual reality
    • tools to support the formation and sustenance of online learning communities
    • tools to support enhanced monitoring of, assessment of, and feedback on online learning (e.g., learning analytics dashboards)
  • Bridging the on-campus and online student experience
  • Closing gender, and intersectional gaps in online learning
  • Comparing the effectiveness of alternative pedagogical approaches, curricular features, technologies, or modalities
  • Expanding the use of computation in online learning
  • Increasing access to College of Engineering programs
  • Creating innovating assessment practices
  • Promoting more active and interactive engagement in online learning
  • Leveraging learning analytics to enhance online learning
  • Developing online laboratories
  • Promoting enhanced social and cognitive engagement

Project Requirements and Goals

  • Establish realistic goals and timelines, taking into consideration possible delays in Institutional Review Board reviews.
  • Submit a final report, paper, or proposal for external funding (preferred)
  • Submit an approved abstract (project start) and summary (project completion) for public disclosure
  • Submit quarterly reports in the form of a one page update on progress toward goals and milestones
  • Adhere to the project schedule in the Memorandum of Understanding established for the project
  • Supported graduate students must be enrolled in a degree program in the College of Engineering.

SUBMIT A PROPOSAL

To apply, download the proposal template and submit it before the deadline. The template includes eligibility details and submission instructions.