Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Questions? Contact manufacturingacademy@msu.edu
The Apple Manufacturing Academy (AMA), in partnership with the Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation (CTLI), invites the MSU campus community to submit proposals for the Teaching Innovation Grant. This opportunity supports curriculum innovation focused on industry collaboration and professional learning, designed specifically for manufacturing business owners looking to grow their expertise and operations. Across a two-day event, this grant connects MSU faculty with Apple engineers and manufacturing business owners to closely collaborate on advanced manufacturing ecosystems and economic growth.
Proposed workshops should maximize participant engagement through applied, industry-relevant learning experiences. MSU faculty are encouraged to design and deliver hands-on, problem-solving learning experiences that reflect real-world challenges faced by manufacturing business owners in advanced manufacturing. Proposals should emphasize innovation, collaboration, and practical application to ensure manufacturing business owners gain both conceptual understanding and skills directly transferable to modernizing and growing their operations. Applicants may propose new topics or adapt from our Course Offerings.
Selected MSU faculty will receive a grant award, transferred to an expendable restricted account within their academic unit. The award supports an ongoing engagement with the Apple Manufacturing Academy through two core deliverables: an in-person workshop delivered at the Apple Manufacturing Academy's location in Detroit, and a self-paced digital version of the workshop hosted on the Apple Manufacturing Academy D2L platform for long-term use and impact. The total award covers MSU faculty effort for in-person and online workshop development, and approved operational expenses (e.g., mileage, lodging, instructional materials).
Once a workshop is approved, faculty become eligible to teach at the Academy's monthly events, earning $2,000 per workshop taught. Up to four hours of early arrival pay at $100 per hour to ensure technology functionality. Faculty may also optionally offer 1:1 consultations with manufacturing business owners on the day following each workshop delivery at $500 per hour — this is an add-on opportunity and is not required.
Each MSU faculty member will be paired with a Learning Experience Designer from CTLI, who will serve as a consultant and guide to support the effective transfer of their workshop in D2L. The CTLI designer will also be responsible for quality assurance and will provide the final sign-off on the D2L workshop.
Develop one (1) in-person workshop to be taught at Apple Manufacturing Academy two-day events in Detroit.
Schedule sessions based on availability and deliver at any monthly Academy event.
Design the in-person workshop for delivery within a 1-2 hour timeframe.
Arrive before class to set up and confirm technology functionality. Up to four hours of early arrival pay at $100 per hour
Participate in preparation calls with Apple Manufacturing Academy staff to align content with Academy goals and the needs of manufacturing business owners.
Participate in the pre-award MSU faculty orientation session hosted by Apple Manufacturing Academy staff.
Conduct workshop delivery on Apple devices. Familiarity with Keynote is recommended.
(Optional) Offer 1:1 consultations with manufacturing business owners on the day following each workshop delivery at $500 per hour.
Develop a digital version of the workshop for the Apple Manufacturing Academy D2L platform, ensuring long-term use and impact. The workshop will be self-paced and added to the current Apple Manufacturing Academy catalog alongside other Apple-created courses.
Collaborate with MSU–Apple teams to share teaching resources across departments.
Comply with Intellectual Property (IP) terms specified in the award agreement.
Open to all MSU faculty (tenure-track, fixed-term, and academic specialists), postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students with an interest in curriculum innovation and applied learning in content related to advanced manufacturing.
Applicants must submit a proposal of no more than three pages, including:
Proposals will be evaluated on the following:
Funds will be disbursed after the completion of a workshop, directly to the grantee's department. After the funds have been disbursed, the department fiscal officer is the point of contact to access the award.
Ineligible expenses include:
All budgeted items must fall within the award limit and align with the Apple Manufacturing Academy's teaching and learning goals.
Application Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Interview: Applicants selected to move forward will be contacted by the Apple Manufacturing Academy team to further discuss their proposal as a final step to the proposal review process.
Online and In-Person Development Period: Up to 6 months post grant acceptance.
Submit proposals via this Qualtrics form.
Questions? Contact manufacturingacademy@msu.edu