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Bennion Teachers' Workshop
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About the MWC
Mountain West Center for
Regional Studies
0735 Old Main Hill
Utah State University
Logan, UT 84322-0735  
phone:  435.797.3630
fax: 435.797.3899
email:  mwc@cc.usu.edu   

CALL FOR PROPOSALS
The Ione and Wayne Bennion
Teachers’ Workshop for the Perpetuation of Democratic Principles
Mountain West Center for Regional Studies

Funding is available for USU faculty or faculty teams to design a teachers’ workshop for the summer of 2010. The deadline for proposals is March 2, 2009.

The Bennion Teachers’ Workshop for the Perpetuation of Democratic Principles is a program made possible by an endowment to Utah State University’s Mountain West Center for Regional Studies. The endowment was created by Ione Bennion, a teacher and community activist, to “provide an atmosphere and the educational resources to explore the concepts upon which democracy is built, the conditions under which it flourishes, and the dangers to its existence.”

The workshop is held each summer and is attended by K-12 teachers and prospective teachers from throughout Utah and the Mountain West. Teachers expect the workshop to be high in content that gives them both background in the subject matter and tools for use in the classroom.

The workshop is directed by USU faculty or faculty teams who have proposed a topic and outlined a plan for the workshop. (If, at any time, there is a lack of proposals from USU faculty, we may solicit proposals from faculty members at USU or other universities.) Most good proposals include visiting speakers, hands-on experiences, practical assignments, and time for discussion and interaction among students and faculty.

How to Apply
The individual or individuals applying will need to prepare a proposal narrative and budget for the workshop. Applications are accepted approximately 1 1/2 years in advance of the proposed workshop dates, thus allowing optimal preparation time. The workshop is usually held during one of the conference weeks on the USU campus (pre- and post-summer semester in June and August). Applicants may suggest other times and places but should explain their rationale for the change. Distance learning technology may be employed as well. Effective communication and involvement with workshop participants are key considerations.

The Narrative. The proposal narrative should be up to five pages and include:
* a title for the workshop
* learning objectives
* plans for each of the five days
* names of proposed speakers and directors
* expected needs for copy services, technical services, food services, etc.
* a publicity and marketing plan—Who do you want to attend and how will you attract them? While the project directors assume primary responsibility for publicity and generating lists for mailing, the Mountain West Center staff will assist in this area and provide mailing lists as well.
* preferred number of students

The Budget. All costs should be itemized and realistic, including:
* an appropriate fee for the director(s). In general, a month’s salary for the lead director has been a rule of thumb when that person assumes responsibility for follow-up with students and for mentoring student projects. One to two directors is optimum; three have occasionally worked out, though three directors stretch the budget and may limit the ability to bring in outside speakers.
* fees/honoraria and travel for visiting speakers
* costs of teaching assistants, graduate assistants, or staff assistants
* field trip expenses (if applicable)
* materials costs
* food costs (breaks, lunches, etc.)
* publicity costs (printing, mailing, phone, etc.)
* distance learning or other technological costs
* copying, phone, postage as needed

An appropriate budget will probably be in the $15,000 - $20,000 range. Funding variances from year to year may require a smaller budget.

Note: If you have an idea for a workshop, but need help putting together the figures or if you would like to informally discuss ideas, potential activities, speakers, etc., please make an appointment with our staff well in advance of the application deadline, and we will by happy to work with you.

Deadline for Applications
Applications are due by March 2, 2009. A March 2 postmark is acceptable for proposals sent via the U.S. Postal Service or an overnight delivery service. We are currently accepting applications for the summer of 2010. All applications will be reviewed by MWC staff, who will make recommendations to the Bennion board of trustees, which in turn will make its decision by March 31, 2009. If you have questions, you may contact us by email at mwc@cc.usu.edu or phone at 435.797.3630.

For the 2010 workshop, please mail or deliver applications by 5:00 pm March 2, 2009 to:
Bennion Workshop Proposals
Mountain West Center for Regional Studies
0735 Old Main Hill
Logan UT 84322-0735

Examples of recent workshops:
“Politics and the Media,” directed by Peter Galderisi, Associate Professor of Political Science, and Michael Sweeney, Assistant Professor in Journalism and Communication.

“Democracy, Access and Language Diversity in American Classrooms,” directed by James Bame, Professor of Intensive English, Susan Carkin, Associate Professor of Intensive English, and John Lackstrom, Professor of Spanish, English, Linguistics, and ESL.

“Representation and Participation: Music, Poetry, and Democratic Ideals in the Classroom,” directed by Bruce Saperston, Chair of the Music Department, and Brock Dethier, Assistant Professor of English.

“Counting Every Vote and Making Every Vote Count,” directed by Peter Galderisi, Associate Professor of Political Science.

“Reading, Reflection, and Respect: Building Democracy through Multicultural Literature for Children and Young Adults,” directed by Lynn Langer Meeks and Patricia M. Gantt, both professors of English at Utah State University.

Fairness for Girls and Boys: Gender and Democratic Principles in America’s Schools,” directed by Anne M. Butler, Professor of History, and Jay Butler, Lecturer in English.