UC Speech Grants

Valuing Open and Inclusive Conversation and Engagement (VOICE) Grant Program

Ends on November 8, 2019

The UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement is pleased to announce the Valuing Open and Inclusive Conversation and Engagement (VOICE) Grant Program. VOICE provides funding for UC students, staff and faculty who are interested in conducting research or coordinating programs and activities that further the mission of the Center. 

Mission:  Free and open discourse is essential to the mission of higher education. The Center explores how the fundamental democratic and academic principles of free speech and civic engagement should enrich the discovery and transmission of knowledge in America’s colleges and universities.  Through research, advocacy, debate and discussion, the Center is dedicated to ensuring that the next generation of leaders is prepared to understand, defend and advance these values.

Below are some examples of programs, activities and research topics that may be eligible for funding (this is not an exhaustive list; we encourage originality and creativity):

• skills-building training, workshops (e.g., voter registration/education, legislative advocacy, fostering civic exercise);
• facilitating debate, dialogue and conversation;
• civil discourse: what is it? how do we nurture it?;
• relationship between free speech and other values such as inclusivity and equity;
• hate speech, its impact and/or how to mitigate its harms;
• civic education: how do we foster it?;
• engaging with democratic principles and ideals.

The Center is especially interested in projects that:

will have an impact on campus by fostering and sustaining conversations and engagement across and within campus constituencies.

VOICE grants will be awarded on a competitive basis. One goal of the program is to award grants to individuals/groups from each of the 10 UC campuses. The Center will fund the VOICE grants; grant recipients will administer awarded projects in compliance with both UC policies and campus-specific guidance on the campus(es) where the projects take place.

Individual grant amounts can be up to $5,000 (applicants will be asked to upload a proposed budget for the amount requested), and the total number of grants awarded will depend on the amount requested by the final proposals selected.

Who is Eligible?

All current UC students, staff and faculty are eligible to receive a grant as individuals or as members of a group, team, office or department...

Details at https://freespeechcenter.submittable.com/submit/147345/valuing-open-and-inclusive-conversation-and-engagement-voice-grant-program