HOUSTON -- Each year, thanks to generous funding from the Lone Star College System and the Lone Star College Foundation, a select number of mini-grants is awarded to small, innovative project ideas that address the college system’s goals and initiatives. 

These mini-grant funds are meant to assist faculty and staff in the development and implementation of exemplary projects not normally funded through the regular budgetary process. The mini-grants are also an excellent opportunity to utilize the funds as seed money to test an idea prior to applying to an external funding agency.

This year the following ideas were funded:

Performing Arts Master Classes 
Aaron Alon 

An $1800 mini-grant to fund “Master Classes” that will be led by local professional artists and/or musicians at the LSC-University Park campus. Master Classes will be open for public attendance.

Extending the Reach of Professional Development through WebEx capabilities 
Matt Keyworth 

This mini-grant will fund the purchase of a portable WebEx setup to make professional development more available to adjunct faculty who are unable to take advantage of professional development opportunities because of other professional responsibilities or geographic location. The WebEx equipment will also be available for other campus needs.

Culturally Relevant Materials for Puente Cohorts
Paula Khalaf, Brian Reeves and Shannon Hausinger 

Puente faculty have struggled with assignments because students report difficulty making textbook purchases due to cost. This mini-grant will fund the purchase of Kindle tablets and 3 e-books for each Kindle to allow students to check out a tablet and have access to course readings.

Tablets for Note-takers
Jennifer Wilson 

A note taker is someone who takes class notes for disabled students. This mini-grant will fund the purchase of tablets for note takers. Currently, note takers transcribe notes by hand and then type them into a Word program for dissemination to the relevant student. This limits the ability for notes in math and science courses and can also cause notes to get the student in an untimely manner. These tablets would allow note takers to utilize pictures and drawings in addition to text, and also get the notes to the student quickly.