Now accepting requests for Spring 2026 courses. The deadline to request AEF support for next semester is December 1, 2025. Decisions will be announced on or before January 6, 2026.
Submit a Request for Spring 2026
The Virginia Sapiro Academic Enhancement Fund (AEF) enables CAS faculty members to build experiential learning (EL) into undergraduate CAS courses, using historic and contemporary Boston as an extended classroom and taking advantage of the city and University as magnets for leading academics, artists, industry professionals, and experts in diverse subject areas.
The activities supported by the fund will complement or enrich students’ experience in your course, giving them the opportunity to apply material from class and to learn by doing.
AEF awards are intended for use when department/program funds are either not available or cannot sufficiently cover the faculty member’s request. As AEF funding is extremely limited, department/program funds should be the first avenue of support for course-based experiential learning activities. Before submitting an AEF request, applicants must confer with their chair/director to determine whether the activity can be covered by the department/program (e.g., from gift accounts or the operating budget).
Award amounts are typically determined by course enrollment and capped at $45 per student. Current fund levels allow the AEF to support EL activities for approximately 100 students each semester (across multiple courses, if applicable). As of Fall 2024, faculty members receiving awards will be asked to have their students complete a short reflection on their experiential learning activity.
Funding is reserved for new or pilot EL initiatives; activities that are a required part of the curriculum and those integral to the course design will not be supported. AEF funds are intended for one-time purposes only. (Requests for recurring funding should be made as part of the annual budget submission process. Please work with administrators in your department or program to prepare the request.) View a list of activities previously funded by the AEF.
Examples of ways the funds may be used to support experiential learning include:
- Cultural experiences and events
- Site visits to meet with practitioners in the field
- Live performances, artist talks, symposia
- Visiting exhibitions
- Travel to locations not accessible by the T or bus lines for research or fieldwork
- Software licenses or other tools for course projects
- Honoraria for guest speakers (not to exceed $250/speaker)
Funds may not be used for:
- Local transportation expenses for locations that are accessible by the T or bus lines
- Standard course materials (materials needed every semester)
- Recurring activities (e.g., activities that are an established part of the curriculum or required every semester)
- Activities that have occurred before the submission of the funding request
The fund is administered by the CAS Experiential Learning Connector. Due to budget constraints, we are unlikely to be able to support every request. Where possible, we will work with your department/program to find alternative sources of funding.
If your request is approved, the College will require the submission of a usage report that describes:
- How the funds were used
- The benefits derived by use of the funds, as well as photos, when applicable.
Additionally, fund recipients will be asked to have their students complete reflections about the activity.
Submission for reimbursement is required within two weeks of the funded activity .
The AEF does not provide funding for summer classes or graduate-level classes. This application process is for undergraduate CAS courses only.
Questions may be directed to Erin Salius, director of the CAS Experiential Learning Connector.