As the Chancellor announced last week in a message to the CUNY community, the University’s Black, Race, and Ethnic Studies Initiative (BRESI) has opened its submission period for Request for Proposals (RFPs) for related research.

There are nine separate RFPs to support work in the following Black, Race, and Ethnic Studies areas.

  • Course and curriculum design and curriculum and syllabus decolonization 
  • Mentored student research 
  • Creation of student internships
  • Projects to improve the college climate
  • Existing CUNY centers and institutes
  • Departments, programs, and related initiatives
  • Faculty support for related publications 
  • Faculty research grants for community colleges
  • Faculty research grants for senior colleges 

Detailed information on each of these RFPs and the submission process can be found online. 

Here are some key points that you should relay when disseminating the announcement:

  • RFP submission deadline is close of business day, Friday, July 15, 2022
  • Only full-time faculty or staff are eligible to serve as principal investigators on proposals; part-time faculty are encouraged to serve as co-PIs and will need to partner with full-time colleagues on submissions
  • Faculty who do not have much experience with RFP submissions are especially encouraged to apply
  • The submission process is a supportive process — BRESI Council representatives will be available to answer questions via email and will hold an online information session on Tuesday, June 7. Details and contact information can be found online. 
  • Students may apply for funding, but they must partner with eligible faculty or staff on a research project or experiential learning opportunity in order to do so.
  • Applicants are strongly encouraged to work with their local Grants Offices to complete and submit the proposals. The BRESI team will be meeting with Grants Officers soon to brief them on the details of these RFPs.

I hope that you will take advantage of this unique and important opportunity to empower the CSI community through research, scholarship, and creative and innovative work.​ If you want to discuss any of these opportunities, feel free to contact your Chair, Dean, or me. 

By Michael Parrish