Introducing The Spring 2026 Broader Impact Fellows Program

The Broader Impact Fellows Program will add to the Office of Engagement’s Professional Development programs and foster the development of broader-scale impact across mission areas for faculty and staff. The program will specifically focus on integrating broader impact in grant submissions and enhancing multi-dimensional impact at the community level.

Program description

Twelve (12) faculty and/or staff members from the West Lafayette campus will be chosen to participate in this program designed to span the 2026 spring semester. Any faculty or staff member able to submit proposals for external funding, especially those interested in broader impact, are invited to apply. This program encompasses all mission areas: learning, discovery, and engagement. Fellows will work with a panel of senior faculty mentors from Purdue who have a history of successful engaged scholarship. This program will focus on: (1) enhancing broader impact across mission areas, 2) integrating broader impact within grant proposals; and (3) enhancing broader impact at the community level. Fellows will receive direct feedback from mentors on their proposals, with a special emphasis on integrating broader impact.

Fellows will receive $1000 for participating and completing the semester-long program.

Expectations

Fellows will develop their broader impact portfolio during the fellowship, as well as:

• Identify and describe a proposal with community benefit and scholarly output with impact;
• Work with faculty mentors to develop appropriate short/long-term goals for this project;
• Demonstrate understanding of broader impact through completion of grant proposal executive summary and logic model;
• Attend workshops and webinars, in person or via Zoom.

Application Process

Candidates are required to submit a written application for the program. The application must include the following components:

1. A brief statement (1-2 pages) of interest in the Broader Impact Fellows Program and why this program will augment the individual’s academic career;
2. A brief description of the individual’s proposal idea including community partners, their role(s), scholarly outputs, proposed assessments, anticipated impact and mission area focus;
3. Examples of how their research (within any of the three mission areas) has impacted the community, if possible;
4. A statement of support from the department head and dean (email is sufficient; no formal letter required).

This is a highly competitive program. Applications must be submitted to Jason Ware,
jaware@purdue.edu, no later than the end of business on Friday, December 12, 2025. Final
decisions will be made and communicated to the applicants by the end of business on Friday,
December 19, 2025.