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2026-2027 Campus Block Grants

Funding for the 2026-2027 Campus Block Grant award cycle will be used to develop fully online, hybrid online, and hybrid in-person courses that focus on digitally accessible and inclusive instruction. For definitions of online/hybrid courses, please see UCLA Academic Senate distance education policies for undergraduate and graduate courses.

This grant offers dedicated resources and support for instructors to engage in intentional course design using the best practices in online/hybrid learning, digital technology, and inclusive excellence. Instructors can revise a course, create a new course from start to finish, or develop portable modules with support from a team of course designers and other specialists at the Teaching and Learning Center. The resulting course content will not only increase access for diverse learners, but also create “crisis-proof” teaching materials and transform how students engage with content, instructors, and peers in their learning community.

Strategic Needs

We seek proposals for online and hybrid courses that broaden access to courses at UCLA. Preference will be given to courses offered at least five quarters (excluding the summer) in the next five academic years after the initial launch. We will also prioritize course proposals that meet the following strategic needs:

Creating an online or hybrid course that alleviates curriculum bottlenecks and supports timely degree completion.
Developing an online or hybrid course that demonstrates innovative pedagogical practices, such as alternative assessment design, technology-enhanced student engagement strategies (including integration of AI), and inclusive teaching practices.
Building online modules or course components that will be used in multiple courses, targeting data-informed interventions to address specific barriers to student success in a course.

Timeline

Proposals for Campus Block Grants must be submitted by June 26, 2026 for projects proposed during the 2026-2027 fiscal year (July 1 – June 30).

Award Details

All UCLA instructors of record for undergraduate, graduate, and professional student courses are eligible to apply. The course must be offered in the modality proposed no later than Spring 2028. Courses and modules offered in self-supported degree programs are not eligible for funding.

These grants provide financial resources ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 per instructor of record per academic year, for wages for student workers or staff to assist with the project, and financial support for faculty and instructors (up to $10,000 each).

The following in-kind support can be provided by the Teaching and Learning Center free of charge:

Up to 120 hours of dedicated instructional design support
Up to 60 hours of media production services
Priority admission to course design and other relevant TLC programming
Course quality assurance review, including accessibility, pedagogy, and technology usage
Up to 20 hours of consultative support for assessment of student engagement and project effectiveness
Up to 20 hours of consultative support for the remediation of complex course content with digital accessibility specialist

Specific in-kind support will be determined by course needs and outlined in a Statement of Work at the start of the grant.

The TLC also provides support for IRB proposals and quantitative and qualitative research studies related to course development. Sandbox (Tier 2) grants may be leveraged to defray publication costs for a successful pedagogical research project.

Course Design Outcomes

To ensure the quality of online and hybrid teaching at UCLA, instructors are expected to partner with instructional designers to create courses that:

Use instructional material, videos, and the course content that meet UCOP’s digital accessibility standards and UC IT Accessibility Policy (ITAP).
Include a mix of formative and summative assessments, with timely and meaningful feedback mechanisms to support student learning.
Leverage appropriate digital tools to motivate student engagement, including regular instructor presence, interactive activities, and peer-to-peer collaboration.
Maintain open course access and share developed instructional content with the academic unit for potential future use if the granted instructor no longer teaches the course.
Evaluate the effectiveness or impact of the course, and use this information to iteratively improve the course over multiple offerings.
Are approved for an online/hybrid modality in accordance with the UCLA Academic Senate distance education policies for undergraduate and graduate courses.

Proposal Expectations

Successful applications should emphasize addressing digital accessibility and aligns with at least one of the strategic needs outlined above. They should also demonstrate pedagogical alignment, explaining how the online or hybrid course will be designed to facilitate student learning, engagement, and the overall academic experience.

Proposals will be rated on impact, feasibility, and sustainability. Expectations include:

First, proposals should explain the impact of the developed course on teaching and learning at UCLA, along with a clear plan for assessing whether the course meets its intended goals. This may include the number of students, instructors, peers, and/or community members at UCLA or LA engaged, supported, or inspired by the course enhancements or innovations, in alignment with the UCLA Strategic Plan.
Second, proposals should include a defined course development, approval, and launch timeline, specifying the in-kind contributions requested from the TLC or other campus teaching support units and time committed by the instructor and all other collaborators.
1. A full course design process typically occurs over 6-8 months. During this time, instructors should plan to allocate at least 2 hours per week to discuss and review content, plus at least 4 hours per week when producing content with instructional designers or media staff (storyboarding, recording videos, embedding assessments, etc).
2. If the course has not yet been approved as an online/hybrid course, in accordance with UCLA Academic Senate distance education policies for undergraduate and graduate courses, instructors can include TLC support for the course approval process in the timeline, which must be completed at least one month before proposals are due, or 7+ months before course launch.
Third, proposals should include how often the course will be taught and how the department will sustain it. Principal Investigators (PIs) are encouraged to explore opportunities for their department or program leadership (e.g., chair or vice chair) to either commit matching/partial funds and/or contribute other non-monetary support of the project to evidence a broader investment in the success and sustainability of the proposed course. Departmental support should be articulated in the department chair’s letter of support (see below).
Fourth, instructors are encouraged to explore offering the course to students enrolled at other UCs via UC Online’s cross-campus enrollment program. Funding to subsidize the costs of instructional support of cross-enrolled students will be distributed to the department based on the number of students from other UCs enrolled at the end of week 3, although this may be subject to change. Notably, these funds are not guaranteed.The UC Online subsidy may be ended at any time.

Schedule a Consultation

PIs are strongly encouraged to reach out to the TLC’s Instructional Design & Media Production team at idmp@teaching.ucla.edu or schedule a consultation meeting. TLC Consultations can provide personalized guidance on project ideas and address any questions about the proposal process. This opportunity is intended to help PIs develop a competitive proposal and is not for lobbying on behalf of a proposal. The goal is to help instructors refine and focus their projects and ensure the proposals are as compelling and well-prepared as possible.

Furthermore, consultations with Academic Senate staff are strongly encouraged early in the process to discuss proposals related to academic programs and courses. (See UCLA Academic Senate distance education policies for undergraduate and graduate courses)

For all technology-related requests using tools outside of UCLA-approved Academic Technology tools, Principal Investigators must consult with the Bruin Learn Center of Excellence to ensure alignment with campus IT policies and scalability requirements.

Awarded Funds

Awarded funds will be transferred directly to departments, which bear full responsibility for administering the funding and any associated vendor payments in strict accordance with university policies, as well as state and federal regulations. Departments will also be solely accountable for any budget overages. Funds should be used within the funding period specified in the award letter; no carry-forwards are allowed if funds are not spent by the end of the fiscal year corresponding to the award end date. Any remaining funds will be returned to the TLC.

Requirements Associated with Awarded Funds

Award recipients will receive a closing email from TLC after course launch and be asked to complete the following reporting requirements. Please note that future funding eligibility is contingent upon completion of all reporting requirements:

Progress report shared with Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning and department chair at the end of the funding period.
A copy of your revised syllabus for each impacted course reflecting the changes that have been incorporated as a result of this grant.
Contribution to a TLC event, resource, or article to promote specific aspects of the course design and inspire peers.
Completion of a brief survey.

Award recipients of Campus Block Grants will be invited to an annual celebration sponsored by the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning where you will be invited to showcase your accomplishments. Campus community members, including department chairs and Deans, will be invited to learn more about your efforts to elevate teaching at UCLA. Award recipients will also be able to invite up to three guests to join them for the celebration. In addition, grant recipients will be invited to attend the annual Andrea L. Rich Night to Honor Teaching, in which we will formally recognize awardees for their achievements.

Finally, within six months of the closing date, award recipients should arrange time at a departmental meeting to present their work to colleagues and their Chair. Feedback from this discussion should inform future development efforts, particularly if planning to submit future grant proposals related to the same project.

Successful projects will be featured on the TLC website, newsletter and other promotional materials, particularly as they showcase the myriad ways instructors are advancing Goal 4 of the UCLA strategic plan to elevate how we teach.

Proposal Requirements Checklist

Checklist with Proposal Requirements

Instructor
- Full name, title, and email address of the primary instructor leading the proposed project
Collaborator(s)
- Full names, titles, and email addresses of additional instructors or other project personnel involved in the project; this may include personnel from campus units other than TLC who are contributing effort to the project, whether funded or provided as in-kind support
Course(s)
- Course name
- Upload Syllabus: For projects that involve revisions to existing course(s), please upload PDF copies of your original syllabus or syllabi for these courses (before making changes associated with your proposed project). See Academic Senate Policy on Course Syllabi.
Upload the Distance Education Worksheet for your Undergraduate or Graduate course.
Funding requested (Include an exact budget for request, without exceeding the maximum specified limits). A sample budget is provided for general reference.
Brief budget justification (<500 words)
Department Chair Name and Email
Letter of Support from Department Chair (see guidelines for Letter of Support).
FAU
Any anticipated in-kind departmental/instructor contributions/support for this project (optional).

To submit your proposal, please click the online submission button. Note: you may wish to prepare these documents prior to beginning to complete the online form.

Restrictions

Funding for the development of approved courses cannot be combined with support from other Educational Innovation Grants offered by the TLC.
Grant funds may not be used to supplement regular departmental expenses and budgets, thus, any expenses intrinsic to the teaching of a course will not be approved.
Funds for hardware, software, or instructional equipment must be integrated into programmatic improvements and be used strictly for instructional purposes. Equipment costs may not exceed $6,000.
For all technology-related requests, applicants must consult with the Bruin Learn Center of Excellence and their local IT unit as appropriate to ensure alignment with campus IT policies and scalability requirements.
Instructional media requests must be reviewed and approved by the UCLA Library’s Instructional Media Collections and Services team by completing a media request form. However, if the proposed Campus Block Grant project relies on securing those instructional media resources, applicants should note in their application that they applied for library funds. For questions about instructional media requests, contact imlib@cinema.ucla.edu.
There is limited fee remission support for GSRs or ASEs provided through the TLC Catalyst Grant program; only up to $7K for one academic quarter may be requested and included in the proposed budget. Any fee remissions exceeding this amount as well as all TIF, worker’s compensation, and other hiring fees will be the responsibility of the hiring department and thus should not be included in the budget worksheet. Please note that graduate student employees do not incur tuition and fees during summer months.
The copyright to any material, including, but not limited to, technology, software, games, video clips, etc., developed with UC Online and/or TLC grant funds will reside with the Regents of the University of California. For further information, please review the UC Copyright Ownership Policy.

FAQs

When will applicants be notified of the status of their application?

Applicants will be notified of TLC funding decisions within a month after the submission deadline closes.

When will funds be awarded?

Funds will be processed after the Statement of Work and Memorandum of Understanding are completed, in the month following notification of provisional awardees.

Is there a minimum number of offerings for my course over a specified period of time?

Preference will be given to those teaching the course at least five times in the next five years inclusive of the first course launch.

Does my class have to be offered for cross-campus enrollment?

No, but this is strongly encouraged. Offering courses for cross-campus enrollment allows students from across the UCs to access the unique expertise of UCLA instructors. Departments may be eligible to receive additional instructional support subsidies based on available funding from the UC Online program.

Can funds be requested to support participation of Senate faculty?

Yes, up to $10K in funds may be used towards the salary/benefits of non-Senate faculty. Funds also may be requested as research or professional development support as long as the purpose is related to and will help in advancing the project. The total compensation for a single non-Senate faculty member, whether provided as salary/benefits or research/professional development funds, may not exceed the $10K cap. An endorsement of compensation in the chair’s support letter is required for the budget request to be approved by the TLC.

Can funds be requested to support staff?

Yes, up to $10K in funds may be requested to support stipends for staff in eligible employment categories. Alternatively, up to $10K in funds may be used to buy out staff time towards their project-support efforts. Note that the total amount requested to support staff carrying out administrative functions may not exceed 5% of the total awarded grant budget. An endorsement of compensation in the chair’s support letter is required for the budget request to be approved by the TLC.

Compensation cannot be provided for work within a staff member’s current scope of duties. The proposal and/or budget justification must clarify how and why project work falls outside their scope of duties. Note also that the total amount requested to support staff carrying out administrative functions may not exceed 5% of the total awarded grant budget. An endorsement of compensation in the chair’s support letter is required for the budget request to be approved by the TLC.

Can funds be used to support fee remissions for GSRs or ASEs?

Yes, up to $7K for a single academic quarter may be applied to cover fee remissions for graduate student employees using grant funds (see

Restrictions for additional information). For example, if you envision a GSR working on your project, the TLC would only fund up to 7K for one academic quarter of the project/class, though 7K could be applied to each quarter. The PI would be responsible for funding any amount over this amount for work related to the grant proposal. Note that the total amount requested for student salaries may not exceed 50% of the total awarded grant budget.

Should I hire a GSR, ASE, or Student Worker?

For student support on typical duties associated with course development (developing handouts and other course materials, organizing modules, embedding media, reviewing links, checking for ADA compliance, etc.), we recommend hiring a Student Assistant (Student IV classification) as these duties are not generally considered scholarly research.

Please note the Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) provides recommendations regarding instructional support and course design best practices; however, all hiring decisions, employment practices, and personnel actions remain the sole responsibility of the respective hiring department. The TLC is not liable for any hiring determinations, employment agreements, or compliance with university policies, collective bargaining agreements, or labor laws. Departments are responsible for ensuring that all hiring and employment decisions comply with applicable institutional policies, state and federal regulations, and guidance from Campus Human Resources (CHR) and Employee and Labor Relations (ELR).

What are some examples of voluntary cost-sharing that department Chairs or Deans might provide to demonstrate support for a project?

Examples might include providing a portion of an instructor’s salary (e.g., summer ninth, course buy-out), contributing the benefits portion of proposed compensation for project personnel, supplying project-related equipment or materials, covering student support costs, etc.

What are ways in which a department/academic unit can demonstrate a plan for sustainability of the project beyond the funding period?

Examples might include identifying alternative funding sources (departmental budget allocation, external grants, philanthropy, etc.) or in-kind contributions from other university resources; exploring cost-sharing options within the department, pursuing course materials fees, or securing new institutional support for ongoing instructional costs; embedding the project into standard departmental teaching practices and curriculum structures, with a commitment to provide ongoing instructional staff and/or faculty FTE to teach and support new or revised courses; etc.

How much budget detail is necessary?

Complete budgets, including any taxes or fees are strongly encouraged. Any overages are the responsibility of the home department of the instructor, so accurate budgets are essential.

When must the project be completed by?

Proposals should define specific timelines and milestones with a clear end date allowing for support during course launch and evaluation of course effectiveness. The course must be offered in the modality proposed no later than Spring 2028. Hence, course development and evaluation should conclude no later than Summer 2028.

If the project is not complete by the end of the funding period, can funds be carried forward?

No, remaining funds will be transferred back to the TLC at the end of the funding period.