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Home / Resources / Educational Innovation Grants / Catalyst Grants (Tier 3) Program

Catalyst Grants (Tier 3) Program

Note: the guidelines for Catalyst Grants will be updated for the Winter 2026 proposal window. Check back soon for updates.

Overview

Catalyst Grants (Tier 3) provide funding to catalyze and support more substantial instructor-initiated course interventions and program development projects that advance teaching practices, curriculum, and pedagogical research and inspire new ways of engaging students in innovative and equitable instruction. UCLA instructors of record for undergraduate, graduate, and professional student courses are eligible to request funds.

By acting as a catalyst for change, these grants should foster implementation, expansion, and assessment of innovative teaching and curricular approaches with the potential for large-scale impacts on students, instructors, and departmental culture. These grants provide financial resources ranging from $6,000 to $42,000 per instructor of record per academic year. Individual instructors are eligible for up to two consecutive years of grant support. To support the implementation of proposed projects, instructors also may request in-kind support from the Teaching and Learning Center (see Eligible Themes and Projects for Catalyst Grants).

Grants may be used to support activities such as full or partial course (re)design, curricular improvements involving emergent technology or instructional materials, major reform of teaching strategies across multiple courses (or multiple sections of a course) to improve student engagement and learning, and pedagogical research studies aimed at documenting and disseminating the effect of such course-level change strategies. Funding may be requested to support student wages (undergraduates, TAs, or GSRs) or staff assisting with the project, and to provide financial support for faculty and instructors (up to $10,000). 

Catalyst Grant proposals must articulate a clear plan for enhancing the student experience, define specific project goals (i.e. expected outcomes of the project), and include a strategy for assessing the effectiveness and impact of the proposed intervention. Applications should demonstrate how the proposed project aligns with UCLA’s strategic plan to elevate how we teach and should address the potential for sustainability within the department or academic/administrative unit after the grant period ends. Successful applications will be bound within a defined and realistic timeline, include deliverables for project milestones, and leverage existing campus resources, including programs and services provided by disciplinary teaching support units. While not a requirement of Catalyst Grant proposals, applicants are highly encouraged to explore opportunities for their department or program to either commit matching 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 intervention.

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.

Browse past Catalyst Grant recipients

Timeline

Proposals for Catalyst Grants must be submitted by March 1, 2026 for projects proposed during the following fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). Funds may be used during summer and academic calendar months.

Quarter to ApplyProposal deadlineProjects Proposed for
Winter 2026Sunday, March 1, 2026Fiscal Year 2026–2027

Applicants are encouraged to begin preparing their proposals as early as possible to ensure submission by the deadline. Consultation appointments with TLC staff are required prior to submission (see details below) and should be scheduled at least two weeks in advance of the application deadline to allow sufficient time to reflect on feedback, refine project ideas, and align the project with TLC funding priorities. To assist with the preparation process, the TLC is offering Information Sessions (Info Session).

Consultation Requirements for Catalyst Grants

To become eligible to apply for Catalyst Grants, applicants must have an Initial Consultation with a member of the TLC to obtain personalized feedback on their proposals (more under Initial Consultation). In many cases, as with past TLC processes, an additional consultation with a TLC unit director (or delegate) may be required to develop further project plans, including those related to project assessment. 

Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend an Information Session and complete a Catalyst Grant Preliminary Proposal (CGPP) (may require login to Google). The Info Sessions and CGPP are new for the 2026-2027 award cycle. Both are designed to help applicants gain practical guidance that can strengthen their proposals and improve their chances of submitting a competitive application.

Initial Consultation

The Initial Consultation meeting provides applicants an opportunity to receive personalized guidance on project ideas, explore how they align with TLC funding priorities, and address any questions about the application process. The goal is to help instructors refine and focus their projects and ensure the proposals are as compelling, aligned with funding categories, and well-prepared as possible. A secondary goal of the Initial Consultation is to ensure that instructors articulate an assessment plan to determine and evaluate the impact of their proposed project. The Initial Consultation is intended to help develop a competitive proposal and is not an opportunity for lobbying on behalf of a proposal.

Contact: catalyst_grants@teaching.ucla.edu. 

Following this Initial Consultation meeting with Executive Director Kem Saichaie and Interim Director Casey Shapiro (or delegates), additional consultations with TLC staff may also be required, particularly to articulate an assessment plan and where in-kind contributions from TLC services are integral to a project proposal. Following the additional consultation, applicants will receive a Catalyst Grant Consultation Feedback Letter from the TLC member, which is required with their grant submission (see Checklist with Application Requirements). Applicants should discuss how they integrated the feedback into their final proposal.

The following TLC Academic Unit Level Grant Services documents detail areas of services and support.

  • Applicants requesting support for educational assessment and research should meet and collaborate with the TLC Assessment of Student and Instructor Experience (ASIE) team. Themes associated with this team may include: Pedagogical Research
  • Applicants requesting support for course (re)design support, including media production, integrating artificial intelligence, should meet and collaborate with the TLC’s Instructional Design and Media Production (IDMP) team. Themes associated with this team may include: Course-level Enhancements; Experiential Learning; On-Campus, Hybrid, and Online Course Development; 
  • Applicants requesting support for teaching workshops and related programming activities for instructors (e.g., ladder faculty, continuing lecturers, adjuncts)should meet and collaborate with the TLC’s Instructor Engagement and Educational Development (IEED) team. Themes associated with this team may include: Experiential Learning, Innovation in Access and Opportunity, Interdisciplinary Collaborations
    • See IEED’s available grant services
    • Link to IEED Booking
  • Applicants requesting support for teaching workshops and related programming activities for TAs should contact Graduate Student & Postdoctoral Scholar Engagement (GSPSE). Themes associated with this team may include: Course-level Enhancements; Experiential Learning; Interdisciplinary Collaborations

In addition, consultations with disciplinary teaching support units may be necessary to establish collaborations and to develop budget estimates for services to be incorporated into a project proposal. Furthermore, consultations with Academic Senate staff are strongly encouraged early in the process to discuss proposals related to academic programs and courses.

Information Sessions (New for the 2026-2027 Award Cycle)

The goal of the Information Sessions are 1) clarify details on the Catalyst Grants; 2) provide an overview of the TLC, its units, their functions and ways they can support Catalyst Grant projects; 3) review best practices for successful TLC Educational Innovation Grants proposals (including examples of previously funded projects); 4) preview the Catalyst Grant Pre-Proposal template; 5) and allow time for a question-and-answer session. Below is a listing of Info Session Times and registration.

Catalyst Grant Pre-Proposal (New for the 2026-2027 Award Cycle)

The Catalyst Grant Pre-Proposal (CGPP) is an optional planning document that helps project teams define their goals, clarify roles and responsibilities, set project milestones with related deliverables, and align these plans with their proposed budget [link to budget template]. Applicants who submit a CGPP with their consultation request receive priority in the consultation request queue. During the Initial Consultation meeting, TLC works with project members to review the CGPP and provide feedback to guide the development of the full grant proposal.

The CGPP may be voluntarily submitted at any time by prospective applicant(s) seeking early feedback on the general appropriateness and potentially relevant funding opportunities for a project idea before developing a full proposal, and that could be used to structure the initial and/or secondary consultation(s) with the TLC. For voluntary submissions, the prospective applicant will receive feedback by email or follow-up discussion during a consultation with a TLC representative.

View the Catalyst Grant Pre-Proposal template (may require Google login)

Eligible Themes and Projects for Catalyst Grants

The following themes and project ideas are not intended to be a prescriptive or comprehensive list; however, these should provide prospective applicants with some sense of the range and scale of proposals that TLC will consider funding via the Catalyst Grant program.

Catalyst Grants may fund proposals that create new courses and/or substantially change existing courses, integrate new teaching strategies evidenced to enhance learning, provide teaching development activities for groups of instructors and/or TAs within a department to foster student engagement and/or belonging in the classroom, and/or introduce new instructional materials, equipment in high-enrollment courses, or educational technology into a course. Instructional equipment and materials purchased with grant funds should remain departmental property for future use by other instructors.

Project Examples:

  • Developing new online modules or units for existing courses.
  • Incorporating evidence-based teaching practices such as active and collaborative learning.
  • Redesigning courses to align with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles for accessibility.
  • Integrating new instructional applications such as multimedia tools and technology; for instance, virtual reality (VR), open AI, 3D printing, or drone-generated images and videos.
  • Creating teaching development workshops for TAs to enhance instructional effectiveness.

Catalyst Grants may fund proposals supporting instructors in the development or improvement of courses taught in any modality of instruction where the overarching goal is to create accessible and engaging learning experiences for students. This theme should be considered by instructors who are interested in integrating educational technology to enable innovative teaching practices in their on-campus, hybrid, and/or online courses taught in the summer or the academic year. In addition to funding, the TLC also provides in-kind support for these projects in the form of filming, editing, design, and the creation of graphics and other multimedia.

Whether instructors are transitioning an existing course from one modality to another or developing a new technology-enhanced course from the ground up, grant-supported activities should provide instructors the resources and in-kind support from the TLC needed to ensure courses meet high-quality instructional standards and adhere to UCLA Academic Senate guidelines for the establishment or modification of a course.

Project Examples:

  • Transforming a traditional lecture course into a fully online or hybrid format.
  • Redesigning a synchronous course developed during the pandemic and delivered via Zoom into a fully online course.
  • Designing interactive, multimedia-rich online content, such as video lectures or virtual labs.
  • Developing course materials for asynchronous online learning, including self-paced assessments.
  • Piloting new tools for virtual collaboration, such as AI-driven discussion forums or team-based learning applications.
  • Conducting instructor or TA teaching development sessions to support effective pedagogy.
  • Creating Open Educational Resources (OER).

Catalyst Grants may fund proposals that create new courses and/or substantially change existing courses, integrate new teaching strategies evidenced to enhance learning, provide teaching development activities for groups of instructors and/or TAs within a department to foster student engagement and/or belonging in the classroom, and/or introduce new instructional materials, equipment, or educational technology into a course. Instructional equipment and materials purchased with grant funds should remain departmental property for future use by other instructors.

Project Examples:

  • Revising syllabi and course materials to diversify the representation of authors or perspectives in a given field.
  • Creating workshops or resources to support instructors and TAs in adopting inclusive teaching practices.
  • Developing interventions to reduce equity and opportunity gaps in student success.
  • Supporting the conversion of digital course materials to accessible, mobile-friendly formats compliant with ADA policies and legal standards.

Grant recipients will have access to pedagogical and course design expertise within the TLC and the ability to collaborate with teaching support units across campus to ensure their projects are impactful and sustainable.

This category of Catalyst Grant proposals provides funding to support the integration or enhancement of experiential learning opportunities into courses. Instructors may design learning activities that are relevant to students’ lives or career interests, deepen student engagement with the course material or topic, and support the translation of course concepts into real-world applications. 

Project Examples:

  • Creating community-engaged research components or community partnerships within a course.
  • Developing simulations or project-based learning modules.
  • Implementing fieldwork or new laboratory experiments into a course.
  • Integrating research and scholarship into a course (e.g., designing a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) course or module).

TLC staff can assist with project design for grant funding used to provide resources for piloting experiential learning models, integrating them into courses, and evaluating their impact on students or other project stakeholders.

Catalyst Grants may be leveraged to encourage instructors across disciplines to collaborate on innovative curricular initiatives. Projects should promote interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary learning and address complex, real-world challenges that span multiple fields of study.

Project Examples:

  • Designing a co-taught interdisciplinary course.
  • Creating courses that explore topics from multiple disciplinary perspectives.
  • Developing interdisciplinary research or capstone projects for students.

The TLC offers in-kind support for curriculum development and course design to help instructors navigate the challenges of interdisciplinary course development and opportunities for unique collaborations that can amplify the meaning and relevance of myriad areas of research and scholarship that may be perceived as seemingly disparate topics for students.

Catalyst Grants may fund proposals that promote pedagogical experimentation, discovery, and dissemination of findings, which document the effect of course-level change strategies aimed at improving the student experience and reducing educational inequities. Pedagogical research, also known as the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) or action research, is the systematic study of classroom instruction. It involves inquiries about how, when, and where student learning takes place; identifying teaching and/or curricular strategies that improve student learning, engagement, and belonging; and then publicly sharing study results with colleagues. Successful Tier 3 pedagogical research proposals will bring together investigatory teams to identify research themes and questions, pilot and evaluate course-level projects that elevate teaching excellence, accelerate instructional innovation, and produce generalizable knowledge beneficial to the broader UCLA educator community.  

Project Examples:

  • Designing a mixed-method or quasi-experimental study to investigate the effectiveness of an instructional approach or intervention.
  • Exploring the impact of technology integration into the classroom.
  • Studying strategies designed to enhance student engagement or study skills.
  • Analyzing the effect of differentiated instructional approaches in the curriculum.
  • Conducting action research to improve the quality of instruction iteratively.
  • Grant funds may not be used to supplement standard classroom expenses, including consumables and basic instructional supplies, that should be covered by departmental budgets.
  • For all technology-related requests, applicants must consult with the Bruin Learn Center of Excellence to ensure alignment with campus IT policies and scalability requirements.
  • 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.
  • There is no remission support for GSRs or ASEs provided through this grants program. Fee and tuition remissions, TIF, worker’s compensation, and other hiring fees will be the responsibility of the hiring department. These funds should not be included in the budget worksheet.
  • The copyright to any material, including, but not limited to, technology, software, games, video clips, etc. developed with TLC grant funds will reside with the Regents of the University of California. The University of California Office of the President provides additional details on its Copyright website.
Download Proposal Checklist

Checklist with Proposal Requirements

  • Consultation meeting with TLC staff at least two weeks prior to submission date (Contact: catalyst_grants@teaching.ucla.edu.)

  • Grant type: [new project] or [renewal]
  • Department chair’s endorsement guidelines
    • The chair should address how this project aligns with broader departmental needs and priorities, as well as a plan to sustain the project beyond the funding period. Department chairs should specify cost-sharing opportunities either at the department or division/school level.  Lastly, the chair should indicate their commitment to carving out time at a departmental meeting for the PI to present and discuss their work among colleagues at the end of the project period.
  • Principle Investigator (PI)
    • Full name, title, and email address of the primary instructor leading the proposed project
  • Co-Principle Investigator(s) (Co-PI)
    • Full name, title, and email address of the co-primary instructor(s) leading the proposed project. TLC recommends no more than 2 Co-PIs.
  • Secondary Collaborator (SC)
    • 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)
    • 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). Clearly label these documents as “original” or similar.
  • Request (select category; include “other”) – choose the best option
    • Course-level Enhancement
    • On campus, hybrid, and online course development
    • Innovation in access and opportunity
    • Experiential Learning
    • Interdisciplinary Collaborations
    • Pedagogical Research
    • Other (please specify)
  • Project Title (<15 words)
  • Project Summary (<350 words) (Please briefly describe the overall goal of the project, the strategy/approach/methodology you are implementing, and what you predict or expect to occur as outcomes if the project is successful.)
  • Proposed Project Timeline (project period with proposed start and end dates)
    • Succinctly describe project milestones and deliverables(s) for each milestone.
  • Project Narrative [Please upload a PDF of your project narrative; it should not be more than four pages (single-spaced and minimum 11-pt font).
    Tables and figures are included in total page count. Please use the following prompts to guide the organization of your narrative.]
    • What are your project goals or aims?
    • What are your expected outcomes? 
    • How are you planning to achieve these outcomes? Describe the specific approach or strategy. 
    • What evidence have you considered that supports your proposed approach?  Are there prior research studies you have read? Are there examples of success at other institutions? Be sure to cite your sources.
    • What do you need in terms of personnel or materials/equipment to accomplish your goals?
    • How have you incorporated TLC feedback into your final proposal?
    • How will you evaluate the effectiveness of your intervention or its impact on students and other relevant stakeholders?
      • Note: It may be helpful to schedule a consultation with an ASIE staff member, who can provide guidance on how best to set up the assessment for your project.
    • How does this activity elevate teaching in alignment with UCLA’s strategic plan?
    • How do you plan to broaden the longer term impact of this project within your department, across campus and beyond
  • Reference List (Please upload a PDF; use APA format; should not be more than 2 pages)
  • TLC Commitment (In-kind Support)
    • Select all the apply
      • Course and curricular design (IDMP)
      • Project assessment (ASIE)
      • Media production (IDMP)
      • Teaching workshops and related support (IEED and/or GSPSE)
      • N/A
    • Upload a PDF of a Catalyst Grant Consultation Feedback Letter letter of support from relevant TLC director(s)
      • In the email, the relevant TLC director should specify the commitment and approximate cost associated with that effort during the proposed project timeline.
  • Funding requested (Include an exact budget for request, without exceeding the maximum specified limits) [view budget sheet template] [view example] 
  • Brief budget justification (<500 words)
    • Upload a PDF with your budget description. Please break it down into categories aligned with the budget sheet. Since funding for Catalyst Grants comes from a number of sources and may be restricted for certain purposes, the budget detail is essential. 
  • Departmental FAU to which funds will be transferred from TLC if the grant proposal is approved
  • Voluntary cost-sharing is encouraged but not required. Please specify 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.

The TLC supports a community of practice, which brings together educators and scholars from across the disciplines to engage in pedagogical research discussions. The TLC also provides support for IRB proposals and quantitative and qualitative research studies. Tier 2 grants may be leveraged to defray publication costs for a successful pedagogical research project. 

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

Proposal Review Process

Proposals received by TLC are assigned to the Catalyst Grant Educational Innovation Grants Review Committee chair to confirm they meet all requirements prior to review. All proposals are carefully reviewed by a committee of peers who are experienced instructors, prior grant recipients, and/or individuals with expertise in relevant areas of instructional development and education research. These reviewers, nominated by the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning, are carefully chosen to ensure a knowledgeable and equitable evaluation process. Care is taken to make sure reviewers have no conflicts of interest with the proposal. The committee evaluates the proposals and makes recommendations to the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning for consideration. In some cases, the committee may suggest changes to the proposed project, which will be considered in final funding decisions. Principal Investigators will be notified of proposal decisions via email, which may entail further consultation with TLC staff to address necessary amendments to proposal or proposal budget prior to funding transfer.

Requirements Associated with Funded Projects

Award recipients of Catalyst Grants will receive a closing email from TLC near the end of the project period and be asked to complete the following reporting requirements. Please note that future funding eligibility for the TLC Education Innovation Grants program is contingent upon completion of all reporting requirements at the end of the funding period.

  1. Progress report shared with Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning and department chair at the end of the funding period.
  2. For projects focused on course redesign or curriculum development, please provide a copy of your revised syllabus for each impacted course reflecting the changes you’ve incorporated as a result of this grant. Other projects will also be required to submit an artifact resulting from the intervention; this will be specified in the closing email from TLC staff.
  3. Completion of brief survey. Questions may include:
    • To what extent did you accomplish your project aims?
    • Was the support provided by the Catalyst Grant (Tier 3), both financial and in-kind resources, sufficient to complete the project as planned?  If not, what additional support do you envision needing to complete the project?
    • How did the intervention you implemented and evaluated contribute to improvements to your course or program?
    • How was this project important to your overall teaching goals?
  •  

Award recipients of Catalyst Grants (Tier 3) Educational Innovation Grants from the TLC 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 either as a poster presentation or 5-10 minute lightning talk. 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.

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 a second grant proposal related to the same project (i.e. renewal grant). 

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.  

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