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Transformation Grants Program: Planning Grants (Tier 4: Track 1)

Overview

Academic units may need time to develop a shared vision and course of action for pedagogical and curricular transformation. Planning Grants are intended to support teams of instructors in developing a data-informed and evidence-based plan for collaborative programmatic and/or curricular action. Such efforts may result in advancing efforts to apply for a Track 2 Implementation grant or a Catalyst Grant (Tier 3), although this is not a required outcome of the Track 1 awards.

Teams are expected to engage relevant TLC staff in recurring facilitated discussions, meeting at least monthly, about the needs of students, exploring existing institutional data or available evidence (e.g., patterns of student learning, engagement, or degree progression, curricular bottleneck data identifying where in the program students are getting delayed or exiting the program, student responses to local or national surveys, data from literature review) as well as gathering additional information to support the inquiry process. These conversations should occur over a defined period (not longer than 6-8 months) and result in a concrete plan for next steps. Plans should specify project goals aligned to meet student needs and address particular learning challenges, identify the course(s) to be (re)designed or developed de novo for projects aimed at reforming curriculum, and articulate how the academic unit will evaluate outcomes and report on project impacts. Teams are expected to share their work in at least one department or divisional/school meeting, inviting a TLC representative to support and elevate the team’s plan development efforts.

Leverage Grant Support for Academic Program Reviews and Other Departmental Change Initiatives

Departments and academic programs coming up for their 8-year Academic Program Review are encouraged to explore the Planning Grant option as a supportive strategy to engage collaboratively with the TLC (or other relevant campus teaching support units) to collect direct evidence of student learning and success within a particular academic program — notably, this information may be a requirement of accreditation. Those considering this option should apply one year prior to the preparation of the department’s self-study and two years before the site visit (see the Academic Senate’s Program Review Calendar).

One pathway for engagement in Academic Program Review support is through the TLC’s Inquiry to Action (I2A) program. I2A supports departments and academic programs in examining student learning, teaching practices, and program pathways through a scaffolded, data-informed process that leverages data sources such as the UCLA Senior Survey and/or the Student Experiences of Teaching (SET) surveys, both of which may be customized to incorporate items relevant to the learning goals of the program or curriculum subject to review. Through structured inquiry and reflective discussions, participating departmental teams identify improvement priorities and produce review-ready materials to strengthen their self-study and support an ongoing and iterative program improvement process. Please contact TLC’s Director for Assessment of Student and Instructor Experience, Dr. Casey Shapiro, at cshapiro@teaching.ucla.edu for more information prior to submitting a proposal.

Another pathway by which departments and academic programs may participate in a change initiative using Planning Grant resources is through the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s SEA (STEMM Equity Achievement) Change program. SEA Change engages action teams composed of departmental leaders, course instructors, TAs, and academic advisors in an iterative, equity-minded process and uses a data-informed approach to identify and reduce equity gaps in undergraduate student outcomes in large enrollment courses. Coordinated and facilitated by the Center for Education Innovation and Learning in the Sciences (CEILS), project teams are encouraged to engage with CEILS to discuss their interest in the SEA Change process. Please contact CEILS Executive Director, Dr. Rachel Kennison, at rkennison@ceils.ucla.edu for information before submitting a proposal.

Lastly, Planning Grant resources may be applied to support departments participating in the Holistic Evaluation of Teaching (HET) initiative, which is a multi-year program designed to help departments improve the way they evaluate teaching and facilitate adoption of effective and inclusive teaching practices. HET is a process that enables instructors to document teaching using self-reflection, student input, and peer review. A key goal is to ensure instructors are recognized and rewarded for their contributions to improving instruction and development of both domain-level knowledge and pedagogical expertise. Please contact HET Program Director, Dr. Valeria Dominguez, at vdominguez@teaching.ucla.edu to learn more about the program and develop a strategy to secure Planning Grant resources in support of HET engagement.

Utilization of Planning Grant Funds

Planning Grants (Track 1) may be used to support small stipends or research/professional development funds for team members, student assistance or engagement with the project, and/or for catering and supplies for team or department/program meetings.

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. No remission support for GSRs or ASEs is provided through the Planning Grant (Track 1) 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. 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.

Eligibility for Track 1 Planning Grants

All academic units supporting undergraduate, graduate and professional student instruction in the UCLA College or Professional Schools are eligible to apply. Principal Investigators (PIs) for Planning Grants must be current UCLA Senate faculty, ideally a Vice Chair or other faculty member in an educational leadership position within the department, who also commits their full participation on project teams. In addition to the PI, the teams should have at least two full-time Senate or non-Senate faculty members who will play active roles in the planning process and have ongoing roles in the resulting pedagogical and curricular improvement activities. Teams are also welcome to include students and instructional staff, although they are not considered in meeting the minimum headcount for eligible teams. Endorsement by the department Chair and/or Dean is required.

Timeline

Applications for Planning Grants must be submitted by March 1, 2026, for projects proposed to begin during the following fiscal year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027). Funds may be used during summer and academic calendar months.

Track 1 Application Deadline

Quarter	Proposal deadline	Projects Proposed for
Winter 2026	Sunday, March 1, 2026	Fiscal Year 2026–2027

Applicants are encouraged to begin preparing their proposals as early as possible to ensure submission by the deadline. A brief initial consultation with the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning is strongly recommended prior to submission and should be scheduled 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. Please note the last date in which a consultation appointment with Vice Provost for teaching and Learning O’Leary is possible is Friday, February 13, 2026.

For questions about the Planning Grants and/or to request a consultation meeting with VPTL O’Leary, please contact transformation_grants@teaching.ucla.edu.

Application for Planning Grants

Applications should address the following key prompts in the narrative section:

Principal Investigator (PI), team and project lead. Who will lead the project team and what is their role? (please note that the project lead and PI do not need to be the same individual although the PI must be a participating member of the team). Who are the other members participating in the planning phase of the project? Why is this the right team for the work? How will the team’s efforts connect with prior or current efforts in your academic unit to support effective teaching and learning and advance Goal 4 of UCLA’s strategic plan?
From learning to action. What do you expect to learn from participating in this project? What questions are you interested in exploring during the planning phase and why? What actions might your team and academic unit consider taking in response to your findings? How is the work connected to and advancing other departmental initiatives on campus (e.g., Inquiry to Action, SEA-CHANGE, Holistic Evaluation of Teaching, etc.)?
Dissemination. How and when will you go about sharing your work with other colleagues and administrative leadership in your academic unit?
Engagement. Are all team members committed to participating in monthly meetings facilitated, in part, by TLC staff? While all members are welcome to attend, will the PI be able to attend the check-in meeting(s) with the TLC program staff?

Checklist with Planning Grant Application Requirements

Project Title (15 words or less)
- Please provide a descriptive title for your project, noting this will appear on the TLC website and other promotional materials in reference to your project, if funded.
Select all that apply: This Planning Grant will support
- Curriculum development planning for sequenced, integrated, or otherwise linked courses and/or instructional programs of study
- Engagement in Inquiry-to-Action (I2A) program in preparation for 8-year Academic Program Review
- Participation in SEA-Change with CEILS
- Taking part in the Holistic Evaluation of Teaching (HET) initiative
- Other (please briefly explain)
Department Chair or Program Director
- Please provide the full name, title, and email address of the department chair/program director to whom the Principal Investigator (PI) reports.
Department chair’s or program director’s endorsement
- The department chair or program director should endorse the project and address how this project aligns with the broader needs and priorities of the academic unit/department. The chair/director should specify cost-sharing opportunities, if any, at the department/program level. Lastly, the chair/director should indicate their commitment to carving out time at a departmental meeting for the Principal Investigator and project team to present and discuss their work at the end of the project period. Please use UCLA departmental letterhead.
Principal Investigator (PI)
- Provide full name, title, and email address of the Senate faculty member responsible for developing and submitting the project proposal. This individual will be the primary point-of-contact for the TLC on all award communications.
Project Lead (PL) (optional)
- Only complete this section if this individual is different from the Principal Investigator.
- Provide full name, title, and email address of the Senate faculty member responsible for leading the proposed project; provide a brief rationale for delegating this leadership role to another team member.
Secondary Collaborators (SCs)
- Minimum of two instructors required; must be either Senate or non-Senate full-time faculty members who will play active roles in the planning process and have ongoing instructional roles in the resulting pedagogical and curricular improvement activities. Beyond the minimum headcount of instructors, teams may also include staff and students as SCs for the project.
- Provide full names, titles, and email addresses of additional project personnel.
Proposed Project Timeline
- Project period with proposed start and end dates
Project Narrative
- Please upload a PDF of your project narrative; it should not be more than 2-3 pages (single-spaced and minimum 11-pt font). Tables and figures should be included in the total page count.
- Please use the following prompts to guide the organization of your narrative.
  - Principal Investigator (PI), team and project lead. Who will lead the project team and what is their role? (please note that the project lead and PI do not need to be the same individual although the PI must be a participating member of the team). Who are the other members participating in the planning phase of the project? Why is this the right team for the work? How will the team’s efforts connect with prior or current efforts in your academic unit to support effective teaching and learning and advance Goal 4 of UCLA’s strategic plan?
  - From learning to action. What do you expect to learn from participating in this project? What questions are you interested in exploring during the planning phase and why? What actions might your team and academic unit consider taking in response to your findings? How is the work connected to and advancing other departmental initiatives on campus (e.g., Inquiry to Action, SEA-CHANGE, Holistic Evaluation of Teaching)?
  - Dissemination. How and when will you go about sharing your work with other colleagues and leadership in your academic unit?
  - Engagement. Are all team members committed to participating in monthly meetings facilitated, in part, by TLC staff? While all members are welcome to attend, will the PI be able to attend the check-in meeting(s) with the TLC program staff?
Funding requested
- Include an exact budget for request, without exceeding the maximum specified limits.
- View and download budget sheet to submit with your proposal.
Brief budget justification (<500 words)
- Estimate your anticipated project costs and, for each line item in the proposed budget, provide a short explanation about the intended use of funds.
Departmental FAU to which funds will be transferred from TLC if the grant proposal is approved. If you don’t have this information at the time of proposal submission, please provide the name and email address for your departmental fund manager.

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

Restrictions

Grant funds may not be used to supplement standard classroom expenses, including consumables and basic instructional supplies that should be covered by departmental budgets.
Planning Grant funds may be used for software but may not be used for hardware or instructional equipment. 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.
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. Instructional media requests do not require applicants to complete a Planning Grant (Tier 4: Track 1) application, only the library request form. However, if the proposed Planning Grant project relies on securing those instructional media resources, applicants should note in their Planning Grant application that they applied for library funds. For questions about instructional media requests, contact imlib@cinema.ucla.edu.
Planning Grant funds may not be used to cover fee remissions for graduate student employees (GSRs, ASEs).

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.

Planning Grant FAQs

Can Planning Grant funds be requested to support participation of Senate faculty? Yes, as described in the budget sheet, funds may be applied either towards summer salary or a stipend for Senate faculty, although this request must be approved by the department Chair (as stated in the Chair’s support letter). Funds may not be used for a course buyout. Alternatively, funds may be requested as research or professional development support as long as the purpose is related to and will help in advancing the project.
Can Planning Grant funds be requested to support non-Senate faculty? Yes, but funds may not be used to support the salary/benefits of non-Senate faculty. Instead, funds may be requested as research or professional development support as long as the purpose is related to and will help in advancing the project.
Can Planning Grant funds be requested to support staff? Yes, funds may be requested to support stipends for staff in eligible employment categories who are participating team members. Alternatively, the 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 grant budget.
Can Planning Grant funds be used to support fee remissions for GSRs or ASEs? No, Planning Grant funds may not be used to cover fee remissions for graduate student employees.
Can departments or academic units apply for Planning Grants across multiple years? No, Planning Grants are intended to be one-time, single year awards. However, the resulting activities from project teams may be leveraged to apply for either a Catalyst Grant (Tier 3) or an Implementation Grant (Tier 4: Track 2).
Are instructors in UCLA Extension, UCLA Lab School, or Geffen Academy eligible to apply for a Planning Grant? Not at this time; grant funds are currently restricted to UCLA faculty who teach undergraduate, graduate and professional student courses in the College and Professional Schools.

Consultation appointments with TLC staff are not required prior to submission. However, the TLC invites questions or other lines of inquiry prior to the submission due date.

Contact: transformation_grants@teaching.ucla.edu

Planning Grant Review Process and Timeline

The TLC intends to fund up to ten Planning Grants per year. Projects should promote cooperative, integrated participation among team members. The Principle Investigator (PI) for the award is expected to meet at least once per year with TLC program staff to discuss progress.

Applications are reviewed by TLC leadership. Preference for funding will be given to teams that demonstrate broad engagement by faculty and seek to explore questions with potential for large-scale impact on students and meaningful implications for improving the teaching and learning culture.

The TLC will notify PIs of proposal decisions via email by late April 2026. An MOU is required to transfer funds; PIs are expected to facilitate acquisition of necessary signatures and other award details to execute the MOU. Awarded funds must be transferred prior to fiscal close (June 30, 2026).

Requirements Associated with Funded Projects

Award recipients of Planning Grants (Tier 4: Track 1) 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 the completion of all reporting requirements at the end of the funding period.

Progress report shared with the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning, department chair or program director, and Dean at the end of the funding period.
Completion of a brief survey.

Questions will include:

To what extent did you accomplish your project goals and objectives?
Was the support provided by the Planning Grant (Tier 4: Track 1) sufficient to complete the project as planned? If not, what additional support do you envision needing to complete the project?
How was this project important to advancing the overall teaching goals of your department/academic unit?