Transformation Grants Program: Implementation Grants (Tier 4: Track 2)
Overview
Academic units with a shared vision and data-informed course of action for pedagogical and curricular transformation are invited to apply for an Implementation Grant (Track 2). This Tier 4 grant category is intended to support teams of instructors who are teaching at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional student levels working collaboratively to reform a specified set of sequenced, integrated, or otherwise linked courses and instructional programs of study with project goals aligned to meet student needs and address particular learning challenges within the larger curriculum or program.
Implementation Grants support teams of instructors coming together to facilitate execution, expansion, and assessment of innovative large-scale pedagogical and curricular approaches with the potential for far-reaching impacts on students, instructors, and departmental culture. These grants provide financial support for up to $100,000 per academic unit. All project funding will be awarded by TLC in a single fiscal year but may be used by an academic unit to cover project support for up to two consecutive years as specified by the funding period (project timeline) in the proposal. Note that this maximum amount applies to collaborating academic units applying for this award. Funding for first-time applicants will be prioritized, and preference will be given to applicants who have not received funding from an Implementation Grant in the last five years.
Grants may be used to support activities such as full or partial course (re)design, curricular improvements involving new technology or instructional materials, training to use evidence-based teaching techniques and use of educational technology (including AI), reform of teaching strategies across multiple courses (or multiple sections of a course taught by different instructors) to improve student engagement and learning, engagement in revising the process by which teaching is evaluated, and assessment to document the impact of the pedagogical and curricular changes. Funding may be requested to support students (undergraduates, TAs, or GSRs) assisting with the project and to provide financial support for faculty and staff (up to $10,000 each, including benefits).
To support the implementation of proposed projects, instructors may request in-kind support from the Teaching and Learning Center (see TLC In-Kind Support Services).
Implementation Grant proposals must articulate a clear plan for enhancing the student experience, define specific project goals (i.e. expected outcomes of the project), and a strategy for evaluating the effectiveness and impact of the proposed curricular 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 and leverage existing campus resources, including programs and services provided by the TLC and disciplinary teaching support units. Implementation Grant proposals will be substantially strengthened by the written endorsement and commitment of their academic unit at the department/division/school level to either provide matching funds and/or contribute other non-monetary support to evidence a broader investment in the success and sustainability of the proposed project. These commitments must be articulated in the support letters provided by the Chair and Dean.
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.
TLC In-Kind Support Services
The following details areas of service with the UCLA Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) available to support applicants in successfully implementing proposed projects.
- Applicants requesting support for educational assessment and research should meet and collaborate with the TLC Assessment of Student and Instructor Experience (ASIE) team (assessment@teaching.ucla.edu).
- Applicants requesting support for course (re)design support, including media production. and integrating academic technology (e.g., AI), should meet and collaborate with the TLC’s Instructional Design and Media Production (IDMP) team (idmp@teaching.ucla.edu).
- Applicants requesting support for teaching workshops and related programming activities for instructors (e.g., ladder faculty, continuing lecturers, adjuncts) should contact the Instructor Engagement and Educational Development (IEED) team (instructorsupport@teaching.ucla.edu).
- Applicants requesting support for teaching workshops and related programming activities for TAs should contact the Graduate Student & Postdoctoral Scholar Engagement (GSPSE) team (gspse@teaching.ucla.edu).
Eligibility for Implementation 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 Implementation 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 to the project team. In addition to the PI, project teams should have at least two Co-PIs who are full-time Senate or non-Senate faculty members; Co-PIs must play active and ongoing roles in the resulting pedagogical and curricular improvement activities and preferably have responsibilities teaching reformed courses. Teams are also welcome to include additional collaborators such as students and instructional staff. Endorsement by the department Chair and Dean of the project and team responsible for implementation is required.
Timeline
Proposals for Implementation 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 and may cover project support for up to two consecutive years (through June 30, 2028). Please specify the proposed funding period in the proposal and prepare the budget worksheet with line items by year. PIs will be asked to report the spend rate at fiscal close of the first year to confirm project spending, and by inference project activities, are proceeding according to the approved project timeline.
Track 2 Proposal 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.
Consultation Requirements for Implementation Grant Proposals
Initial Consultation with VPTL
An initial consultation with the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning is required prior to submission of a proposal and should be scheduled at least one month in advance of the proposal deadline. This initial consultation meeting provides applicants with an opportunity to receive feedback on project ideas, explore how they align with TLC funding priorities, and address questions about the application process. Consultation is intended to help develop a competitive proposal and is not an opportunity for lobbying on behalf of a proposal. The goal is to help teams refine and focus their projects and ensure the proposals are as compelling and well-prepared as possible.
For questions about the Implementation Grants and/or to schedule a consultation meeting with VPTL O’Leary, please contact transformation_grants@teaching.ucla.edu.
Please note, for this year, the last date in which any appointments with VPTL O’Leary is possible is Friday, February 13, 2026.
Additional Consultations with TLC Directors
In many cases, additional consultations with TLC Directors (or a delegate from the relevant TLC unit assisting with a project) may be required to further develop and refine project plans, including those related to project assessment and particularly where in-kind contributions from TLC services are integral to a project proposal. During the initial consultation, applicants will be directed by VPTL O’Leary to relevant TLC staff members depending on project needs.
Following any additional consultations with TLC staff, applicants will receive an Implementation Grant Consultation Feedback Letter, which must be included with proposal materials. There may be more than one letter submitted depending on how many additional consultations were required for a given project proposal. Applicants should discuss how they integrated the information and feedback from TLC staff into their final proposal narrative.
Engagement with Critical Campus Collaborators
Consultations with disciplinary teaching support units or local technology and multimedia support teams may be necessary to establish collaborations and to develop budget estimates for services to be incorporated into a project proposal. Please reach out directly to relevant personnel in those units to engage in those discussions early on in the proposal development phase of a project. Furthermore, consultations with Academic Senate staff are strongly encouraged early in the process to discuss proposals related to academic programs and courses.
Checklist with Implementation 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.
- Project Summary (<350 words)
- 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.
- The project summary will appear on the TLC website.
- 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 the project aligns with the broader needs and priorities of the academic unit/department as well as a plan to sustain the project beyond the funding period. The chair/director should specify cost-sharing opportunities 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 (PI) and project team to present and discuss their work at the end of the project period. Please use UCLA departmental letterhead.
- Dean of College Division or Professional School
- Please provide the full name, title, and email address of the Dean of the College Division or Professional School in which the department/academic unit where proposed project will occur. If multiple divisions/schools are involved, please list all relevant senior leadership and include an endorsement letter from each Dean with the proposal.
- Dean’s endorsement letter
- The Dean should express their support for the project and their commitment to sustain the project beyond the funding period. The Dean may specify cost-sharing opportunities at the division/school level. They should also indicate how they will support the Principal Investigator (PI) and project team in disseminating their work across the division/school at the end of the project period. Please use UCLA letterhead.
- Principal Investigator (PI)
- Provide full name, title, and email address of the Senate faculty member responsible for developing and submitting the project proposal and is expected to serve as the project lead throughout the funding period. This individual will be the primary point-of-contact for the TLC on all award communications.
- Co-Principal Investigator(s) (Co-PI)
- Minimum of two full-time Senate or non-Senate faculty members, who will play active and ongoing roles in the resulting pedagogical and curricular improvement activities and preferably have responsibilities teaching the reformed courses.
- Provide full name, title, and email address of additional project personnel serving as Co-PIs.
- Additional Collaborators (AC)
- Teams may include departmental staff, students, or personnel from campus units other than TLC who are contributing effort to the project, whether funded or provided as in-kind support, as additional collaborators.
- Provide full names, titles, and email addresses of additional other project personnel serving as ACs.
- Proposed Project Timeline
- Project period with proposed start and end dates.
- All funding will be awarded in a single fiscal year but may be used to support the project for up to two consecutive years; please specify the funding period to align with how the grant funds, if awarded, would be spent out across one or two fiscal years.
- Project Narrative
- Please upload a PDF of your project narrative; it should not be more than 5 pages (single-spaced and minimum 11-pt font). Tables and figures should be included in the total page count; reference list is uploaded separately.
- Please use the following section headers and prompts to guide the organization of your narrative. Be sure to discuss how the information and feedback from TLC staff consultations was integrated into the submitted project proposal.
- Project Goals/Objectives: What strategies and actions will you take in undergoing this project?
- Outcomes: What do you expect to achieve with this project?
- Rationale: 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? Is there institutional research data you’re using to inform your approach? Be sure to cite your sources.
- Approach: Be specific. How are you planning to achieve these outcomes? Describe the specific approach or methodology. What do you need in terms of personnel or materials/equipment to accomplish your goals/objectives? Provide a timeline for critical benchmarks that must be met for the project to be successful.
- Assessment Plan: How will you evaluate the effectiveness of your intervention or its impact on students and other relevant stakeholders? (Please schedule a consultation with an ASIE staff member, who can provide guidance on how best to set up the assessment for your project.)
- Dissemination and Impact: 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 academic unit, across campus, and beyond? How and when will you go about sharing your work with other colleagues and leadership in your academic unit?
- Reference List
- Please upload a PDF; use APA format; should not be more than 1 page.
- Course(s)
- List the courses that will be impacted in the proposed project. If existing syllabi are available, please upload a PDF of the most recent syllabus for each course. This step is not necessary for new courses.
- TLC In-Kind Support Requests
- Select all that apply
- Project assessment (ASIE)
- Course (re)design support, including media production. and integrating academic technology (IDMP)
- Teaching workshops and related support for instructors of record (IEED)
- Teaching workshops and related support for TAs (GSPSE)
- N/A
- Upload corresponding Implementation Grant Consultation Feedback Letter(s). There may be more than one letter submitted depending on how many consultations with TLC staff were required for the project proposal.
- If the proposal is recommended for funding, a subsequent consultation with relevant TLC unit(s) will be required to generate a detailed statement of work (SOW) specifying the budget commitment associated with TLC’s in-kind contribution. The amount may not exceed the total monetary award for this grant.
- Select all that apply
- Funding requested
- Include an exact budget for request, without exceeding the maximum specified limits.
- View and download the 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.
- (optional) Voluntary cost-sharing is encouraged but not required.
- Please specify any anticipated in-kind departmental/instructor contributions/support for this project. This should be a summary of commitments articulated by department chair/program director and/or Dean in their endorsement letters.
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.
- 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 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 an Implementation Grant (Tier 4: Track 2) proposal, only the library request form. However, if the proposed Implementation Grant project relies on securing those instructional media resources, applicants should note in their proposal 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 Implementation Grants program; only up to $7K for one academic quarter per year 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 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.
Implementation Grant FAQs
- Can Implementation Grant funds be requested to support participation of Senate faculty? Yes, as described in the budget sheet, up to $10K in funds may be applied either towards summer salary or a stipend for Senate faculty, although this request must be approved in advance by the department Chair (should be stated in the Chair’s support letter for the proposal). TLC funds may not be used for a course buyout. TLC grant 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 Senate faculty member, whether provided as summer salary, a stipend, or research/professional development funds, may not exceed the $10K cap.
- Can Implementation Grant funds be requested to support non-Senate faculty? Yes, up to $10K in funds may be used towards the salary/benefits of non-Senate faculty to buy out a portion of their time. 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 a buyout of salary/benefits or research/professional development funds, may not exceed the $10K cap.
- Can Implementation Grant 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.
- Can Implementation Grant funds be used to support fee remissions for GSRs or ASEs? Yes, up to $7K for a single academic quarter per year may be applied to cover fee remissions for graduate student employees using Implementation Grant funds (see Restrictions for additional information).
- When hiring graduate student employees to work on funded projects, which employment category is appropriate? There are many options for hiring graduate students to support projects awarded TLC grant funds. Graduate students may be employed as ASEs, GSRs, Student IV, for example. In some cases, graduate students are eligible to receive tuition and fee remissions whereas in other cases they are not. The employment category used should align with the job responsibilities. During grant consultation meetings, PIs should discuss the tasks and responsibilities that they envision having graduate students do to support the project and then recommendations can be provided to help identify an employment category suitable for the work.
- Can departments or academic units apply for Implementation Grants across multiple years? Implementation Grants are intended to be one-time awards that may be spent in a single fiscal year or spread over two consecutive fiscal years. The funding period (1 or 2 years) must be specified in the proposal and reflected in how the budget is structured.
- Can a department chair or program director serve as Principal Investigator (PI) on Implementation Grants? Yes, but we encourage units to be thoughtful in considering the time commitments for this leadership role. If the chair/director serves as PI, then the Dean will need to provide both the department/academic unit and division/school endorsement letters. Please discuss further with VPTL during initial consultation.
- 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.
- Can a Principal Investigator (PI) apply for both a Tier 4 (Track 2) Implementation Grant and a Tier 3 Catalyst Grant during the same solicitation cycle? The TLC does not recommend this as an effective strategy for securing funding to support a project. The TLC will not fund both grant applications and will likely defer the application to the Tier 3 review committee and not consider the Tier 4 proposal at all.
- 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.
Implementation Grant Proposal Review Process and Timeline
The TLC intends to fund up to two Implementation Grants per year. Projects should promote cooperative, integrated participation among team members and support the implementation of evidence-based pedagogical and curricular practices aimed to improve the educational experience of all students. The Principle Investigator (PI) for the award is expected to meet at least once per year with TLC program staff to discuss progress.
Proposals are reviewed by TLC leadership in consultation with a committee of peers with expertise in relevant areas of instructional development and education research. Preference for funding will be given to teams that demonstrate broad engagement by faculty, strong support from the Chair and Dean of the relevant academic unit(s), and potential for meaningful impact on students and sustainable improvement of the teaching culture.
The TLC will notify the project PI of proposal decisions via email in late April 2026. The decision letter may specify further consultation with TLC staff to address necessary amendments to the proposal or proposal budget prior to funding transfer. 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 Implementation Grants (Tier 4: Track 2) 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.
- A copy of new or revised syllabi reflecting the changes incorporated into the curriculum or sequence of courses as a result of this grant. Other artifacts resulting from the intervention may also be requested; these will be specified in the closing email from the TLC staff.
- 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 Transformation Grant (Tier 4: Track 2), 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 advancing the overall teaching goals of your department/academic unit?
Award recipients of Implementation 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 in a 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. 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.
Successful projects will be featured on the TLC website, newsletter, and other promotional materials, particularly as they showcase the myriad ways in which instructor teams are advancing Goal 4 of the UCLA strategic plan to elevate how we teach.