Teaching Innovation Grants
The Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) is offering Teaching Innovation Grants of up to $5,000 to support the implementation and study of student-centered, evidence-based, and innovative teaching practices. These grants are offered at two levels—based on the scope of work—to fund faculty-defined projects aimed at improving a particular aspect of the student learning experience. The priority deadline for Fall 2026 proposals is Sept. 14, 2026. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions by Sept. 28, 2026.
Teaching Innovation Grants are offered at two levels, with funding scaled to the scope of the work: single-course projects are funded at a lower level, and projects spanning multiple courses or a program- reflecting their broader reach and complexity- are eligible for more funding. The amounts below are ceilings, not guaranteed amounts.
Level 1: Single Course
- Funding level: Up to $1,500
- Level 1 grants support projects that transform or pilot an innovation within a single course. These may be led by one instructor or by a small group of instructors (e.g., who co-teach or teach different offerings of the same course).
- Example projects could include but are not limited to:
- piloting a teaching innovation in a course
- incorporating more active and collaborative learning into a class
- analyzing student work to contribute to teaching scholarship (e.g., publish in a SoTL journal)
- aligning expectations and developing shared resources among instructors who teach the same course
Level 2: Multiple Courses or Department/Program-Wide
- Funding level: Up to $5,000
- Level 2 grants support projects that improve or innovate student learning across multiple courses. This can range from a small group of instructors collaborating across a couple of courses to a department-wide effort to make changes to an academic program.
- Applicants pursuing a Level 2 project are strongly encouraged to obtain a letter of support from the department chair confirming departmental support and commitment to the project.
- Example projects could include but are not limited to:
- teams of instructors who teach the same course aligning expectations and developing shared resources
- department-wide curriculum redesign to facilitate student learning, retention, or progression in a program
- developing online modules that can facilitate knowledge and skill transfer between courses in a program or between programs/departments
- projects that use existing program-level assessment data to make curricular changes (with a plan to assess the impact of those changes on student learning)
- large scale, collaborative SoTL or DBER projects (e.g., spanning multiple courses)
Teaching Innovation Grant Details
Example use of funds could include but are not limited to:
- resources or events that enhance course engagement
- graduate or undergraduate student support for course/curriculum design, implementation, or assessment
- books or publications on teaching innovations
- site visits to other institutions to learn about innovative course design (with clear connections to course goals)
- planning or writing retreats
- travel to conferences to learn about successful strategies or to present teaching-related research findings
- supplies or software for new learning activities (sustainability beyond the funding period should be addressed)
- support for instructor time on project
Most funds awarded must be used by June 1, 2027, or they will be forfeited.
- Eligible applicants include faculty (including teaching professors, teaching specialists, and lecturers) with ongoing teaching roles at the KU Lawrence or Edwards Campus. Postdoctoral fellows, students, and part-time employees may participate as part of faculty-led teams.
- Courses and curriculum that are the focus of projects can be Lawrence or Edwards Campus and for undergraduate or graduate programs.
- Level 2 (multiple courses or department-wide) applications should include at least 2 faculty members and have a clearly identified lead on the project (co-leads are also acceptable).
- Priority will be given to first-time applicants and those who have not received Course Transformation funding in the last two years.
For Fall 2026, priority will be given to proposals submitted by Sept. 14, 2026. After this date, proposals may be considered on a rolling basis, contingent upon the availability of funds.
- Awardees are expected to share project outcomes, including student learning impacts, through a poster at CTE’s annual Celebration of Teaching. A CTE Graduate Student Fellow can assist with developing the poster.
- A brief report (1-2 pages) summarizing the project’s results will be due at the end of the semester when the transformed course is first taught, or when the project is completed.
We encourage potential applicants to schedule a consultation before submitting their proposals. Contact Nikki Perry, Faculty Initiatives Manager, for guidance.
Proposals should be no more than 2 pages (3 pages if reporting on prior grants) and include the following:
- Course/Curriculum Information: Describe the course(s) or curriculum the project addresses. If applicable, describe the planned teaching dates for the transformed course(s).
- Project Proposal:
- What is the goal of your project? Why is it important?
- Provide a brief timeline/description of the steps involved in your project.
- How will you assess the effectiveness of the project? Where applicable, include direct measures of student learning (e.g., performance on key assessments) and any indirect measures (e.g., student feedback).
- For Level 2 projects, outline the roles of each team member and clearly identify the team lead or co-leads.
- Prior Funding: If applicable, provide a summary of results from prior course transformation grants. If a member of your team, or the proposed course(s), received a prior course transformation grant, please include a short summary of the project and results, and whether/how the proposed work builds on the prior project(s).
- Budget and Justification: Provide a budget estimate and a brief explanation of expenses.
- Letter of Support from Department Chair or Program Director (strongly encouraged for Level 2 projects). Teaching innovations that span multiple courses or a program tend to be more impactful and sustainable when the department is aware of and supports the plan. If your project involves multiple courses or department-wide curricular change, we encourage you to include a brief letter from your chair or program director confirming that support.
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
- Potential to improve student learning or our knowledge about how students learn.
- Assessment of the impact on student learning outcomes.
- Sustainability of course revisions or project outcomes.
- For SoTL/teaching research projects, quality of research design and feasibility of study.
- Engagement of faculty who have not received funding in the last two years.
Have questions? Contact Nikki Perry.