2024-25 Call for Proposals

Deadline for submission extended: March 20, 2024

The Learning Technology Incubator (LTi) program promotes innovative projects that seek to solve common instructional challenges and show potential to improve teaching and learning broadly across the curriculum. LTi is an initiative of A&S Learning Design and Technology, a faculty support unit in the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. 

For the 2024-2025 LTi grant cycle, we welcome proposals that

• (re)design student learning experiences to improve accessibility and inclusion, and remove barriers to student learning, belonging, and success
• leverage artificial intelligence technologies to explore, design and implement pedagogical approaches that enrich and transform the teaching and learning experience 
• apply tools from the existing UVA Learning Technology ecosystem or explore emerging technologies to solve complex teaching and learning challenges
• other projects seeking to improve teaching and learning in A&S through applications of new pedagogical approaches and/or technologies

Proposals that demonstrate interdisciplinary collaboration, have a significant impact on teaching and learning, or have potential to scale up in future iterations are especially encouraged. 

Instructional Design Partners

LTi is an initiative of A&S Learning Design and Technology, a faculty support unit in the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. 

All funded projects are assigned an instructional design partner from the A&S Learning Design & Technology team. Design partners will work with you to facilitate planning, consult on questions of design, pedagogy, and technology, and connect you to people, resources, and ideas to move your project forward. 

Levels of Funding

Funding may be awarded at several levels; for example:

• $2,000 for one–two faculty to develop a short-term project impacting a small group of students 
• $10,000 for a small group of faculty working across two or more courses to develop a year-long project impacting many students 
• $20,000+ for a group of faculty working across multiple courses or disciplines to develop a multi-year project impacting a significant number of students

Proposal Budget

A detailed project budget is required. Funding may be awarded to cover faculty stipend* (taken as a summer wage), student hourly wages, necessary tools and technology, and other miscellaneous items. Please note that this grant does not cover travel or conference attendance.

*Faculty stipends are made in accordance with HR policy governing faculty overload; please direct any questions to your department’s fiscal administrators. LTi's faculty stipends average $1000-2000, with a max of $4000 per faculty member. Awarded stipend amounts may vary depending on such factors as the number of proposals we fund, project scope and impact, and the size of a project team.

Equipment purchased with LTi funding is the property of the College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and must be returned to LD&T at the end of the grant term. 

Funds may not be transferred among funding categories after award notification. 

Evaluation of Proposals

Successful proposals will demonstrate a clear connection between the proposed project activities and teaching strategies, pedagogies, or learning technologies shown to enhance undergraduate education effectiveness. 

Grant recipients will be notified on or about May 4, 2024. Funding will be available after July 1, 2024, and must be spent and accounted for by May 31, 2025. All projects will be assigned an A&S Learning Design & Technology consultant at the point of award notification.

Work Sprint for Funded Projects 

Funded projects are invited to join a two-day work sprint May 15 and 16, 2024, to begin work with direct support from our Instructional Design team. Attendance is encouraged and open to all members of funded projects.

Requirements of Funded Projects

All funded projects will submit a brief project assessment at the end of the grant year. Project teams are also expected to present findings and share outcomes with the UVA community. More information about presentation opportunities and project assessment will be provided to funded projects. Throughout the grant year, funded project teams will also have several opportunities to meet and learn from other LTi teams at program meetings held each semester.

Proposal Submission

Those interested in developing a proposal are strongly encouraged to contact an A&S LDT Instructional Designer (asid@virginia.edu), who can advise and provide feedback on project ideas and proposal development. Additionally, we encourage you to explore previously funded projects on our website.

The proposal submission deadline is March 20, 2024 (extended from March 15). For full consideration, proposals must include: 

• Completed proposal, including a detailed project budget, submitted via our online portal. 
  (Access the proposal submission template)
• Email of support from Department Chair or Program Director, sent directly to asid@virginia.edu.

Contact

Questions about proposal submission can be sent to Fang Yi (fy5g@virginia.edu), Assistant Director, A&S Learning Design & Technology.