*** UPDATE: Deadline extended to Sunday, March 22, 2026 ***

About the LTi 

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 2026-27 LTi grant cycle, we welcome proposals that 

• explore or pilot innovative course structures to facilitate student learning  
• incorporate experiential learning or other high impact practices to enhance student engagement, critical thinking, and academic success 
• engage issues of academic integrity in teaching and learning through innovative design, instructional activities, and/or assessment  
• critically engage with artificial intelligence and/or tools from the existing  UVA Learning Technology ecosystem to enrich and expand the teaching and learning experience or strengthen instructional capacity 

We especially welcome proposals that advance our CGAS commitment to an undergraduate education that is second to none, demonstrate interdisciplinary collaboration, or have potential to scale up in future iterations. Complete proposals addressing other teaching and learning challenges will be considered as funding allows.  

Eligibility 

A&S faculty members at all ranks (AGFM included) with continuing appointments in 2026-27 are eligible to apply for LTi support.  

Faculty members are encouraged to discuss project ideas with a member of the LDT instructional design team prior to submitting a proposal. Please contact the team at asid@virginia.edu. 

Support for Funded Projects 

Instructional Design  

All projects will be assigned an A&S Learning Design & Technology consultant at the point of award notification. Consultants will work with project leads to facilitate project planning, consult on questions of design, pedagogy, and technology, and connect you to resources needed to achieve your project goals.  

Funding 

• Funding may be used for faculty stipends*, student hourly wages, purchase of necessary equipment and technologies, and other miscellaneous items. A detailed project budget is required. 
• Faculty stipends are summer wage payments made in accordance with HR policy governing faculty overload; please direct any questions to your department’s fiscal administrators. We are not able to offer research funds in lieu of a stipend. Faculty stipends average $2000, with a maximum of $4000 per faculty member, and are subject to fringe benefit deductions.   
• There is no minimum request for an LTi award. Maximum funding limits vary based on available funds and on proposals accepted. Awards typically range from $2,000-$12,000.  
• Funds may not be used for travel or conference attendance.  
• Equipment purchased with LTi funding is the property of the College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and must be returned to LDT at the end of the grant term.  
• Funds may not be transferred among funding categories after award notification.  
• Funding will typically be available after July 1 and must be spent and accounted for by May 31. 

Evaluation of Proposals 

Successful proposals will  

• Include a complete proposal, budget, and letter of department or program support 
• Align with the purpose and themes of the LTi grant as outlined in this CfP  
• Demonstrate the proposed project’s relevance and potential for meaningful impact on student learning and/or the instructional experience  
• Demonstrate commitment to fostering accessible, transparent, and meaningful learning experiences for all students 
• Articulate clear goals that may reasonably be achieved within the grant year along with a plan for project evaluation 
• Demonstrate potential for sustainability of the intended instructional outcomes beyond the grant year 

Requirements of Funded Projects 

• Participation in the May 2026 Project Planning Sprint (see below) 
• Regular check-in meetings with LDT consultant 
• Attend one Fall meetup and one Spring ‘showcase’ of the 2026-27 LTi cohort  
• Dissemination of project outcomes within the UVA community  
• Submission of a brief project report at the end of the grant year 
• Further information is available on the A&S LDT Website 

Project Planning Sprint 

All funded project teams will join a planning work sprint on Monday, May 11, 2026, with direct support from our Instructional Design team. All project leads are expected to attend; attendance is open to all members of funded project teams. 

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. Submission portal opens January 26. 

The proposal submission deadline is Sunday, March 22, 2026.   

For full consideration, proposals must include:  

• Complete proposal, including a detailed 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. 

Notification 

Grant recipients will be notified in mid-April. Funding will typically be available after July 1, 2026, and must be spent and accounted for by May 31, 2027. 

Important Dates 

Contact 

Questions about proposal submission can be sent to Emily Scida (ees2n@virginia.edu), Assistant Director for Instructional Design, A&S Learning Design & Technology.