FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
As part of the commitment inherent in being a leading college in a public research university, the College of Arts and Letters (CAL) has established the Community Engagement Grant Program. The program will support faculty research and teaching that extends our interests, expertise, and curiosity to community partners in San Diego and beyond. These grants are designed to encourage project-based collaborations that can address needs and issues in the communities we serve, promote research into new areas and/or funding sources, and enable student learning outside the classroom.
Support funding from this program can be used for a variety of non-salaried expenses that enhance research and teaching partnerships with established community organizations or related entities. Initially, at least four grants of up to $1500 will be available (total number TBD based on budget). Eligible activities include (but are not necessarily limited to) travel, participant honorariums or stipends, and meeting costs. No salary support or release time may be funded with these grants.
Learning Innovation for Future-Forward Teaching (LIFT) is a competitive, one-year funding opportunity inviting California State University (CSU) faculty individually or in teams to design and test teaching innovations that intentionally embed durable skills into undergraduate courses and programs to prepare students to learn, adapt and thrive in 21st century work and life.
- Approximately 30 grants will be awarded, ranging from $10,000 to $30,000, depending on project scope and available funding.
- Applications are due June 1, 2026 by 5:00pm via the LIFT portal.
- Awardees will be notified by July 1, 2026, for implementation during the 2026–27 academic year.
- Register for the CSU LIFT Information session on Thursday, April 16, at 11:00am.
The California State University (CSU) Chancellor’s Office is launching a new GUIDE funding initiative to enhance undergraduate student engagement across the system and promote innovative, inter-campus faculty collaboration. This program is designed to foster promising oneyear research, scholarly or creative activity (RSCA) projects that can lead directly to the preparation of a proposal for major extramural funding. The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) defines undergraduate research as “a mentored investigation or creative inquiry conducted by undergraduates who seek to make a scholarly or artistic contribution to knowledge.” Undergraduate RSCA is one of several high-impact educational practices as faculty-mentored participation is strongly associated with persistence, personal development and gains in critical thinking (Kuh, 2008). Work-based learning, including paid undergraduate research opportunities outside of the classroom, is associated with stronger employment outcomes, graduate or professional school enrollment post-graduation (Strada State Opportunity Index, 2025). There is a significant body of published literature that undergraduate student engagement directly contributes to student success and is a high impact practice.