Faculty Development Grants

Faculty development grants are intended to strengthen the quality of teaching at UCA. The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Academic Leadership administers the awarding of competitive professional development grants, which are reviewed by the Faculty Development Committee five times per year. Applications for consideration will include explanatory details about the professional development activity, an itemized budget, and recommendations from the applicant’s chair and dean.

 

Funding Amounts

For the 2026-2027 academic year, $20,000 is available for Faculty Development Grants and will be distributed across five application cycles throughout the academic year.

Grants are typically funded at $500 per applicant. See Application Deadlines below for the five submission dates.

The Farris Faculty Development Grant was established in 2006 when former UCA President Jeff Farris and his wife Patsy endowed a $25,000 fund designated for faculty development. Guidelines for this grant are the same as those for regular faculty development grants, except that funds can roll over into the next fiscal year and are reserved for activities scheduled during summer months.

 

Application Deadlines

Opportunities to apply for a Faculty Development Grant are offered five times per academic year:

• September 30
• November 13
• January 31
• March 15
• April 15*

*Travel or activities must cross fiscal years to qualify (i.e., July, August, or September). Limited funds available.

Following each deadline, the applications are reviewed by the Faculty Development Committee. Applicants will receive notification of awards within two weeks of the committee review.

 

Eligible Activities

This program is provided to support faculty development activities related to enhancing teaching effectiveness and/or developing curriculum. Acceptable activities or meetings may focus on instructional design, content, or pedagogy. The activity should be justified by explaining how it will improve the applicant’s teaching. In addition to funding off-campus activities, FDG money is also used to fund relevant online professional development in teaching as well as bring speakers to campus to engage in professional development for a group of faculty. For specific details on eligible activities, please review the Faculty Development Grant Guidelines.
Note: Travel to a professional conference where sessions are primarily oriented to disciplinary research is typically not supported.

 

Ready to Apply?

Best practice: Have your completed MS Word application ready to upload. The submission form cannot be saved and completed later.

1. Review the Guidelines
   Make sure your proposed professional development activity meets the Faculty Development Grant criteria.
   View Guidelines
2. Complete the Application
   Download the Faculty Development Grant application and complete it in Microsoft Word.
   Download Application
   
3. Submit Your Application
   Once your application is complete, upload it using the online submission form.
   Submit Application
   

 

Final Report

Received a Faculty Development Grant? Submit your Final Report here. (Coming soon!)

---

Additional funding opportunities for faculty projects are also available through the UCA Foundation. For more information, visit the Foundation Faculty Grants website.