Apply for a CRLT Grant via InfoReady
CRLT offers several grant programs to help instructors at the Ann Arbor Campus of the University of Michigan develop innovative teaching and learning projects, strengthen courses and curricula, and pursue professional development related to teaching, research, and creative endeavors. The table below provides a brief overview of each grant opportunity; additional details, eligibility information, and full guidelines are available in the expandable sections that follow.
| Grant | Purpose | Funding Available | Submission Deadline | Awards Announced |
| Instructional Development Fund | Supports innovative course-based activities that enhance teaching, learning, and student engagement. | Up to $1,000 | Rolling throughout the academic year, or until funds are exhausted | Rolling; allow approximately two weeks for review |
| Lecturers’ Professional Development Fund | Supports eligible Lecturers’ professional development in teaching, research, and/or creative endeavors. | Up to $2,000 | September 15, 2026; 4:00 pm | November 2026 |
| Faculty Development Fund | Supports innovative teaching and learning projects that enhance teaching, learning, and student success. | Level 1: up to $10,000; Level 2: up to $17,500 | October 13, 2026; 4:00 pm | December 2026 |
| Gilbert Whitaker Fund for the Improvement of Teaching | Supports innovative teaching and learning projects that enhance teaching, learning, and student success. | Level 1: up to $10,000; Level 2: up to $17,500 | January 19, 2026; 4:00 pm | April 2026 |
Grant Competitions
For information about each grant, please expand the sections below.
Instructional Development Fund
Deadline
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, online through InfoReady throughout the academic year, or until funds are exhausted.
Purpose
Instructional Development Fund Grants provide up to $1,000 to support innovative activities related to enhancing teaching, learning, and student engagement at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus. Projects should go beyond normal course preparation by improving pedagogical practices or introducing new teaching methods, materials, or activities in an existing course(s).
Eligibility
- Applicants must be members of the tenured, tenure-track, or clinical instructional faculty at U-M Ann Arbor. Lecturers with continuing appointments and course development responsibilities are also eligible; Lecturer I and adjunct applicants must provide appointment verification.
- To support a wide range of instructors, an individual may receive only one IDF grant every two years.
Guidelines and Proposal Template
- View the Instructional Development Fund Guidelines
- Download the Instructional Development Fund Proposal Template
Past Recipients
Lecturers’ Professional Development Fund
Deadline
Applications are submitted online through InfoReady and are due by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Awards will be announced in November, 2026.
Purpose
The Lecturers’ Professional Development Fund provides grants of up to $2,000 to support eligible Lecturers’ professional development activities related to teaching, research, and/or creative endeavors.
Eligibility
- Applicants must have continuing appointments as Lecturers on the U-M Ann Arbor campus. Visiting Lecturers, Adjunct Lecturers, and Lecturers whose appointments cannot be renewed are not eligible.
- Individuals only may apply; pairs or groups are not eligible.
- To support a wide range of Lecturers, an individual may receive only one LPDF grant every two years.
Guidelines and Proposal Template
- View the Lecturers’ Professional Development Fund Guidelines
- Download the Lecturers’ Professional Development Fund Proposal Template
Past Recipients
Faculty Development Fund
Deadline
Applications are submitted online through InfoReady and are due by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Awards will be announced in December, 2026.
Purpose
Faculty Development Fund Grants support innovative teaching and learning projects that promote student success at the University of Michigan. Competitive awards of up to $10,000 are available for individual faculty or small-group projects, and awards of up to $17,500 support broader collaborative efforts such as curriculum redesign, experiential learning, or department-level teaching initiatives.
Eligibility
- The competition is open, on the Ann Arbor campus of the University, to all tenured and tenure-track faculty; clinical instructional faculty; and lecturers who have continuing appointments and course development responsibilities.
- For collaborative proposals, the primary proposal applicant (PI) listed on the Application Cover Sheet must meet the eligibility requirements above.
- Applicants may serve as the PI on only one proposal per Faculty Development Fund or Gilbert Whitaker Fund application cycle. Non-lead faculty may participate on multiple proposals if the projects are substantially different.
- Applicants may receive no more than one award per grant program per fiscal year, and a PI may have only one active Faculty Development Fund or Gilbert Whitaker Fund grant at a time.
- Applicants who received Faculty Development Fund or Gilbert Whitaker Fund grants in the past may seek support for new proposals. However, substantially similar proposals submitted, regardless of who team member is listed as PI, may be deprioritized or declined in order to support a broad range of projects and applicants.
Guidelines and Proposal Template
- View the Faculty Development Fund Guidelines
- Download the Faculty Development Fund Proposal Template
Past Recipients
Gilbert Whitaker Fund for the Improvement of Teaching
Deadline
Applications are submitted online through InfoReady and are due by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 19, 2027. Awards will be announced in April, 2027.
Purpose
Gilbert Whitaker Fund Grants support innovative teaching and learning projects that promote student success at the University of Michigan. Competitive awards of up to $10,000 are available for individual faculty or small-group projects, and awards of up to $17,500 support broader collaborative efforts such as curriculum redesign, experiential learning, or department-level teaching initiatives.
Eligibility
- The competition is open, on the Ann Arbor campus of the University, to all tenured and tenure-track faculty; clinical instructional faculty; and lecturers who have continuing appointments and course development responsibilities.
- For collaborative proposals, the primary proposal applicant (PI) listed on the Application Cover Sheet must meet the eligibility requirements above.
- Applicants may serve as the PI on only one proposal per Faculty Development Fund or Gilbert Whitaker Fund application cycle. Non-lead faculty may participate on multiple proposals if the projects are substantially different.
- Applicants may receive no more than one award per grant program per fiscal year, and a PI may have only one active Faculty Development Fund or Gilbert Whitaker Fund grant at a time.
- Applicants who received Faculty Development Fund or Gilbert Whitaker Fund grants in the past may seek support for new proposals. However, substantially similar proposals submitted, regardless of who team member is listed as PI, may be deprioritized or declined in order to support a broad range of projects and applicants.
Guidelines and Proposal Template
- View the Gilbert Whitaker Fund Guidelines
- Download the Gilbert Whitaker Fund Proposal Template
Past Recipients
General Award Requirements
CRLT grant recipients are responsible for working with their departmental or unit budget managers to ensure that award funds are administered appropriately, spent within the approved project period, and used for the purposes described in the approved proposal.
Award funds are typically transferred to the recipient’s department or unit for administration. Recipients should contact CRLT if significant changes are needed to the project scope, timeline, budget, or personnel. Any unspent funds must be returned as specified in the award notification or grant guidelines.
All recipients are required to submit a final report within the timeframe specified in the grant guidelines, typically within three months of project completion. Failure to submit a final report may affect consideration for future CRLT funding.
We ask that you acknowledge the grant in any publicity or reports about your project. The following statement can be used: “This material is based upon work supported by the University of Michigan Center for Research on Learning through the [grant title].”
Support for Applicants
- Questions: Contact CRLT at (734) 764-0505 or [email protected] with questions about the grant or application process.
- Attend a Pre-Proposal Workshop: Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend a “Developing a CRLT Teaching and Learning Grant Application” workshop. These interactive remote sessions include an overview of the Faculty Development Fund and Gilbert Whitaker Fund application and review process, time for questions, and an opportunity to workshop proposal ideas with peers and receive feedback on project design.
- Upcoming workshops
- Friday, September 11, 2026, 12:00 - 1:30 pm. Click here to Register for the September workshop.
- Friday, December 11, 2026, 12:00 - 1:30 pm. Click here to Register for the December workshop.
- Upcoming workshops
- Schedule a Consultation: Applicants are strongly encouraged to schedule a consultation with CRLT to discuss project design, funding categories, and budgeting for CRLT services (e.g., evaluation/assessment support, retreat/workshop facilitation, extensive consultations). Contact CRLT at (734) 764-0505 or [email protected] to request a consultation; availability is limited during the last week of the submission period.
