HIP QEP Grants

QEP Faculty Development Grant 2026-2027

The UWG QEP Team is soliciting proposals for the second round of QEP Faculty Development Grants to support activities in Academic Year 2026-2027. These grants foster innovation and creativity among faculty as they integrate experiential and active learning practices that cultivate transferable skills essential for students’ success in their careers and lives.

Experiential Learning offers students the opportunity to engage in active learning by doing and is often associated with High Impact Practices (HIPs). One of the most significant elements of experiential learning involves strategically aligning it with intentional and purposeful opportunities for students to engage in career exploration and preparation for future professional work, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

QEP Application Information (DOCX)

Grant Amount

Each grant consists of $1,000 as a faculty stipend. Six grants will be awarded in spring 2026 for courses taught in AY 2026-2027.

Eligible Project Categories

Category A: New HIP Course

Conversion of currently non-HIP courses into HIP courses with Undergraduate Research (UR, levels 1-4) or Work-Based Learning (WBL, levels 1-4) attribute.

(UR Example) Incorporate a team project that requires research, teamwork, critical thinking, and communication
(WBL Example) Incorporate a service-learning project that builds specific NACE competencies, for example, teamwork, communication, technological skills, etc.

Category B: Existing HIP Course

Instructors of existing UR- or WBL-attributed courses who will showcase good practice that fosters the NACE career readiness competencies. Examples include:

Previously developed HIP course(s) that will have substantive modification in AY 2026-2027 to enhance cultivation of career-readiness competencies

Category C: Creative Learning Endeavors

Innovation and creativity among faculty across all course levels, integrating experiential and active learning practices that cultivate essential transferable skills as related to the QEP.

Design substantive, creative projects to build foundational competencies in communication, teamwork, and critical thinking
Expand student engagement through service learning and/or research endeavors that promote integrative learning

Who Is Eligible

Full-time faculty members who have not previously received a QEP Grant or attended the QEP Summer Institute.

Proposal Requirements

A concise action plan detailing:

Rationale (e.g., for converting an existing course into a HIP-designated course with the classifications of Undergraduate Research [UR, levels 1-4] or Work-Based Learning [WBL, levels 1-4])
Process and steps planned for redesign and implementation (e.g., converting an existing course with a focus on engaged/active learning creative projects, with student learning outcomes to include at least two career readiness competencies)
A description of planned experiential learning activities, their requirements and expected impact, as well as the assessment measures intended
Opportunities for student reflection of the activity as tied to their intellectual growth and potential for transferability of skills

All proposed or existing activities must address at least one of the QEP’s Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):

SLO 1 – ENVISION: “Within their first year, students will identify and describe experiential learning opportunities and career readiness competencies relevant to their professional goals.”
SLO 2 – ENACT: “Students will analyze and reflect on the career readiness competencies cultivated through their participation in experiential learning opportunities.”
SLO 3 – SHOWCASE: “Before graduation, students will create an artifact that articulates the integration between their experiential learning activities and the career readiness competencies that they developed.”

How to Apply

Please prepare one PDF file with the following and email to qep@westga.edu:

Cover page (see the application document for the template)
Project narrative (font size 11 or 12, double-spaced, one to two pages)
Table outlining trajectory of the project (dates, implementation, assessment, etc.)

Timeline

Proposal deadline: May 1, 2026
Awardee announcement: June 15, 2026
Project period: Academic Year 2026-2027

Review Criteria

Preference will be given to proposals that:

Intentionally seek designation for the Undergraduate Research (UR) or Work-Based Learning (WBL) attribute
Demonstrate scalability or application to high-enrollment courses to maximize institutional impact
Incorporate innovative pedagogical approaches or cross-disciplinary collaborations that enhance access, relevance, and student success

Post-Funding Requirements

Submit a final report at the end of the semester in which the adapted course is taught, including a summary of activities and their impacts, highlights of student reflections, results of assessment factors, and overall evaluation of the endeavor
Give a presentation of the project outcomes at the Innovations in Pedagogy conference as part of a QEP session (May 2027)

Questions? Please send inquiries to qep@westga.edu.