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Office of Inclusive Excellence

Faculty Career Development Award Program

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Faculty Career Development Award Program

The Office of Inclusive Excellence is now accepting proposals for the Faculty Career Development Award program through two opportunities:

Awards are made in the form of a lump sum of $5,000–$15,000 in research funds. Please note that funding that is allocated for the 2026–27 academic year will not be renewed.

Program Criteria

The Faculty Career Development Awards for AY 26–27 provide regular rank Assistant Professors and Assistant Professors-in-Residence (FCDA) and Associate Professors and Associate Professors-in-Residence (Mid-Career FCDA) with support for scholarship and creative activities necessary for promotion or to advance new areas of inquiry or creative activity. Special consideration will be given to regular rank Assistant Professors and Assistant Professors-in-Residence (FCDA) and Associate Professors and Associate Professors-in-Residence (Mid-Career FCDA) whose teaching, service, research or creative activities contribute to the inclusive excellence mission of the University or community at-large; and who demonstrate a commitment to seeking, sustaining, and providing mentoring relationships that support faculty development, student success and long-term academic advancement. Priority will also be given to regular rank Assistant Professors and Assistant Professors-in-Residence (FCDA) and Associate Professors and Associate Professors-in-Residence (Mid-Career FCDA), who have held the requisite Professor rank for at least three academic years.

Eligibility Requirements

Applications are invited from:

  • FCDA: Assistant Professors in the regular rank and In-Residence professorial series, with the exception of individuals for whom AY 26–27 will be their final year as Assistant Professor because of promotion, non-reappointment or resignation.
  • Mid-Career FCDA: Associate Professors in the regular rank and In-Residence professorial series.

Although prior FCDA recipients may apply for another award, strong priority will be given to those who have not previously received an award.

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Application Process

Applicants should submit the following materials to their department chairs:

  1. Completed application form
  2. Proposal, two to three pages in length, outlining:
    • career plans and progress;
    • detailed description of the project to be undertaken during the award period;
    • budget outline; and
    • statement describing how the applicant will seek and engage with mentors around the project and/or their faculty career, OR how the faculty member will create and facilitate mentoring opportunities for students involved in research funded by the program.
  3. Curriculum vitae

All are welcome to apply!

Review Process

The department chair will forward all application materials to the Office of Inclusive Excellence with a recommended priority listing (if applicable) and comments, including any departmental advisory committee comments in each packet.

A committee appointed by the Office of the Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence will review the applications and make recommendations to the vice provost, who will make the final award decisions.

Deadlines

Friday, July 17, 2026
Applications due to Department Chairs

Friday, July 24, 2026
Applications due to the Office of Inclusive Excellence from Department Chairs. Applications can be submitted to welisten@excellence.ucla.edu

Notification letters will be sent promptly to all applicants after award decisions are finalized in September.

Please contact Ryan Adserias at RAdserias@excellence.ucla.edu if you have any questions regarding the policies and procedures for this program, or review the FCDA Program FAQs and Mid-Career FCDA Program FAQs.