CSU Bachelor's Degree Innovation Catalyst Grants

Please note that since there is a limit of three applications per campus, only three applicants will be selected from Cal Poly Humboldt. To be considered, please submit an internal letter of intent by Friday, September 18, 2026. Applicants selected to move forward will be notified and invited to develop a full proposal, due Friday, October 16, 2026.

Amount: $25,000 per degree; additional funding available for multi-campus proposals.

About: With the Board of Trustees recently approving three new workforce aligned bachelor degree designations, proposals from CSU Universities are being invited for the development of academic programs leading to a Bachelor of  Applied Studies, Bachelor of Education, or Bachelor of Professional Studies degree. The degree programs being proposed may range from 90 to 120 units. 

These Innovation Catalyst Grants are designed to support campuses in planning new bachelor's degree programs that align with CSU degree requirements while advancing campus priorities, responding to regional and workforce needs, meeting student demand, and addressing accreditation expectations. The initiative provides planning grants over 9- 12 months to help campuses develop promising program concepts into high-quality, submission-ready academic program proposals. 

Priority consideration will be given to proposals that do one or more of the following:

1. Address documented regional or statewide workforce shortages and unmet student demand. 

2. Create strong transfer pathways with California Community Colleges and reduce loss of credit at transfer.

3. Serve adult learners, returning students, working students, or place-bound students through flexible, hybrid, online, year-round, cohort, or credit-for-prior-learning designs consistent with policy.

4. Expand and/or adapt evidence-based practices including applied learning, undergraduate research, community-engaged learning, work-based learning, clinical/practicum experiences, internships, or industry/community projects as part of the curriculum.

5. Adopt innovative program design features including condensed course duration or meeting pattern, modularization of courses into 1-2 credit units for stackability, incorporate team projects and performance/competency-based assessments, etc.

6. Clearly align program learning outcomes with best practices in the discipline and professional standards, if applicable

For more details and to download the solicitation, please visit our CSU Bachelor's Degree Innovation Catalyst Grants competition page which can be accessed through Engagement Hub.

Apply: Letters of intent must be submitted through InfoReady which can be accessed on Cal Poly Humboldt’s Engagement Hub. 

NOTE: For questions, please contact our Pre-Award Specialists Pia Gabriel at pg12@humboldt.edu, Kaz Wegmuller at kaz.wegmuller@humboldt.edu, or Jocelyne Takatsuno at jt366@humboldt.edu