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CU Boulder’s Workforce Development Hub is accepting proposals for Workforce Development Seed Grants to support creative approaches to skill development and foster new models of learning that go beyond traditional education. This is the first year this program has been offered, and the intent is to fund early-stage pilot programs that seek to test new ways of building skills at CU Boulder.ÌýÌý

The Workforce Development Seed Grant program aims to inspire novel approaches that enhance accessibility, adaptability, and impact, ensuring that learners are equipped with the skills needed to thrive. Ecosystem partnerships are central to this effort, and collaboration with industry, community non-profits, other educational institutions or national labs is particularly welcomed. External partners may be invited to match funds for this grant.Ìý

Examples of potential projects may include the following:

• Industry-aligned micro-credentials
• Certificate programs
• Experiential learning programs including virtual or in-person lab experiences
• Internship or externship programs
• Mentoring or reverse mentoring programs
• Interdisciplinary boot camps that bridge technical and professional skills
• Competency-based training pathways tailored to emerging job marketsÌý

Demonstration of supporting specific learner population(s) is a critical component of this program. Learner populations can include individuals who are currently enrolled at CU Boulder, K-12 students, community college or technical school students, or adults (either employed or unemployed) who are currently looking to upskill. Proposers are highly encouraged to articulate the needs of the learner population(s) to be supported and how the envisioned solution will address the learner's needs.Ìý

Program Goals

1. To increase collaboration between CU Boulder and broader workforce development ecosystem partners, including skill-building institutions, community organizations, and industry
2. To test pilot concepts of new and bold strategies intended to support learners through creative and accessible skill-building methods (intent is not to scale existing skill-building programs that may already be proven)
3. To demonstrate the potential impact of novel skill-building strategies that may be considered for broader scaling across CU Boulder and its workforce development ecosystem
4. Test the viability of this new grant program for future yearsÌý

Timeline

• Grant program launch: Early March 2025
• Grant information webinar: March 11, 2025, 10—10:45 a.m. MTÌý
• Proposal submission deadline: April 15, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. MT
• Awardees announced: Mid-May 2025
• Funding awarded: Late May to early June 2025
• Project execution dates: July 2025—June 2026ÌýÌý

Application

Eligibility

All CU Boulder staff, faculty and post-doctorates who hold an appointment of half-time or greater or full-time enrolled graduate students are eligible to apply. The lead PI must be employed by CU Boulder. Collaborators from other institutions are permitted but cannot receive funding from the program.

Faculty may include Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty, Instructors and Senior Instructors (including Teaching Assistant Professors, Teaching Associate Professors, and Teaching Professors), and Career Track Research Faculty (i.e., Research Professors Series, Senior Research Associates* (SRA) and Research Associates (RA)) who hold an appointment of half-time or greater are eligible to apply.Ìý

Additional eligibility information:Ìý

• Applicants may submit no more than one proposal as a funded PI or Co-PI.
• Applicants can serve on multiple proposals as unpaid co-PIs.
• Faculty course or teaching buy-out is not an eligible expense.
• Applicants with existing resources that could fund their project are discouraged.

Proposal Requirements

Proposals should use clear writing appropriate for non-specialists and make a strong case for the project’s importance to reviewers outside the discipline. Proposal documents should be in Arial 11-point type with at least 0.5" margins and should include the PI's name and the year of the proposal within the document title (e.g.,ÌýMRuzzene2025SeedGrant.pdf).

All proposals should include the components below in one PDF document and be clearly marked by section. Proposals that fail to comply with these requirements will not be reviewed.Ìý

• Proposal/Project Plan: Describe the aims, significance, methods and expected outcomes of the project, highlighting any new or creative directions, future payoff potential or value/impact to learner population(s). Explain how the idea may have the capacity to expand and adapt effectively across multiple departments, colleges, learner populations or industries. Describe how the idea will foster existing or create new partnerships across disciplines and the workforce development ecosystem.ÌýThe maximum length is 3 pages, including tables, figures, charts, references and any other supporting information.
• Supplemental Materials(these do not count toward the 3-page proposal limit):
  • Lead PI Curriculum Vitae: Up to 2 pages.
  • Abstract/Project Summary: Provide a concise summary of the project accessible to general audiences. Explain how the project will support learners and future skill development innovation impact, research, scholarly or creative vitality at CU Boulder. 350 words maximum; up to 1 page.
  • Co-PIs/Collaborators: Name, title, institution, unit/department and role(s). Up to 1 page.
  • Budget and Budget Justification: UseÌý for the budget. Budget requests are intended to support postdocs, graduate students or undergraduates. Requests solely for faculty salary support are discouraged. No overhead or indirect costs are allowed. Provide a justification of the items requested in the budget. Particular attention should be given to justifying budget items that may not be immediately clear to reviewers who are familiar with (but not experts in) your specific field. Up to 2 pages total (approximately 1 page for the budget and 1 page for the budget justification).
  • Letter of Financial Commitment(required if proposal includes an External Partnership including any institution outside of the ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ18): A letter of financial commitment is required from any external partner that is providing matching funds, and must outline the contribution amount and length of financial commitments. Up to 1 page.
  • Eligibility Confirmation (for Adjoint or Adjunct Professors only): Adjoint or adjunct professors are eligible as long as they submit a letter of support from their unit or department head confirming they hold a long-term appointment of half-time or greater. Up to 1 page.Ìý

Review Process

Proposals will be evaluated in three primary areas:

The potential to obtain future funding will also be considered in the review process for appropriate disciplines.Ìý

Terms and Conditions

Workforce Development Seed Grant recipients agree to the following conditions:

1. Reporting: Recipients are required to submit the following reports according to the following schedule:
   1. due byÌýAugust 1, 2026
   2. Significant Outcomes: If a significant outcome of this seed grant award is realized at any time (e.g., securing an external grant, publication of a significant piece of work, an invention, a key creation or performance, etc.), recipients will immediately notify RIO in writing by emailing workforcedev@colorado.edu
2. PI Change: If there is a change or absence (60 days or greater) in PI, recipients will immediately contact and provide a justification to RIO at workforcedev@colorado.edu
3. Exclusive Funding: Recipients must not seek or accept funding from any other RIO funding source for the same project or activities funded under this award including but not limited to AB Nexus, New Frontiers Grants, Research & Innovation Office Arts & Humanities Grants and/or additional Research & Innovation Office funding.
4. Future Year Program Support: Recipients may be encouraged to support future year funding efforts via serving on selection committees or other program needs.
5. Compliance: If the project involves any compliance issues (e.g., IRB, IACUC, EHS, biohazardous material, etc.), recipients certify that the appropriate campus compliance offices will be notifiedÌýbefore initiating any work.
6. Funding Access: Awards will be made available through the financial office in recipients’ respective college/school/institute aroundÌýlate May 2025 to early June 2025 following award notification. The budget office at the PI’s respective college/school/institute will set up the speedtype (account) number for the award, and RIO will transfer the funds to the speedtype. Recipients should contact their respective budget office for the speedtype inÌýMay 2025Ìýfollowing award notification.
7. Project Duration and No-Cost Extensions: The project duration is 12 months from July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026.ÌýFunds must be spent during the project duration, no-cost extensions will NOT be accepted given the funding source limitations.
8. Suspension of Funds: If a recipient fails to fulfill any of the aforementioned conditions, or leaves the university, RIO reserves the right to suspend funds.