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Internal Assessment Grant

Internal Assessment Grant

 
Summer Assessment Grant 2026

Call for Proposals

Application Window: April 15 – May 15, 2026

Link to Grant Application

Purpose

The Office of Institutional Effectiveness Summer Assessment Grant supports substantive summer projects that deepen program understanding of student learning and strengthen academic quality.

These grants support focused, program learning outcome (PLO)-centered work such as systematic review of student work, development and piloting of assessment tools (e.g., rubrics, exams, surveys), analysis and interpretation of program-level data, and refinement of curriculum, assignments, or evaluation criteria. The PLO assessment work may also be directly tied to an upcoming Academic Program Review.

Projects should be clearly defined and feasible within a summer timeframe, while contributing in a visible way to ongoing program learning.

Award

  • Up to $1,000 per project
  • Awards granted until funds are expended
  • Funds may support faculty stipends, materials, software, or other direct costs related to the project.

Examples of Appropriate Projects

Past projects have included:

  • Developing or piloting a rubric to assess a specific PLO
  • Reviewing and refining a program curriculum map or assessment plan
  • Analyzing assessment results across multiple semesters to identify patterns in student learning
  • Revising key assignments to better align with program learning outcomes
  • Designing sustainable processes for annual PLO assessment

2026 Special Consideration Priorities

Consistent with LMU’s Jesuit tradition of reflection and discernment leading to action, we invite projects that thoughtfully examine student learning and generate insight that informs teaching, curriculum, and program practices, including assessment processes. 

Strengthening PLO Assessment

Projects that move beyond collecting results to deeper analysis and reflection on PLOs that inform meaningful action.

For example:

  • Conducting systematic review of student work tied to one or more PLOs
  • Interpreting and reflecting on multi-semester or multi-section PLO assessment results
  • Examining alignment between PLOs, curriculum, assignments, and assessment tools
  • Piloting a revised rubric, assignment, or assessment method related to at least one PLO
  • Documenting how PLO assessment findings inform program-level decisions and actions

Designing Manageable Assessment Processes

Projects that explore ways to make assessment practices more sustainable, efficient, and informative for programs.

For example:

  • Developing processes for reviewing and synthesizing student work across courses or semesters
  • Creating tools or workflows that help faculty analyze assessment results more effectively
  • Exploring how emerging technologies, including AI, may support data organization, analysis, or feedback processes in program assessment

Equity-Informed Review of Student Learning

Projects that examine patterns in student learning across groups and consider how programs can strengthen equitable outcomes.

For example:

  • Revising assignments, rubrics, or evaluation criteria to better support diverse learners
  • Incorporating student feedback to better understand barriers to success
  • Implementing inclusive pedagogy to close the loop or UDL strategies in assessment, teaching, and learning

Designing Assessment in an AI-Influenced Learning Environment

Projects that respond to how AI is impacting student learning and assessment.

This may include:

  • Revising assignments to emphasize human-centered skills such as critical thinking, synthesis, and disciplinary reasoning
  • Development of tools or strategies using AI to support assessment of program or course learning outcomes

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include:

  • Continuing full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty
  • Full-time non-tenure-track faculty
  • Priority will be given to first-time applicants

Department chairs and program directors who receive a summer administrative stipend are not eligible for an additional stipend under this program.

Application Requirements

Grant Applicant Information:

  • Faculty name(s)
  • Faculty email(s)
  • Faculty title(s)
  • Faculty tenure status

Project Information

  • Title
  • Department and program
  • Name(s) and email(s) of applicant(s)
  • Department Chair or Dean name and email

Project Proposal (500-900 words)

  • The learning outcome(s) or assessment question guiding the project
  • The scope of work to be completed during the summer
  • Methods (e.g., data collection, rubric development, analysis process)
  • Expected deliverables
  • Timeline
  • How this project advances your program’s ongoing assessment efforts

Budget

Provide an itemized list of anticipated expenditures.

Chair Statement

Attach a brief statement of support from the Department Chair confirming alignment with program priorities.

Timeline

  • Application Window: April 15 – May 15, 2026
  • Award Notification: Early June 2026
  • Eligible Purchases Begin: June 1, 2026
  • Grant Summary Due: September 11, 2026

Disbursement of Funds

  • Goods and materials may be purchased beginning June 1, 2026.
  • Purchases may be processed on your behalf or reimbursed upon receipt submission.
  • Stipends will be disbursed upon submission of the required grant summary.

Grant Summary Requirements

  • Summary of completed activities
  • Key findings or insights
  • Actions taken or planned
  • A 100-word abstract suitable for posting on the OIE website

Questions?

Contact Eileen Soto, Senior Director of Assessment and ALO

  • Email: eileen.soto@lmu.edu
  • Phone: 310-568-6298
  • Microsoft Teams: Message Eileen Soto