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California State University, Chico

The Collective Grants Academy

Turning Ideas Into Impact

Are you an active tenured, tenure-track or lecturer faculty? Do you have a fundable grant, research, or creative project idea that could have regional/statewide/workforce impact? Or, does your idea leverage innovative or emerging technologies with regional and potential beyond-regional relevance? The North State Planning and Development Collective is pleased to announce The Collective Grants Academy.

The Collective Grants Academy is now accepting proposals for the Fall 2026 semester. This program provides assigned time (a course buy-out of 3 WTU/semester) or additional employment contract to tenured, tenure-track, or full-time lecturer faculty to develop robust, fundable grant, research, or creative projects.

Why It Matters

The North State faces pressing talent gaps and structural challenges across critical areas (e.g., rural acess, climate resilience, health and human services, ag/food systems, broadband, small-buisness, and entrepreneurship). As the region's anchor university, Chico State is committed to advancing the vitality and resilience of Northern California. The Collective Grants Academy provides protected time or additional employment contract to dedicate to projects that align with regional/state needs and offer significant potential for experiential learning for our students.

Eligibility and Award:

  • Eligibility: Open to all active tenured, tenure-track, or lecturer faculty.
  • Award: Standard award is 3 WTU for Fall 2026 semester or additional employment contract for Fall 2026, to be used for fundable research, proposal development, or creative project with regional and potential beyond-regional relevance.

About The Collective

The North State Planning and Development Collective (the Collective) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) auxiliary of Chico State Enterprises, housed within the California State University, Chico ecosystem.
The Collective brings together three long-standing programs:

  • Center for Economic Development (est. 1986)
  • Geographical Information Center (est. 1988)
  • Northeastern and Upstate California Connect Broadband Consortia

Serving Chico State's 12-county region— Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, and Yuba— the Collective works at the intersection of academic expertise and community need.

From supporting workforce and economic development to advancing broadband access, climate resilience, and infrastructure, planning, the Collective partners with faculty, students, and regional leaders to take on the challenges that matter most.

At its core, the Collective is about connection— bringing people, ideas, and resources together to build a stronger, more resilient North State. 

Take The Next Step

If you have an idea that could grow into something more— with the right time, and partnership— the Collective Grants Academy is here to help you move it forward.

How To Apply

Applications are due Friday, April 17, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. PST. Each application must contain the following information to be considered:

  1. A brief description of the project or grant proposal that is to be completed or initiated during the award period. The description should:
    1. Clearly define the goals and outcomes of the project and align with the scoring rubric categories (see below)
    2. Indicate how the project connects to North State regional needs, workforce alignment, or use of innovative/cutting-edge ideas/technologies with potential beyond-regional relevance, highlighting the innovative nature of your approach. 
    3. Provide details about the experiential learning opportunities for students. 
    4. Present a robust plan outlining how the project will be sustained after the buyout time concludes.
    5. Briefly summarize your relevant expertise, prior engagement in this area, and how the proposal/project aligns with your departmental or program needs.
    6. Identify all committed partners (internal and external) and describe the strength of their commitment. Highlight any cross-departmental, cross-college, or regional statewide collaboration.
  2. A clear, achievable timeline for completion of the project (up to one page in length) within the assigned time/buyout term.
  3. A detailed explanation of any funding or matching funds that have been applied for or obtained in the past for this project should be listed.
  4. If pursuing a grant, submit the funding source you have identified as part of this buyout, along with a short justification for why this source is the most feasible/likely for this project. If you have a project idea with regional and potential beyond-regional relevance, submit support letters from partners.
  5. Signed approval of the project from the applicant's department chair and dean using this form.
  6. A current curriculum vitae must accompany the application.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Seema Sehrawat, the Collective's faculty liaison at ssehrawat@csuchico.edu.

Submit Files to Box

Review Process

Applications will be reviewed by the Collective's leadership team. Final selections will be affirmed by the Collective's Executive Director, Jason Schwenkler, in consultation with Provost Cornick. Applicants will be notified by May 8, 2026.

Selection Criteria and Scoring Rubric (100 points total)

Reviewers will assess the strength and clarity of your project plan against the following core priorities:

  1. Regional Relevance/Innovation (25 pts): Demonstrates a clear tie to North State needs or a community impact and/or articulates the utilization of innovative/cutting-edge processes or technologies with regional and potential beyond-regional relevance.
  2. Student Success and Experiential Learning (20 pts): Presents hands-on, experiential learning for students.
  3. Sustainability and Scalability (20 pts): Outlines a clear sustainable plan. Identifies a pipeline for external funding, contracts, or potential for project replication and scale.
  4. Feasibility and Timeline (15 pts): Establishes an achievable scope and practical milestones within the assigned time/buyout term. Confirms a clear fit with the Collective’s goals.
  5. Faculty Readiness and Fit (10 pts): Documents relevant expertise and a history of prior engagement. Aligns the project with departmental or program needs.
  6. Partnerships and Interdisciplinary (10 pts): Provides evidence of strength and commitment from external partners. Highlights cross-departmental/college/regional/state collaboration and effective leverage of existing campus assets.