Call for Retention & Progression Initiatives
Introduction
Since 2017, the Office of the Vice-Provost, Innovations in Undergraduate Education (OVPIUE) has collaborated with tri-campus partners to develop data tools and dashboards supporting undergraduate student retention, progression, and graduation. In 2024, we hosted divisional discussions with academic and registrarial leadership to review these tools and explore the financial implications of higher retention and graduation rates. From these conversations, we launched a small call for proposals and funded four Student Success Projects.
We are pleased to announce that this funding opportunity will continue in 2025–26. Proposals are now invited for additional Retention & Progression Initiatives in the following four priority areas — though we welcome additional ideas aligned with student retention and success.
Priority Areas
Summer Melt
Projects aimed at increasing the number of students who complete the process from accepting an offer of admission to full registration for September.
Successful First Year Completion
Initiatives to support first-year students in achieving good academic standing, including early alert systems, interventions for large first-year courses, and fall-term recovery programs.
Middle Years Transition
Programs to help students return to good standing from probation, and reduce unnecessary program changes.
Last Mile to Graduation
Projects designed to support timely graduation, improve credit efficiency, and shorten time-to-degree.
Important Dates and Deadlines
Call for Proposals opens May 26, 2025
Webinar & Information Session June 11, 2025
Proposals due July 4, 2025
OVPIUE review of proposals July 7-11
Funding decisions to be announced mid-late July
Eligibility
Applicant Eligibility
Proposals will be accepted from University of Toronto faculty, staff and librarians with continuing appointments in the first-entry undergraduate divisions listed below.
- Faculty of Arts & Science
- Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering
- Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
- Faculty of Music
- John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design
- University of Toronto Mississauga
- University of Toronto Scarborough
Faculty, staff and librarians with continuing appointments in other divisions may partner on an application with a member with continuing status from an eligible division, so long as the primary beneficiary of the proposal are first-entry undergraduate students.
Call for Proposals
| Section | Details |
|---|---|
| Priority Area | Which of the four priority areas does the proposed initiative best align with? (Summer Melt, Succesful Completion of Year 1, Middle Years Transition, Last Mile to Graduation) |
| Initiative Description | A description of your initiative, the rationale for its creation or development. In this section please describe the strategy for identifying the eligible students, the intended process to engage them, the intervention or support program that will be targeted at them, and the staff or offices that will be involved in the work (up to 500 words). |
| Assessment & Evaluation | Please share a baseline measure that illustrates the scope or size of the issue, details of what changes are expected, how the efficacy of the intervention or support will be measured, and when the measurements are expected to occur. We are especially interested in initiatives that use randomization. (250 words) |
| Budget | Up to $10,000 for one year. This is one-time-only funding. Funds can be used to support the hiring of casual staff, work-study students. Funding can be used as compensation (such as giftcards, or tbucks) for focus groups/survey participants, focus groups. This funding is not to cover the salary of faculty/staff with continuing appointments, data analysis, travel, conferences or printing costs. |
| Transferability & Scalability: | Please briefly describe how the initiative could be transferable and/or scalable to other Divisions, Colleges, Units or courses.(100 words) |
| Timing | This funding is intended for initiatives that begin during the 2025-2026 academic year. Projects must be completed by November 2026. |
| Divisional Support | Initiatives should include a brief endorsement letter from a Dean or Dean’s designate. If the proposal is related to a specific academic course, a letter of endorsement from the instructor, course coordinator or academic program head / chair (in departmentalized faculties) is required. Please attach them here. |
Retention & Progression Initiative Expectations
As a condition of funding, successful Retention & Progression Initiatives applicants will be expected to:
- Attend a kickoff meeting with other successful applicants in the summer.
- Provide once a term updates
- Complete a final project report
More details about these expectations will be provided if your application is successful. Applications can only be received through the application form below. If you have any questions about eligibility, funding or a project idea, please contact Jeff Burrow (Special Projects Officer, Academic Analytics).