DRIVE Grants

Develop, Redesign, Innovate, Vitalize, and Enhance (DRIVE) grants fund the development or redesign of flexible and online learning experiences for Virginia Tech students in undergraduate and graduate programs.  

Funding can be provided at the program level or for groups of courses that have a specific goal or goal(s) in common (e.g., four courses to create a certificate or courses needed to complete fully online program development). Funding can also be provided for individual courses if there is clear alignment with university priorities outlined such as:

• Offering high-quality flexible and online learning opportunities that facilitate time to degree, especially for undergraduates who are engaging in experiential learning opportunities off campus
• Increasing access and student success through technology-enhanced learning (e.g. supporting active and engaged learning; providing greater flexibility in course offering modality to meet student needs; or addressing lab and classroom space constraints)
• Revising currently offered flexible and online courses to address accessibility issues or to address Universal Design for Learning (UDL), particularly for large or diverse student populations
• Addressing mutual goals with the Commonwealth of Virginia as it relates to accessible educational pathways, especially to careers in high-needs areas (e.g., teacher education, STEM fields, or health sciences).

Grants are funded at up to $8,000 per course for courses that have passed university governance approval and are intended to support the revision or development to achieve high-quality online or flexible learning experiences aligned with the priorities stated above.

Program-level projects can be completed in phases over multiple semesters involving groups of faculty to be named at the start of each phase. Program-level funding can also be considered for additional expenses if justified in the proposal submission. Any graduate assistant position included in the request for funding must be an existing position for which funds are applied to salary. Funding cannot be applied to graduate student tuition.

Call for Proposals

The FY24 call for proposals process opens in spring 2024. Questions about the application process can be directed to tlos@vt.edu.

DRIVE grants are funded through the Provost’s Office and managed by Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS). Submit questions, concerns, or requests for more information to TLOS Senior Director of Grants and Awards, Lujean Baab, at lbaab@vt.edu.