Age-Friendly University Project Grants Program

Eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting research on age-friendliness and age-inclusivity within the university environment.
• Creating or updating courses or micro-credentials to include content related to aging and older adults.
• Implementing inclusive teaching and learning strategies that address the needs of age-diverse students.
• Enhancing services related to student recruitment, admission, advising, or career development to better support age-diverse learners.
• Enhancing services related to hiring, promotion, professional development, and retirement planning to better support age-diverse faculty and staff.
• Expanding programs that offer health, wellness, caregiving, or technology support for age-diverse students, faculty, and staff.
• Developing or expanding initiatives that connect older adults—such as retirees, alumni, and community members—with the campus community.
• Designing or enhancing lifelong learning opportunities available through the university.
• Creating or improving programs that foster intergenerational engagement and collaboration on campus.

Project proposals must be reviewed and approved by the leadership of the principal applicant’s unit, including the Department Head and Dean (or their equivalents), before submission. For collaborative proposals, support from the leadership of each participating unit is strongly recommended. 

• AFU Principles: Clearly explain how the project advances one or more of the ten guiding principles of an AFU.
• Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Principles: Describe how the project incorporates equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility principles, particularly related to older age and/or ageism.
• Collaboration: Where applicable, demonstrate meaningful collaboration across faculties, departments, and/or administrative units.
• Innovation: Propose a new initiative or an enhancement of an existing one, incorporating an innovative approach.
• Feasibility: Present a realistic timeline of activities with achievable outcomes within a 2-year period.
• Budget: Provide a well-justified and reasonable budget that aligns with the project’s objectives and activities and complies with UCalgary’s funding policies.
• Evaluation: Define clear metrics to measure the project's success and outline the evaluation plan and process.
• Impact and Sustainability: Describe the project's potential to deliver meaningful benefits to members of the university community and/or the broader older adult population. Explain how the project is designed for long-term sustainability, including plans to maintain or expand its activities beyond the award term.

To learn more about appropriate terminology, refer to the sources below.

• American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Bias-free language: Age. APA Style.
• Gerontological Society of America. (n.d.). Reframing aging: Journal manuscript guidelines. 

• Funds from the Centre on Aging will be transferred directly to the principal grant holder in a single installment. The principal grant holder will receive a Notice of Award, which includes the accounting details required to establish a dedicated project for managing the funds. It is the principal grant holder’s responsibility to complete the necessary steps to activate this project.
• All funds must be used within the 2-year award period. Any unspent funds remaining at the end of the term must be returned to the Centre on Aging within 60 days. Funding extensions of up to one year may be granted under exceptional circumstances, subject to university approval.
• If the principal grant holder leaves the project before the end of the award period, a co-applicant may take over management of the funds, provided they meet the eligibility criteria for grant holders. If no co-applicant is eligible, all unspent funds must be returned to the Centre on Aging within 60 days of the principal grant holder’s departure.

Eligible expenses are guided by UCalgary policies (e.g., the Travel and Expense Reimbursement Handbook) and must support the goal of the funding program. All expenses must be paid in accordance with UCalgary procedures.

• Grant holders are expected to meet periodically (i.e., at least once per year) with both the Centre on Aging and the Office of Institutional Commitments throughout the award term. These joint meetings serve as informal check-ins for project updates and provide opportunities to access guidance or expertise related to aging, equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, sustainability, and mental health and well-being.
• Grant holders may also be invited to participate in activities organized by the Centre on Aging and the Office of Institutional Commitments, such as leadership meetings or public events, to share updates on their projects.

• The principal grant holder must submit a report to the Centre on Aging at the end of each fiscal year (by March 31) during the award period. The report should include a summary of the project’s progress, details on the use of funds, key outcomes to date, and an explanation of any delays in the project timeline, along with a plan to address or adjust for those delays.

• Grant holders must acknowledge the Centre on Aging in all public presentations, communications, publications, and other materials related to the funded project. The Centre’s logo must be included on any materials produced. To obtain the logo, please contact aging@ucalgary.ca.