Instructionally Related Activities
What is an IRA?
An Instructionally Related Activity (IRA) is an "out-of-class experience" that provides enrichment to students and enhances their learning at Cal Poly. Funding for recognized IRAs is provided through student fees. All IRA programs/activities are partially sponsored by an academic dean or department and are "integrally related" to a formal instructional program.
General IRA Information
- List of Recognized IRA Programs
- Criteria for IRA Recognition
- Expenditure Guidelines
- Frequently Asked Questions
- IRA Resource and Operations Guide
2022-23 Allocations
Call for Proposals
Proposals are now being accepted for IRA recognition for the 2023-24 academic year.
- Requests for IRA recognition and funding are initiated through faculty or staff advisors who submit the proposals to their college or the VP Student Affairs. The IRA Advisory Committee reviews all requests for recognition and forwards their recognition recommendations to the campus President. With advice from the College Student Councils, the Deans and VP Student Affairs review funding requests and make funding recommendations for the recognized IRAs within their college/area. These recommendations are forwarded, via the IRA Advisory Committee, to the campus President for approval.
- Please bear in mind that the total amount of IRA funding available increases only slightly each year, if at all, and can drop if campus or individual college enrollments drop. Therefore, recognition as an IRA in no way guarantees funding. Potential new activities are encouraged to research those IRAs already operating on campus and, if the activities are similar, to contact the existing activity and discuss the possibility of working together.
Video: Proposal for a New IRA - Word document form overview 7:12
Video: Proposal for a New IRA - Excel Budget form overview 8:28 Note that the budget sheet has been streamlined since this training video was recorded; the recording includes a few steps that are no longer relevant. If you do not see a section on the budget form referred to in the video, simply skip that step.
Forms
- New IRA Recognition Request (Word)
- New IRA Budget Proposal (Excel)
- Continuing IRA Recognition Request (Word)
- Continuing IRA Budget Proposal (Excel)
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Complete both an IRA Recognition Request and a Budget Proposal form and submit together via Adobesign to your Dean/Associate Dean or, for Student Affairs IRAs, to the Vice President of Student Affairs. Send to yourself and then, using their Cal Poly email addresses, to your department chair and the additional signer(s)/Approver(s)/Acceptor(s) for your unit - see below and on the Word proposal form for your specific routing based on college/area. The administrative support staff for your department should be able to help you with Adobesign or please refer to the following link for a tutorial: How to Send a Document for Signatures with Adobesign. Adobesign can be found in the list of My Apps on your Cal Poly portal page.
Helpful Resources
Important Deadlines to submit forms to your VP or Dean's Office:
- February 3, 2023 for NEW IRA proposals
- March 3, 2023 for CONTINUING recognition and funding requests for currently recognized IRAs (forms will be posted in mid- to late-January)
- 2023 Timeline for Proposals / Approvals
- The Proposer will sign twice – Word document and Excel sheet
- The Department Head/Chair/Director/AVP will sign twice – Word document and Excel sheet
- Any added signers will sign once and be added to the Word document under the Dean/Associate Dean/Vice President signature
- The College Dean/Associate Dean/Vice President or designee will sign once – Word document
Contacts
- Need help? Have questions? Contact Jessica Carson, Administrative Analyst, Office of Academic Programs and Planning