The MLA Pathways Step Grants are offered by the Modern Language Association, made possible by a grant from the Mellon Foundation, as part of the MLA Pathways: Recruitment, Retention, and Career Readiness initiative. The program supports individual faculty members or small, local teams developing new structures, programs, and resources to improve the recruitment, retention, or career readiness of undergraduate students in literature, language, writing, culture, area studies, and related disciplines, with a particular focus on students underrepresented in the humanities.
Applications are open to institutions in the United States and Canada, including departments and programs across the full range of institution types. The MLA especially encourages applications from HBCUs, HSIs, tribal colleges, and other minority-serving institutions. The grant provides up to 10,000 USD for twelve months.
Application closes on October 30, 2026.
