Feb. 5, 2007

Investing in Your Ideas

Winter is traditionally the season for introspection and dreaming while spring is the season of rebirth. Throughout the cold of this fall and winter, we have been working quietly on the creation of two new college initiatives. Since these initiatives would be funded by the savings realized from the college combination, we knew they would had to work hard and yield results, capitalize on opportunities for new synergies, and provide for strategic advantages by offering the flexibility to adapt to a changing fiscal environment. They also would need to address public concerns, but most importantly, they must help the faculty realize their dreams. So now, I am pleased to announce the birth of two new college initiatives: the Entrepreneurial Program Initiative and the Teaching Innovation Initiative.

In higher education there are the many excellent ideas that can increase academic excellence if only there were resources to help them take root. The Entrepreneurial Program Initiative is designed to support ideas or programs that focus on developing research, scholarship or outreach/extension. The Teaching Innovation Initiative is designed to support innovative teaching ideas in individual courses, degree programs, or curricula more broadly at the departmental or college level. For both initiatives, we expect the selected projects to become self-sustaining enterprises at the end of the funding period and to contribute to appropriate scholarship in their areas. These initiatives are funded by continuing, permanent money. As one project is completed the funds become available to support another. This ensures that all faculty and programs not only a lucky few have access to this support,.

Proposals are due Mar. 30. The two requests for proposals provide the details you will need to submit your proposal. The funding for the proposals will be available in the next academic year, beginning in July. We will establish committees comprised of faculty and administrators to review the proposals and recommend funding priorities. We encourage all faculty, departmental, and other collaborations in the College to apply. All proposals should support our vision, mission, and themes.

No doubt questions will arise about these proposals. To provide a chance for greater dialogue, I have scheduled two opportunities at which I will be available, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 4-5 p.m., N121 Lagomarcino, and Wednesday, Feb. 7, 9:30-10:30 a.m., N127 Lagomarcino.* In addition, Tom Andre, associate dean for research and graduate education, will be pleased to respond to questions by email or phone. I have also volunteered to visit with each department this spring to speak further about the initiatives and any ideas you might like to propose.

I look forward to learning more about your great ideas and to interesting proposals,

Cheryl Achterberg

 

*Editor's note: After this announcement was delivered, a third dialogue was scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2-3 p.m., N221 Lagomarcino.