The inaugural call for proposals to advance Iowa State's new nine-year strategic plan is open. Faculty and staff are invited to submit proposals by late April for funding consideration.
"We are looking for ideas that align with the strategic plan's statements of aspiration and have the potential to move Iowa State forward in transformational ways," said Sophia Magill, senior advisor to the president.
Proposals should focus on one or more of the five goals that define what Iowa State aspires to become over the next nine years:
- To be the most student-centric leading research university
- To be the university that cultivates a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment where students, faculty and staff flourish
- To be the university that fosters lifelong learning
- To be the university that creates opportunities and forges new frontiers
- To be the trusted partner for proactive and innovative solutions
"This proposal process is an exciting opportunity to engage our faculty and staff in how we bring our strategic plan to life," Magill said. "We welcome proposals of all sizes."
Magill noted that the timeline for this first cycle will be more condensed than future years. To be considered for funding for the fiscal year that begins July 1, proposals must be submitted through the strategic plan website by 5 p.m. April 28. Requestors should be prepared to complete the submission in one sitting; the system doesn't save partial entries. Magill said she anticipates decisions about funded proposals will be shared by the end of June.
Learn more
Magill will hold information sessions during the week following spring break in the Memorial Union Campanile Room. Faculty and staff members interested in applying for strategic plan funds are encouraged to attend a session to learn more about the process and get answers to their questions. The dates and times are:
- Monday, March 20, 3-4 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 22, 9-10 a.m.
- Thursday, March 23, 2-3 p.m.
The strategic plan website has been updated with an FAQ about the proposal process and with selected stories that illustrate progress toward the plan's five to-be statements. Additional questions can be emailed to strategicinitiatives@iastate.edu.
Editor's note: This story was added to the publication on March 10.
