Further investment in projects advances strategic plan goals

Iowa State's commitment to the goals of the 2022-31 strategic plan continues into the new fiscal year with $2.1 million in second-year funds for 12 projects selected a year ago for their potential to advance the plan. The 12 projects support student success, faculty research teams, Iowa communities and on-campus childcare facilities, among other priorities.

Seven other projects that received strategic plan funds in FY24 either are complete or nearing completion. The foundation set by those initiatives is expected to have a lasting impact on the university community in areas such as student mental health, student food security and faculty expertise in targeted research areas.

"Innovation is at the core of everything we do at Iowa State, and these projects align with the vision of our strategic plan. They are our aspirational statements in action," said Sophia Magill, senior advisor to the president. "The determination and creativity of our project teams are inspiring. We appreciate their efforts, and we look forward to sharing more with the campus community about the impact of their work."

Building momentum

The new investment for FY25 marks the third year of support for initiatives selected for their innovation and capacity for excellence. A future call for proposals is anticipated for strategic plan funding in FY26, and details will be announced when they are available. Faculty and staff again will be invited to submit project ideas that align with the strategic plan's objectives.

These 12 projects received strategic plan funding support for a second year:

1. Forging New Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence, Volker Hegelheimer, English, $59,645
2. Project Management Support for Faculty Research, James Reecy, office of the vice president for research, $160,123
3. Catalyzing Innovative Research Teams to Address Critical Opportunities, Peter Dorhout, office of the vice president for research, $300,000
4. Center for Student Educational Success, Sharron Evans, office of the dean of students, $257,587
5. Delivering Individualized STEM Instruction at Scale, Ben Van Dusen, School of Education, $30,780
6. Enabling Healthier Communities Through Data-enriched Decision Making, Erin Olson-Douglas, community and economic development, ISU Extension and Outreach, $353,292
7. Expanding Online Learning Across Iowa State's 99-county Campus, Constance Beecher, School of Education, $365,922
8. Launching the Next Generation of Manufacturing Research, Mike O'Donnell, Center for Industrial Research and Service, $138,488
9. Maintaining High-quality Childcare Environments, Ed Holland, university human resources, $125,000
10. Student-focused Transformation of Testing Centers, Joel Hochstein, Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, $80,000
11. Supporting Student Internships at Reiman Gardens, Sara Merritt, Reiman Gardens, $90,712
12. Supporting University Undergraduate Internships in the Ames National Laboratory, Theresa Windus, chemistry, $200,296