UIF General Information

Purpose
The University Initiatives Fund (UIF) will enable the University to seize opportunities at the frontiers of knowledge and learning or to reshape existing programs consistent with the highest and best needs of the institution. The fund will allow the University to invest in those initiatives that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries or to respond to broad institutional goals. The UIF program will support a wide range of strategic initiatives that advance the goals of the institution in tangible and measurable ways. General criteria and procedures for managing the fund are outlined below.

Criteria
Proposed initiatives should:

1. promise significant academic impact, or

2. provide substantially enhanced level of service to academic programs, and

3. enhance quality and excellence, and

4. provide for long-term significance and sustainability.

Additional considerations that might serve to enhance a proposal could include: creative approaches to interdisciplinary or discipline based opportunities; initiatives that position the University to become a leader in a field/arena; initiatives that emphasize areas in which the University has comparative advantages; proposals that can benefit from special leverage (external funding sources, collaborations, etc.); proposals that recognize the University's unique role in the state, region and beyond; initiatives that respond to significant public issues of our region and time; initiatives that foster cooperation and collaboration between and across multiple units; initiatives that improve productivity; initiatives that transform the work environment in significant ways. Funding for academic and administrative proposals would be limited to the respective revenue contributed by each of the two categories of units. Collaborative projects that join academic and administrative forces are encouraged.

It is not required that each proposal satisfy each criterion or consideration, but the more aligned the proposals are with institutional priorities or compelling opportunities the greater the chances of a favorable review.

Proposal Process
The UIF proposal solicitation will occur once a biennium. The term "unit" as used throughout refers to units at the dean and vice president level. Proposals must be submitted by deans and vice presidents or by several deans and/or vice presidents.

Unit-specific proposals of smaller scale will also be accepted on a continuing basis. Awards for unit-specific proposals will be limited to roughly a third of the amount contributed to the UIF by the unit. These proposals will be reviewed by the Provost and unit heads to ensure consistency with the strategic goals of the unit and the University.

Review Process
UIF proposals are reviewed by the Provost who may enlist special internal and external advisors that may include faculty, staff or students as the circumstances may suggest. Recommendations are presented for discussion to the Senate Planning and Budgeting Committee, Board of Deans and University Budget Committee. Final recommendations are submitted by the Provost to the President who will make funding decisions. A summary of deans' or vice presidents' and review committees' assessment shall be provided upon request. Full disclosure shall be made on decisions and awards.

As described above, unit-specific proposals will be accepted on a continuing basis. Review of the unit-specific proposals will be conducted by the Provost and the unit head, and full disclosure shall be made on decisions and awards.

Awards
Proposals can be funded on a permanent or temporary basis, or contain elements of both. Up to 20 percent of the fund may be retained by the Provost to respond to emerging opportunities that might arise between the biennial proposal deadlines. There is no obligation to allocate all the funds in any given round if the quality or thrust of the proposals does not warrant it, nor an obligation to retain 20 percent if the quality warrants allocation of greater than 80 percent of available funds. There should be sufficient flexibility when the funds are allocated to allow for unique investment opportunities that might arise.
Deadlines
Preproposals must be received from deans and vice presidents by Dec. 15, 1998; preproposals selected for development into full proposals will be announced by March 1, 1999. Preproposals should include a brief estimate of major budget elements. Final proposals will be due May 3, 1999. The proposals approved for funding will be announced during the summer.

Deadlines for pre-screening in deans' and vice presidents' offices shall be Nov. 1, 1998 . ¶

Office of the President and
Office of the Provost