Provost invites UIF proposals

(Editor’s Note: The second round of the University Initiative Fund (UIF-2) awards program began this week with the Call for Proposals issued by Provost Lee L. Huntsman and published below. Approximately $8 million in reallocated biennial funds will be available for projects that enable the University to seize opportunities at the frontiers of knowledge or to reshape existing programs consistent with the UW’s most important goals. Guidelines for UIF-2 were modified through a consultative process and were published in the March 12 issue of University Week. They are available on the Web at http://www.washington.edu/uif/ See related story Nine courses already established for Public Health Genetics.)

I write to invite your submission of proposals for the second round of awards under the University Initiatives Fund. President Richard L. McCormick, in his letter to you of May 14, 1998, transmitted the revised guidelines prepared over the past months by the UIF Working Group. Another copy is enclosed for your convenience.

As described under “Proposal Process,” one significant change this round is that unit-specific proposals of a smaller scale will be accepted in open competition. Allocations for such initiatives will not exceed one-third of the total fund. Interdisciplinary proposals will be given strong preference for the remainder of the fund, and it is anticipated that these will be of a larger scale.

We have established a uniform deadline for submission of preproposals to deans and vice presidents this round—Nov. 1, 1998. This is to simplify cross-college processing of interdisciplinary proposals. Beyond that, it is up to you to establish unit-specific procedures that allow you to select—indeed, shape—proposals to support the strategic goals of your unit and the University. The UIF and the Tools for Transformation provide our best opportunity to establish innovative programs that catalyze change, and we must make the most of these precious dollars to that end.

Please check the UIF Web site at www.washington.edu/uif/ in coming weeks for news of UIF-2 activities. During summer and fall we plan to offer a variety of training and information resources to support proposal development. ¶

Lee L. Huntsman, Provost