Innovation Funding - Call for Proposals

Innovation Funding

Call for Proposals

Purpose of Funding

Minnesota State seeks to support student, faculty, and staff innovation that shows great potential for improving teaching, learning, and access for students across its 37 colleges and universities.

Funded projects will aim to address obstacles to student success by using existing technologies, resources, or practices in innovative ways. Priority will be given to innovations that align with the strategic goals of Minnesota State and explicitly address the success of our students, our commitment to diversity and equity, and the financial sustainability of our colleges and universities.

Design

Interested persons or teams are invited to choose a funding track. Proposers must apply to a single track only. Projects submitted to multiple tracks will not be considered.

Track 1: Innovation Pitches (Shark Tank)

Individuals or teams of student, staff, and faculty innovators submit an Intention to Pitch (ItP) an innovation. Those selected are invited to compete for funding by pitching their innovative practice or process to an “investor panel” (Minnesota State educators, legislators, business and non-profit community members). In preparation for the pitch, those selected from the ItP submissions complete a Pitch Documentation packet for the panel to review in advance and are offered a presentation coach to help them prepare for the pitch.

Innovators selected by the investor panel will use the funding to implement (or refine) and evaluate their innovations. In addition, Innovation Mentors will be assigned, as needed, to help innovators with the development and evaluation measures. Progress is reported at a summit in July 2018 and outcomes are shared in various ways, including an Innovators Showcase in April 2019.

Previously funded projects included advancements in the areas of technical training, mobile technology, open education and textbooks, and more.

Funding up to $25,000 is available to individual innovators or teams.

Track 2: Small Innovation / Sustainability Proposals

Individuals or teams of student, staff, and faculty innovators may submit a proposal for awards up to

$10,000. This funding may:

·         Help create a new innovative pilot program on a campus;

·         Enhance an existing innovative campus program;

·         Contribute to the sustainability of a previously funded project through Educational Innovations (Shark Tank or Open Textbook).

Grant recipients will be determined based on the merits of each proposal. Awards will be announced at the annual Educational Innovations Event on April 12, 2018.

Funding up to $10,000 is available to individual innovators or teams.

Eligibility

All students, faculty, and staff who are currently enrolled in or employed by a Minnesota State institution are eligible to submit a proposal to either track. Students who apply for funding must have a faculty or staff sponsor.

Timeline and Process

January 22, 2018     Innovation proposals due (both Track 1 and Track 2)

February 22, 2018   Selected Track 1 proposers are invited to pitch their innovation in April and prepare a pitch documentation packet including a detailed budget sheet

                                Selected Track 2 proposers are invited to submit a detailed budget sheet

March 16, 2018       Pitch Documentation packets are due / pitch presentation coaches are assigned

                                Track 2 proposers are notified of outcomes

April 12, 2018         Presenters pitch innovations to an “investor” panel;

                                Campus Academic Technology Team (CATT) members are invited to attend                                        presentations and offer audience reaction to the innovations;

                                Track 2 awards are formally announced

May 11, 2018          Track 1 Innovation Funding recipients are notified and receive feedback from the investor panel

June 1, 2018             Innovation Mentors are assigned to assist Track 2 innovators in development and evaluation

July 27, 2018            Track 2 Innovators offer progress report and receive feedback at a July

                                  Summit 

August 24, 2018      Innovations implemented with evaluation measures embedded

February, 2019        Innovators present outcomes at ASA Technology Council                                            meeting 

April, 2019              Innovators present at showcase event

Track 1 and Track 2 Application Instructions

Complete the request for proposal application attached.

1.       The submitting college/university must agree to be the fiscal agent for the grant.

2.       Proposers must answer the Intention to Pitch questions, which provide a snapshot of the innovation you would pitch. Include supplemental information, if necessary to understand your intent.

3.       Student proposals must have a Minnesota State faculty or staff member sponsor. Student proposals that do not have a sponsor will not be considered.

4.       Acquire the approval and signature of the appropriate campus administrator at the submitting college/university to complete the statement of understanding and assurance verification. A team may have representatives from multiple colleges and universities, but one must verify the information and agree to be the fiscal agent should funds be awarded.

5.       Email the proposal applications to Stephen Kelly, Open Education and Innovations Program Coordinator, at stephen.kelly@minnstate.edu. Proposers are asked to carbon copy LaShawnda Ford, Administrative Assistant to the Senior System Director of Educational Innovations, on their submissions as well at lashawnda.ford@minnstate.edu. Proposals should be sent as a PDF or Word document by January 22, 2018 at 4:00 PM.

For questions and additional information, contact Stephen Kelly, Open Education and Innovations Program Coordinator, at stephen.kelly@minnstate.edu or by phone at 651-201-1813.

Innovation Funding Application

Intent to Pitch Innovation
Project Title: Click or tap here to enter text.
Name of Contact  Person: Click or tap here to enter text.		Email: Click or tap here to enter text.
		Phone: Click or tap here to enter text.
College or University Name: Click or tap here to enter text.		College/University Address: Click or tap here to enter text.
Names & College/University of Collaborators (if Team Proposal): Click or tap here to enter text.		Collaborator Email: Click or tap here to enter text. Collaborator Phone: Click or tap here to enter text.
Is this a Track 1 or Track 2 application? ☐	Track 1		☐	Track 2*

* Track 2 proposers will not be asked to pitch to an investor panel

Statement of Understanding/Assurance Verification
Verification I have thoroughly reviewed the information included with this proposal and have submitted the appropriate documents required as a part of the proposal process. I understand that if my proposal is invited to pitch this idea and receives funding, my college/university is responsible to be the fiscal agent of the grant. My signature below certifies that the information provided accurately describes the proposal and the commitment of my institution.
Minnesota State Administrator Signature:
Minnesota State Administrator’s Name and Title (printed): Click or tap here to enter text.	Date: Click or tap here to enter text.

Innovation Funding Grant Application Questions
1. Project Title: [This title will be used to identify your project in event and awards documentation]	Weight*
	10%
Click or tap here to enter text.
2. What is the innovation you hope to develop, adapt, expand, or sustain? Provide a detailed description of this innovation. (suggested length: one to two pages)	Weight
	25%
Click or tap here to enter text.
3. Who will benefit from this innovation? How will they benefit? (suggested length: one paragraph)	Weight
	10%
Click or tap here to enter text.
4. What problem, challenge, or obstacle will this innovation address? (suggested length: one paragraph)	Weight
	10%
Click or tap here to enter text.
5. How does this innovation align with the mission of Minnesota State? Specifically, how does it address the a) success of our students, b) our commitment to diversity and equity, and/or c) the financial sustainability of our colleges and universities? (suggested length: half page)	Weight
	25%
Click or tap here to enter text.
6. How will you know if your innovation has been successful? Please identify 2-4 measurable indicators of success and phrase them as “we will” statements. (suggested length: half page)	Weight
	5%
Click or tap here to enter text.
7. If this innovation proves successful, what would be required to sustain it? What do you currently have in place to help sustain it? (suggested length: one paragraph)	Weight
	5%
Click or tap here to enter text.
8. What specifically will the funding support? Use the attached provisional budget worksheet to detail funded items. (i.e. materials, employee compensation, contractors, etc.) (suggested length: one paragraph)	Weight
	10%
Click or tap here to enter text.

Innovation Funding Grant Application Questions
9. In one sentence, express what makes your intended project innovative?	Weight
	-
Click or tap here to enter text.

*  Reviewers and panelists will use the weighted percentages above to assist in the evaluation process.

Provisional Budget Worksheet*

Budget Item	Description Detail	Budget
Wages	Click or tap here to enter text.	$Click or tap here to enter text.
Consultants / Contractors	Click or tap here to enter text.	$Click or tap here to enter text.
Purchased Services	Click or tap here to enter text.	$Click or tap here to enter text.
Travel	Click or tap here to enter text.	$Click or tap here to enter text.
Supplies and Materials	Click or tap here to enter text.	$Click or tap here to enter text.
Equipment	Click or tap here to enter text.	$Click or tap here to enter text.
Other**	Click or tap here to enter text.	$Click or tap here to enter text.
Total		$Click or tap here to enter text.

*  This budget sheet should provide general guidance on how you intend to allocate grant money toward your project. If your project is chosen for funding you will be asked to provide a more detailed breakdown of salary / fringe, contractor rates, etc.

** Add additional line items as “other” if necessary.