Do you have an idea for a new academic program or initiative? Curious about how College of Innovation + Design’s Microgrant program can help? We want to hear from you.
We welcome all proposals, but special consideration will be given to proposals in the areas of:
Responsible, ethical, and effective uses of artificial intelligence
Courses, programs, or credentials focused on digital future upskilling (updating or developing curriculum or expertise to develop digital skills, analytical approaches that help us understand and operate in the digital world, or new ways of thinking about life in a digital age)
New and innovative approaches to higher education courses and programs that prepare learners for the workforce
CI+D staff review proposals annually each spring. Ideas submitted outside this cycle are still considered. Please note, chair/Dean/supervisor support is required for funded proposals.
CI+D can provide financial, logistical and intellectual support for developing courses, certificates, and programs that are not easily developed elsewhere on campus and/or that provide course access to all students regardless of major. We are especially interested in courses and certificates that meet workforce demands, provide high-quality experiential learning opportunities for students, have no prerequisites, and can be scaled to accommodate growing enrollments over time. Awards typically do not exceed $10,000.
Workshops and Events
CI+D can help to fund and coordinate workshops or other events for faculty and staff interested in doing strategic or innovative work in the subject areas previously listed. The team leading the SPACE for Innovation and Design can provide planning, logistical, financial, and facilitation support as needed. Awards typically do not exceed $1,000.
Community- and Industry-Engaged Projects
CI+D would like to support community- or industry-engagement efforts that connect faculty and staff efforts in the previously listed subject areas to community/industry via initiatives, partnerships, and other impactful projects. Awards typically do not exceed $10,000.
Open Innovation Calls
CI+D loves seeing new, innovative, or even higher-risk ideas proposed that don’t fit into traditional higher education boxes. The catch? We only fund one, maybe two, of these types of projects per year and they must create a measurable impact for students and the university community. Awards typically do not exceed $20k.
CI+D is seeking partnerships regarding new interdisciplinary innovations, certificate development, workshops and/or events. We will provide selected proposals the resources and support needed to test or launch the idea in their home colleges or departments.
Below are our current areas of focus as a college, but we welcome and are open to all ideas:
certificates for first-year students
experiential education and workforce skill development
workforce development and readiness
programs that partner with external entities: professionals in the field, public sector, private sector
Inquiry Form and Process
We want to make the process of submitting the Microgrant application with us as easy and straightforward as possible. Here are the steps.
Inquiry: Submit this form before April 1 to tell us who you are and brief description of your idea. (NOTE: if you are a community partner, this form will not work for you. Please email Assistant Dean, Amanda Ryan: amandaryan@boisestate.edu with your idea).
(Optional) Inquiry meeting: we will contact you to schedule a meeting with someone from the CI+D Dean’s office team. At the meeting, our goal is to learn more about your idea and what kind of support you might need to be successful. After the meeting, the Assistant Dean and the Dean’s Office team will determine if additional meetings are warranted based on our current priorities, capacity, and your partnership needs.
(Optional) Ideation meeting(s): additional meeting(s) to gather and generate details of a project proposal including project goals, tactics, timeline, and budget.
Decision: All project and partnership information will be shared with Microgrant Review Committee on April 2. The Microgrant Review Committee will score proposals using a rubric (available upon request) and send to the Dean for final approval. The timeline for notification of award outcome is still being determined.
Launch: if the project is approved by the Dean, the CI+D Dean’s Office will reach out with a summary document to describe the funding details and plan for the successful launch of the project.
FAQs
If you need help or guidance with your proposal, please reach out to us. See the Need Help? tab nearby for contact information and resources.
What kind of proposals are you looking for?
CI+D is seeking proposals for new initiatives, certificates, community – engaged projects and interdisciplinary innovations. We are looking for the best ideas from Boise State for compelling, interdisciplinary programs for the benefit of students, the university, and the communities we serve. Check out our current portfolio for examples of the programs in CI+D today.
Can anyone make a proposal?
Yes. However, we will not partner with faculty or staff that do not have approval from their department or divisional leadership to spend time on the proposal or partnership.
How many proposals will be selected?
The number of proposals CI+D can select depends on the required resources to start and sustain a given program. We are committed to funding at least one program per year, but it depends on the proposals we receive and the resources required. We will pursue and advocate for compelling program proposals whether or not they are launched within CI+D.
About CI+D
The mission of the College of Innovation + Design is helping create the future Boise State. We are a catalyst and collaborator, identifying, fostering, and scaling positive innovative change that brings value to our students, campus, and community. We are guided by the pressing challenges in higher education, including increasing affordability, improving retention, and enhancing post-graduation outcomes. We foster experiments that enhance institutional capacity and promote innovation and distinction.
Each CI+D program is experimenting in one or more of the following categories:
Access: Ensure access for all students
Affordability: Lower cost and/or reduce debt associated with attending university.
Research Impact: Showcase research efforts that are answering problems of importance to society and/or increasing student capacity to conduct research.
Retention: Foster engagement to improve the student experience and post-graduation outcomes.
University Capacity: Innovation and grow internal systems and capabilities, increasing the operational flexibility of Boise State University.
Learn about our variety of programs in our Annual Report.