Request For Proposals

Science, Technology, and Society

For faculty who are interested in revising an existing course or developing new curriculum in the area of Science, Technology, and Society (STS) for AY25. We welcome inter- and cross-disciplinary proposals, and special preference will be given to humanities and social sciences scholars seeking to revise or replace existing courses. Not familiar with STS? Here are the kinds of courses you could develop (offered as examples only–you design what you like!):

Science Fiction and the Future of Society

This course explores how science fiction literature has imagined technological change and its societal consequences. From classic works by Mary Shelley and Isaac Asimov to contemporary speculative fiction, students will analyze how authors grapple with issues such as artificial intelligence, climate change, genetic engineering, and space exploration. The course will examine how fiction both reflects and influences scientific and technological advancements.

Technology, Empire, and Global History

This course investigates the role of technology in shaping global history, from the printing press and steam engine to nuclear weapons and the internet. Students will explore how technological innovations have contributed to colonial expansion, industrialization, warfare, and globalization. Through historical case studies, the course will critically examine how power, access, and inequality have shaped technological development across different societies.

The Environmental Impact of Technology

Students in this course investigate how technological advancements shape environmental outcomes, from industrial agriculture and climate change to e-waste and energy systems. The course integrates scientific analysis with social, economic, and ethical considerations to explore sustainable alternatives.

Sports Studies

Boise State already offers a strong foundation of sports-related programs, including the Master of Athletic Leadership degree, along with certificates in areas such as eSports, Sports Information & Culture, and Coaching. We are now seeking to expand this work by developing complementary courses and certificates that broaden the academic study of sport through interdisciplinary inquiry.

We welcome course proposals that use athletics as a lens to explore development, cultural understanding, and decision-making. We are particularly interested in courses that fall into two broad categories:

• Core Concepts: Sport, Performance & Society – Build foundational understanding of what sport is, how it functions, and how we engage with it—both personally and culturally.
• Beyond the Game: Strategy, Influence & Expression – Build on core knowledge to examine the ethical, strategic, and creative dimensions of sport and its role in society.

We are especially interested in 7-week, fully online courses with no prerequisites beyond academic level, designed to be accessible to students from any major.

Below are sample course concepts that illustrate the kinds of interdisciplinary approaches we’re excited to see. These examples explore how play, practice, storytelling, data, and biological insights shape identity, leadership, and decision-making—on and off the field. You are welcome to build out one of these concepts or submit your own original idea.

For questions about your proposal, please contact markwoychick@boisestate.edu.

Sample Course Concepts

Fun & Games: What Counts as Sport? Trace the origins, definitions, and cultural significance of sport, from ancient rituals to global spectacles. Explore how societies define sport, why it matters, and how it reflects broader cultural values.

Mind & Body: The Science of Peak Performance – Examine how the mind and body shape individual performance and how teams synchronize mentally and physically. Topics include the neuroscience of performance, sleep and recovery, cognitive load, and team dynamics.

Myths, Legends & the Making of Champions – Analyze how storytelling shapes competition, identity, and heroism in sports. Explore the roles of folklore, media, and nationalism in creating sports legends and branding athletes.

Numbers & Nuance: Data, Instinct & Decision-Making –  Investigate how instinct and analytics influence decisions on and off the field. Dive into game theory, deception, unpredictability, and the balance between data and intuition in sports, business, and everyday life.

Moneyball & Power Plays: Influence, Impact & Power – Examine how sports reflect and reshape societal power dynamics. Topics include athlete activism, media influence, global sports empires, and the intersections of money, identity, and culture.

Beauty & Beast Mode: The Art of the Game – Explore the aesthetics of sport as a form of performance art. Analyze creativity, movement, form, and the pursuit of beauty in athletic competition.

Fair & Foul: Ethics, Innovation & the Future of Competition – Interrogate the rules and boundaries of fair play. Topics include cheating, technology-enhanced performance, gender and inclusion, and the evolving ethics of competition in modern sport.

Cutting-Edge Projects Requiring Rapid Funding

CI+D supports cutting-edge projects requiring rapid funding to address urgent research needs, emerging opportunities, and time-sensitive challenges. We seek proposals that leverage unique data, facilities, or expertise to advance novel ideas and create meaningful impact. We welcome interdisciplinary projects that tackle pressing scientific, technological, and societal issues, particularly those requiring immediate action or rapid deployment of resources. Projects may focus on areas such as emerging artificial intelligence applications, urgent environmental monitoring, rapid prototyping of new technologies, time-sensitive policy research, or community-driven initiatives responding to evolving societal needs. We also encourage proposals that explore high-risk, high-reward ideas—those that challenge conventional methods, apply untested interdisciplinary approaches, or push the boundaries of emerging technologies with the potential for transformative impact. Special consideration will be given to projects that align with CI+D’s mission to foster innovation, collaboration, and real-world impact, ensuring that research outcomes contribute to broader academic, industry, or societal advancements.

Request for Proposals

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
• online or hybrid programs
• 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 Request for Proposals with us as easy and straightforward as possible. Here are the steps.

1. Inquiry: Submit this form before April 18 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).
2. Inquiry meeting: we will contact you to schedule a meeting with someone from the 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.
3. Ideation meeting(s): additional meeting(s) to gather and generate details of a project proposal including project goals, tactics, timeline, and budget. Here is an example of the questions we are seeking to answer at this stage before proceeding to the next step.
4. Decision: All project and partnership information will be shared with the Dean to determine next steps in proceeding or declining. 
5. Launch: if the project is approved by the Dean, we schedule a meeting with the entire CI+D Dean’s Office team to 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.
• Employability: Improve post-graduation employment prospects.
• 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 portfolio in our 2021 Annual Report.