Program Description and Guidelines
The Faculty/Staff Technology Support Initiative exists to identify and support the needs of individual (or small groups of) faculty and staff for job-related technology support. Technology-related proposals, especially those based on new and innovative ideas, for teaching, research, and program administration will be considered under this proposal. Special emphasis will be given to initiatives which support online education. Approximately $50,000 is available through Scholarship, Research & Sponsored Programs Office under this initiative in 2022-2023.
Scope: It is expected that proposals made under this initiative will be $5,000 or less and local in their impact. Examples of eligible items include the purchase of advanced software not already available on campus, advanced media technology (innovative digitization projects, audio/video capture, etc.), supporting instruction in a particular course or University function, and new equipment or data (including data sets or databases) required to support an individual’s scholarship/research. This grant program will support one-time expenses for hardware, software, specialized equipment, and data, as well as assistance in supporting online education. The initiative is not intended to support or address campus-wide, programmatic needs, strategic needs, or periodic and recurring needs (e.g., campus network upgrades, additions to computer labs, computers/laptops/ipads, mainframe computer upgrades, high-tech classrooms, library system upgrades, routine acquisition/replacement of faculty/staff computers, projectors). Please do not submit proposals requesting these ineligible items.
Application Process: Applications are to be made using the MachForm. Applicants will append to the application form a narrative proposal including a budget (two-page maximum). Each application requires the signature of a sponsor at the level of Director, Chair, or above. The sponsor must confirm matching support for the proposal by providing at least 10% of the requested amount or $100, whichever is greater. Completed applications approved by chair/unit head and school dean or unit vice president must be submitted by February 24, 2023. Applicants will be informed of their award status by April 3, 2023. Funds will be made available to award recipients on April 3, 2023 and will lapse at the end of the budget year (end of June 2023).
Covered Costs: Applicants may include the one-time purchase of equipment, software, media, data, and other initiatives to support online education in their proposals (except as excluded above). Additionally, installation and facilities modification costs1 required in support of the items requested up to $500 may be funded. Any such costs should be included in the application as part of the proposal.
Costs not Covered: Ongoing costs (e.g., license renewal, maintenance agreements) are not covered under this initiative and will generally be borne by the sponsoring unit. Personnel-related costs are also not funded.
Awards Scoring Criteria:
- Degree to which the proposal is innovative or otherwise consistent with the intent of this initiative in expanding or enhancing the use of technology on campus.
- Degree to which applicant is successful in linking proposal goals to improvements in their assigned responsibilities in ways that clearly impact our students.
- Degree to which applicant is successful in linking proposal to the University mission and/or strategic plan.
- Degree to which applicant is successful in linking proposal to online course/programmatic development/enhancements, etc.
This RFP process is intended to acknowledge, identify, and support the technology needs of individual (or small groups of) faculty and staff. Proposals will be for technology-related expenses that will enable faculty and staff to better meet their assigned responsibilities. Proposals under this initiative will not address campus-wide, programmatic or strategic needs.
| Total Budget Allocated: | $50,000 |
|---|---|
| Who may apply: | Full-time University Faculty and professional Staff |
| Limits of Awards: | At least $500 with limit of $5,0002 |
| Sponsorship: | Each proposal will require a sponsor at the level of Chair, Director, Unit Head or above. |
| Matching Funds: | Sponsors must fund the first $100 or 10% of the proposal, whichever is greater. |
| Timing: |
Proposals due from faculty or staff (with approval of their chair or unit head) to dean or vice president by February 17, 2023.
Sponsored proposals with approvals are due to Laura Merkl for Tech Grant Committee review by February 24, 2023.
Awards announced by email notification on April 3, 2023 and published in Brockport Today. |
| Costs that are covered: |
One-time, non-cyclic purchases of technology-based resources including technologically advanced equipment, hardware (see exclusions above), software, and data.
Facilities modifications and installations up to $500 included in proposal. Equipment theft deterrence devices can be included. |
| Costs not covered: |
On-going costs related to funded items (e.g., license renewals, maintenance agreements) must be covered by the originating unit.
No personnel-related costs can be funded. |
| Application format: | See Attached Announcement and Form |
| Post-Award requirement: |
Awardees will be required to complete a post-award report by August 31, 2022 indicating how funds awarded addressed the identified needs, any problems encountered, and providing feedback for improvement of award process. A summary of this information may be published in campus media and/or on the web.
Recipients may also be required to present their project and results to the campus-wide community at the beginning of the Fall 2023 semester. Date to be announced. |
1 Estimates of costs for facilities modification must be accompanied by a letter from the Office of Facilities and Planning that plant management has reviewed the proposed modifications for feasibility and cost estimates.
2 Larger proposals are likely to be programmatic or strategic in nature and should be funded by a process that addresses strategic and programmatic needs. The proposal’s author would have to justify a larger amount by demonstrating that the amount requested is consistent with the intent of this initiative.
CALENDAR OF DEADLINES
-
Proposals signed by Department Chair/Unit Head and Dean (Academic Affairs) or Vice President (Other Divisions) by
- February 24, 2023
- Proposals to Technology Grant Committee for consideration
-
Awards Announced by
- April 3, 2023
-
Awarded funds available for purchases after
- April 3, 2023
-
Awarded funds will lapse if not spent before
2
- June 30, 2023
-
Final Reports on funded projects due (Machform)
- August 31, 2023
-
Presentations on funded projects
- TBA
1 Deans and vice presidents may comment, at their discretion, on the quality of proposals that go through their offices (use Comments form). The committee will include in its deliberation process all proposals forwarded by the deans or vice presidents.
2 Note: Funds awarded must be expended in accordance with Purchasing guidelines before the end of the 2022-2023 budget year