AY25 Faculty Initiative Fund request for proposals open

The AY25 Faculty Initiative Fund request for proposals is open until Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, at 5 p.m.

Complete proposals must be submitted with the form with one PDF attachment or emailed to the Office of Academic and Student Affairs to Sharon Dayton at sldayton@alaska.edu by the Nov. 4 due date at 5 p.m.

History and Background of the FIF

The Faculty Initiative Fund was created as part of the 2017-2019 UNAC CBA 15.10 Faculty Initiative Fund

The University will allocate $1 million between FY18 and FY20 for the Faculty Initiative Fund. In each year of the Agreement, UNAC members may apply to the Statewide Academic Committee for funds to support initiatives including innovative research, creative activity or performance, or other scholarly endeavors. Faculty Initiative Funds may also be used as seed money toward the procurement of external grants and contracts. Decisions by the SAC are at the sole discretion of the University and not subject to the dispute resolution process under Article 7. United Academics will be notified by the University of award recipients and the amounts awarded to each.

Funded out of the Natural Resources Fund at $333k/yr FY18, 19, 20

Awarded in FY19 and FY20 at $500k each in a process overseen by the Faculty Alliance and the VPASR

  • FY19: 8 awards with no proposal request limit
  • FY20: 16 awards over 3 tiers (<$10,000, $10,000- $50,000 and $50,000-$100,000)

The award was discontinued in FY21 at the end of the CBA

The FIF was re-established by the Board and awarded in FY22 and FY23 at $300k each year as part of the NRF distribution:

Faculty Initiative Fund: Promote inter-university collaboration in program development, scholarly endeavors and student engagement with the goal of reducing the cost to degree and promoting internship opportunities for students.

  • FY22: 16 awards over 3 tiers (<$10,000, $10,000- $50,000 and $50,000-$100,000)
  • FY23: 21 awards: Tier 1: 6-month $30k projects, Tier 2: mini or seed projects, $10k or less
  • FY24: 19 awards: Tier 1: 6-month $30k projects, Tier 2: mini or seed projects, $10k or less.

This information can also be found on the Faculty Initiative Fund website.