Innovative Technology Solutions Fund

The University Technology Council is pleased to be offering the Innovative Technology Solutions Fund (ITSF) to support innovative technology solutions that advance student success. A major responsibility of the University Technology Council (UTC) is to provide oversight of the use of UAA's Student Technology Fees (STF). It is the goal of the UTC to spend the STF in a fair and equitable manner while ensuring the maximum possible benefits to all UAA students. Therefore, we balance the spending of the fee between a mix of long term operational expenses while still leaving room for one-time expenses or supporting newer experimental innovation. While the long term operational expenses are budgeted annually, the UTC implemented the ITSF as a way to sponsor and fund innovative ideas regarding technology that supports student success on the Anchorage campus on an annual basis.

You can read about the innovative projects funded by ITSF on the Past Awards page.

Important Note: The UTC will not be accepting ITSF proposals for the FY21 funding cycle (Spring 2020 submission date). Please check back in Spring of 2021 for FY22 funding cycle announcements.

Focus

The UTC accepts ITSF funding requests each Spring and makes funds available the following Fall term. The UTC Finance subcommittee reviews all requests and brings a proposal forward to the full UTC for approval.

Fund proposals should be spent by the end of the fiscal year. All unspent funds will return to the STF general fund at the end of each fiscal year. Awardees may submit a one-time request to extend the fund period beyond the end of the current fiscal year.

Proposals should focus on one of two areas:

  1. Projects that develop, support, or inform the technology skills and abilities of UAA students.
  2. Projects that use technology to positively impact the learning environment and foster greater student success on the Anchorage Campus.

Eligibility

Anchorage campus undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, staff, and faculty are invited to apply for ITSF funding. These awards come from a percentage of student fees paid by students on the Anchorage Campus.

Important Note: The UTC will not be accepting ITSF proposals for the FY20 funding cycle (Spring 2019 submission date). Please check back in Spring of 2020 for FY21 funding cycle announcements.

The committee expects to award funding on two levels:

  1. Tier 1 awards - $1 - $9,999
  2. Tier 2 awards - $10,000 - $100,000

Applicants are limited to two ITSF awards every three years. This policy allows for a greater number of individuals to receive awards. 

 

Application due

Award notification date

Funds available range

Spending deadline

Reporting deadline

FY21 Funding window
TBA

TBA
Spring 2020

TBA
Spring 2020

August-Oct 2020

June 30, 2021

Sept. 1, 2021

Funding Criteria

When applying for funding, all proposals must address the following areas:

  • Project title
  • Primary applicant’s name and contact information
  • Total amount requested
  • Primary applicant cost center clerk's name
  • Proposal summary (250 words max)
  • Full project description (10 pages max), including:
    • How the project meets the focus of the ITSF program, including the direct benefit to students
    • The technology to be explored or implemented
    • How the project addresses the following points based on Universal Design
      • Does your proposal represent information in multiple formats and media to allow access for all – various ways to acquire information and knowledge?
      • Do you provide multiple means and pathways for actions and expression?
      • Are there multiple ways to engage interest and actions?
      • Does the proposal include structural design and hardware/software products that are accessible to all?
      • If software is required, does the vendor have a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) that analyzes accessibility issues?
    • Impact
      • Overall – what is the direct impact on student success?
      • Number – what is the approximate number of students impacted?
    • Implementation schedule
    • Staff responsible for implementation and oversight
    • Detailed budget breakdown (itemized line item)
      • Note: Funds may be used for salary support, with a limit of 25% of the requested funds going towards salary, stipeds, or other wage payments.
    • Some calculation/description of the return on investment
    • Evaluation plan
    • How operational funding will be acquired (if proposal is successful and there are ongoing costs)
    • How the project results will be shared back to the UAA community

To apply please visit the ITSF Proposal Application.Link to the ITSF Proposal Application

 Scoring Criteria

Award selections by the ITSF Review Panel will be based on:

  • Proposal Goals
  • Proposal Design
  • Benefit to Students
  • Plans for Proposal Evaluation and Participant Assessment
  • Collaboration
  • Accessibility and Usability
  • Budget

Scoring Rubric

  0 1 2 3
  Incomplete <-----------------------------------------> Exemplary
Proposal Goals Does not meet minimum standards Proposal’s purpose is unclear or does not address stated ITSF goals and objectives. Proposal’s purpose is stated and some evidence of need is provided. The project aligns with the ITSF goals and objectives. Goals for the proposal are clearly described and thoroughly documented; project supports the ITSF goals and objectives.
Proposal Design Does not meet minimum standards Proposal design is vague and not clearly linked to proposal goals or innovative standards. Proposal does not identify new technology or expand use of current tech. Adequate proposal design with procedures and activities that are defined. Minimal identification, expansion or  incorporation of new tech. Strong and innovative proposal with procedures and activities that are clearly outlined, fully explained, and link to proposal goals.  Identifies new technology or plans to expand the use of an existing one.
Benefit to Students Does not meet minimum standards Project will have indirect or low impact on UAA students. Project will have a moderate impact on UAA students which may or may not be immediate. Project has the potential to benefit a large population of UAA students or significantly impact a smaller population of UAA students within one academic year of implementation. Impact on student success will be significant.
Plans for Proposal Evaluation and Participant Assessment Does not meet minimum standards Project does not include any methods to assess participants or goals and objectives. Only vaguely identifies the direct benefit to the educational experience of students. Does not include a plan for public dissemination of work. Project includes at least one method to assess participants or evaluate the proposal. Adequately identifies the direct benefit to the educational experience of students and includes a plan for public dissemination of work. Project clearly includes a variety of methods to assess participants and evaluate the results.  Clearly identifies the direct benefit to the educational experience of students and includes a plan / timeline for public dissemination of work.
Collaboration Does not meet minimum standards No proposal partners are identified. Project shows some indication of appropriate collaborative partners.  Project includes a well defined plan identifying value added partnerships and collaboration across discplines at UAA.
Accessibility and Usability Does not meet minimum standards Proposal does not clearly define considerations of accessibility and usability. Proposal includes some elements of WCAG, VPAT, and Universal Design tenets and includes usability as well as accessibility. Proposal is inclusive of all and strongly considers WCAG 2.0 (AA) guidelines, tenets of Universal Design, usability and VPATs as applicable.
Budget Does not meet minimum standards Budget lacks required information or includes expenditures not allowed by ITSF guidelines and includes ongoing costs. Budget is complete but implementation will not meet all fiscal deadlines or includes ongoing costs. Budget is complete and contains all required information. Budget is cost effective and linked to activities and outcomes and will meet both ITSF guidelines and fiscal deadlines.