“Fund for the Enhancement of Academic Quality” Allocations

Background

In July 2005, as part of the 2005-06 Budget Development Guidelines, the MSU Board of Trustees approved the creation of a $9.7 million fund to aggressively enhance academic quality and demonstrably benefit students at MSU. Consistent with the university’s commitment to structure both academic and financial decisions around the strategic imperatives of Boldness by Design, Michigan State’s strategic positioning process, the “Fund for the Enhancement of Academic Quality” was created and requests for proposals were solicited.

Process

In August, Provost Wilcox sent a memo to MSU Deans that provided guidelines for drafting proposals, including formatted materials to guide proposal submissions. The memo specified that “proposals should reflect key institutional priorities and describe how the investment will position the program and MSU for the future. Priorities include programmatic initiatives that enhance the student experience, increase research opportunities, expand the international reach of MSU, enrich community life and university outreach, and strengthen the stewardship of MSU.” Submission of proposals was requested by October 3, 2005.

• Memo Attachment 1: DIRECTIONS FOR COMPLETING A QUALITY FUND CONCEPT PROPOSAL
  
• Memo Attachment 2: QUALITY FUND CONCEPT PROPOSAL: REQUEST FOR RECURRING FUNDS AND/OR MULTI-YEAR NON-RECURRING FUNDS
  
• Memo Attachment 3: COST SPREADSHEET

Provost Wilcox’s Presentation to the MSU Board of Trustees, 12/9/05

Provost Wilcox presented quality fund allocation decisions at the Dec. 9, 2005, Board of Trustees meeting. Proposals that received funding will jump-start the university’s Boldness by Design strategic positioning process, with focused attention on enhancing the academic quality of the student experience -- the fund's primary objective. Successful proposals attend to Boldness by Design’s strategic imperatives and cut across disciplinary boundaries while honoring MSU’s core values and institutional mission.

• 12/9/05 POWERPOINT PRESENTATION TO MSU BOT (PDF)

Funded Projects

Projects with the greatest potential to serve MSU students and enhance the academic quality of the university in measurable ways were selected for recurring funding. Some additional opportunities to address non-recurring needs, including facilities and technological issues, were also identified.

• QUALITY FUND NON-RECURRING ALLOCATIONS (PDF)
  
• QUALITY FUND RECURRING ALLOCATIONS (PDF)
  
  • RECURRING ALLOCATIONS, SUMMARY DESCRIPTIONS (PDF)

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