AcademicInnovationFund.docVIP

PAGE  PAGE 7 December 15, 2010 Academic Innovation Fund Submission Process and Call for Proposals Background and Purpose of the AIF: Following the endorsement by Senate of the White Paper, and in consultation with the Senate Committee on Academic Policy, Planning and Research, the Provost announced the establishment of an Academic Innovation Fund to provide funding for initiatives which will advance the objectives of the White Paper and the new University Academic Plan (now in development). The purpose of the fund is to facilitate the implementation of strategic academic initiatives which enjoy wide institutional support, through an initial investment of resources. The fund is thus intended to enable innovation and change at York, by supporting innovative new initiatives or those that extend current initiatives in significant new ways, and initiatives that promote cross-Faculty collaboration and/or leverage new resources. In order to maximize the impact of the funds, the focus of support will be initiatives that promote the advancement of White Paper objectives in the areas of Teaching and Learning and the Student Experience, including those which advance accessibility, community engagement and the formation of academic partnerships locally, nationally and internationally. Following announcement of the AIF, the Provost invited input from the community on the development of criteria for consideration of initiatives and allocation of funds. A good deal of thoughtful and enthusiastic comment was received and is reflected in the criteria set out below. Categories of Proposals for Funding: A total of $2.5 million will be available annually over a three-year time horizon (i.e., 2011-2012, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014) to support initiatives proposed by Faculties and other academic units and individuals. There will be three categories of funding available The classification of a proposal as falling into Category I as opposed to Category II will be based on an a