Millions given away to date: Get your proposal in for 2015-2016 tech fee funds

written by Cathy McVey, IT services

What do a virtual cadaver in kinesiology and iPads to borrow in the libraries have in common? Both were funded through the Student Technology Fee Competitive Proposal Process. Deadline to submit 2015-2016 proposals is March 6.

Since 2009 Miami faculty, staff and students developed innovative and exciting projects with more than $3.5 million of awarded funds. The projects help students in and out of the classroom through the use of technology.

Do you have an idea for a proposal?

This year, a total of $433,000 in tech fee funding is available.  Committee members are looking for innovative or significant ideas that clearly benefit students. The guidelines define significant in two ways: impacting a large number of students or having a deep impact on a smaller number.

Your project may directly relate to academics or may be part of the broader Miami experience, making students’ lives better or more productive. Both graduate- and undergraduate-focused proposals are encouraged.

The proposal review process includes three steps

Submit academic proposals to the primary applicant’s dean. Submit nonacademic proposals to student affairs.

1. Following an initial review at their first stop, all proposals are read and evaluated by two reviewers including students, faculty and staff members.
2. A panel of IT staff members then reviews the proposals recommended for funding to ensure that requested technology does not already exist at the university, is an appropriate solution and includes any educational discounts.
3. The list of recommended proposals then goes to the IT policy committee, a committee of University Senate. That group has final approval.

Proposals are due March 6

Proposals for the 2015-2016 academic year are due to the deans or student affairs by Friday, March 6. The application form and complete guidelines are on the tech fee website: MiamiOH.edu/TechFee. Final decisions will be announced in early May.

Learn more about the tech fee competitive process:

• The tech fee website
• Open Q&A session (Date and time of the open session to be announced.)
• Email questions to techfee@MiamiOH.edu.

Student technology fee enacted in 2007

All students on the Oxford campus pay the student technology fee. The board of trustees enacted it in 2007. Each year the fund is divided into portions that support broad student technology needs via IT services, academic technology via a deans’ base allocation, and the competitive proposal process. A record of all competitive proposals received and funded is available on the tech fee website.