Request for Proposals -- Envisioning UWM’s Digital Future
The Provost’s Office announces a request for proposals to inform UWM’s Digital Future
planning process. This yearlong campus conversation centers on emerging technologies and
their impact on the University. The potential for change inherent in emerging technologies
is both a challenge and an opportunity for higher education in general and for UWM in
particular. UWM’s Digital Future planning process will yield a strategic vision for UWM as a
21st century institution.
Three working groups (Teaching and Learning; Research; and University Operations and
Services) are meeting throughout the 2010-11 academic year to identify key opportunities,
challenges, and action steps culminating in an action plan on UWM's Digital Future that will
be presented at a spring 2011 campus summit. The action plan will help us understand the
implications of emerging technologies for UWM, and it will position UWM to thrive as
higher education digitizes.
Throughout this planning effort we will draw on the expertise of faculty and staff with an
interest in and knowledge of new technologies and their impact on organizations. To that
end, the Provost’s Office will support faculty and staff research projects that will further
work related to the planning process.
Research Project Description
Proposals may be submitted on topics related to the impact of technology on higher
education, including issues such as, but not limited to the adaptability of the organization in
adjusting to technological innovation; ethical issues related to new technologies; best
practices in utilizing new technologies in administration and student services; the impact of
digitization on how we conduct research; or how digitization is altering teaching and
learning (including developments in online and blended instruction; the ‘consumerization’
of the learning experience; the development of personalized learning systems, increasing
use of simulation technologies, etc.).
Priority will be given to:
1) Projects that focus on best digital practices in teaching, research, student services
and/or university -- operations either at UWM or at other universities; and
2) Projects that align with the themes emerging from the Digital Future Working
Groups, which are below.
a. Teaching and Learning: teaching and learning environment, teaching
resources, collaboration, curriculum, access, training and support; and
infrastructure;
b. Research: organization and sharing of data, infrastructure, faculty and
academic concerns, and collaborations and partnerships;
c. University Operations and Services: students, work environment, access,
paperless, standards, change, constraints, environment, learning, and
community.
Both original research and the systematic review/analysis of existing research can be
funded through this program, and both individual and collaborative proposals will be
accepted. For more background on the themes, contact the working group co-chairs, listed
on the Digital Future web site at http://www4.uwm.edu/acad_aff/digitalfuture/.
Proposal content
Proposals should include the following components: 1) A narrative describing and
explaining the purpose of the project; 2) rationale; 3) research plan and methodology; 4)
anticipated deliverables; and 5) proposed project budget.
Award amounts
A total of $30,000 has been committed to this project. The maximum per award is $10,000.
Project Time Line
Research must be completed by August 15, 2011, and a final report on the project must be
submitted to the Provost’s Office on that date.
Project Evaluation
Proposals will be evaluated on applicability to UWM’s Digital Future planning process,
achievability within the short time frame of the grant period, and criticality to the
University’s future development. The successful applicants will be notified directly and the
results will be posted on http://www4.uwm.edu/acad_aff/digitalfuture/ on Monday, March
28, 2011.
Eligibility and Application Process
All UWM faculty and staff are eligible to apply. Proposals should address all the elements
described in the “Proposal Content” section above and submitted via email, along with a 2Page CV, to Cheryl Andres (candres@uwm.edu). The submission deadline has been
extended to 6:00 p.m. Monday, March 7, 2011.