INSTITUTIONAL DISTINCTION AT
INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
Purpose
Identification and recognition of areas of institutional strength and distinction serves many
purposes: it fosters pride in the university, its faculty, students and alumni; it assists the
institution in establishing a strategic direction; it promotes public awareness of our unique areas
of strength and purpose; it builds our reputation for potential students; and it invites future
investments.
Background
In April 2004, ISU began a process of pursing institutional distinction. A centerpiece of that
process was the identification of (and investment in) academic programs and centers of research
and creative activity whose strength and uniqueness would distinguish ISU from its peers in the
state and nation. Seventeen programs and centers were recognized as Programs of Distinction or
Programs of Promise under the Distinctive Programs Initiative, with most provided funding from
the Lilly Endowment.
Goal four of the University’s strategic plan, The Pathway to Success, establishes a vision for
strengthening ISU's claim to distinction through leveraging existing programs of distinction or
promise and exploitation of new opportunities (e.g., Center for Rural Life; RHIC) to enhance our
unique institutional identity. In accordance with benchmark indicators outlined for goal four, a
Distinctive Programs Oversight Committee (DPOC) was established to work with the Provost to
develop a process to evaluate previously designated programs as potential targets of additional
investment and enable identification and support of new programs that that will contribute to
ISU’s distinction.
The DPOC began its work in Summer 2010. Final reports for programs previously identified as
Programs of Promise or Programs of Distinction were requested in Fall 2010. These were
reviewed by the DPOC and select programs were identified for receipt of remaining one-time
Lilly Endowment dollars associated with the Distinctive Programs initiative. Plans are underway
to highlight the achievements of all 17 programs recognized under this initiative as well as
additional activities envisioned to occur with remaining funds.
The DPOC continued to meet throughout Fall 2010 to further discuss the concept of institutional
distinction and possible revisions to the Distinctive Programs Initiative. Based on our discussion
of the limits of the Distinctive Programs Initiative and review of similarly-conceived initiatives
at other institutions, the DPOC has developed a new process for advancing distinction at ISU.
With the establishment of a new process, the DPOC has taken on a new label: the Unbounded
Possibilities (UP) Committee.
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A New Direction to Institutional Distinction:
Unbounded Possibilities to Innovation, Strength, & Unity (UP-2-ISU)
Overview
The Unbounded Possibilities to Innovation, Strength, & Unity (UP-2-ISU) initiative is intended
to recognize and capitalize on the unique contributions programs and faculty across campus
make to address societal needs as the basis for institutional distinction. After identifying
opportunities for distinction in our existing activities, this initiative will support development and
funding of innovative and collaborative proposals to build on existing strengths in these areas of
opportunity to further enhance ISU’s distinctiveness.
Rationale
While the Distinctive Programs Initiative has supported the recognition, celebration, and
advancement of many of ISU’s unique strengths and quality programs, the limits of a programbased approach to institutional distinction are now emerging. Designation of more “Programs of
Distinction” challenges the development of a clear institutional identity as well as the
institution’s ability to effectively invest its strategic resources, while exclusion of additional
programs may undermine their commitment to improvement and alignment with institutional
goals. Moreover, the program-based approach to distinction is susceptible to the vagaries of
turnover and loss of faculty in small units.
The Unbounded Possibilities Committee thus sees great merit in defining institutional distinction
not at the level of individual programs, but in the array of quality programs and faculty
emphases transcending programs that shape the students’ and public’s experience of ISU. In
other words, ISU’s distinction should reflect the emergent features of our identity when looking
across ISU’s campus.
Given our commitment to community engagement, it is logical to look for ISU’s distinction in
the contributions of our programs and faculty to meeting societal needs (recognizing that needs
may be broadly defined so as to include training of tomorrow’s professionals and that these
contributions must be evidenced in the ongoing work of faculty and academic programs, not
preordained from above). Therefore, in consultation with the administration, the Unbounded
Possibilities Committee has created a campus-wide process to identify the unique distinction
opportunities or themes that exist in the activities and interests of our faculty, academic
programs, and external collaborations as they serve the broader society.
Principles
In addition to helping ISU achieve distinction in highly identifiable and sustainable ways,
activities supported under this initiative should also:

be consistent with and supportive of the University's mission, vision, values;
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support strategic initiatives to increase enrollment and retention and enhance grants and
contracts;
unify the academic community by promoting collaborations to contribute to the common
good on campus and off;
strengthen the quality and reputation of our academic programs;
meet expectations of accountability (including reliance on objective data and clear
criteria) in reporting
Process Summary
Proposals shall be solicited from campus to advance identified distinction opportunities or
themes. Proposals may come from individual programs or departments or represent
collaborations across traditional boundaries. Proposals will be reviewed based on criteria
specified below (in alignment with program goals), and funding recommendations will be made
to the Provost’s office. Initial proposals will be at the level of concept papers.
Criteria for Review & Selection of Proposals
Proposals may be submitted from (1) individual academic disciplines or departments or (2)
represent collaborations that cross traditional disciplinary or institutional boundaries. Proposals
should specify whether they fall into category (1) or (2) and the specific societal need(s) they
address.
The general criteria for reviewing programs have been grouped into a set of five categories.
Applicants are encouraged to write an application proposal to the general academic community
(of non-specialists) that addresses the criteria under each category clearly and directly.
Whether submitting an application as an individual program or department or as a crossdisciplinary collaborative, the proposal must clearly demonstrate:
1. How it advances institutional distinction through its contribution to addressing the
specified societal need(s), while at the same time…
2. How it contributes to the vision and mission of the university through teaching,
research, creative activity and/or service (It is appropriate to provide data on the quality
and viability of academic programs supported through activities in this application,
including numbers of students, faculty productivity, external rankings, etc.) and…
3. How it aligns with the strategic plan of the institution by its contributions to one or more
of the following:
a. Increasing enrollment or student success.
b. Diversifying revenue through philanthropy, contracts, and grants.
c. Enhancing experiential learning and community engagement.
d. Recruiting and retaining great faculty and staff
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Proposals seeking greater levels of funding that may be associated with collaborative proposals
must also provide:
4. Evidence that the proposal crosses traditional disciplinary or institutional boundaries (if
applying for a “collaborative” award).
Finally, all proposals must also contain:
5. A strategic plan with detailed action steps for the use of the funds to achieve measurable
outcomes related to (1), (2), and (3) above. Considerations in evaluating the action plan
will include assessments of:
a. quality and feasibility of the timeline.
b. selection of benchmarks and measurable outcomes.
c. evidence of leveraging of resources beyond funding.
Note that funding may be discontinued for initiatives that fail to show progress on their action
plan at intermediate reporting points.
Resources Supporting the Initiative
The goals of the Unbounded Possibilities to Innovation, Strength, & Unity (UP-2-ISU) initiative
are to expand ISUs distinction by (1) resourcing programs and collaborations that already visibly
contribute to the accomplishment of our mission as an “engaged” institution of higher learning,
(2) enhancing previously unidentified or unrepresented areas of distinction through targeted
investments, and (3) encouraging cross-unit collaborations that assure identified areas of
distinction are sustainable over the long-term. It is anticipated that this initiative and the
activities it supports will enhance the reputation of ISU and the strength of already strong
programs.
It is both inappropriate and impossible for the Unbounded Possibilities Committee to
predetermine the exact nature of activities to be supported as these must be determined by
individual academic units and programs in accord with their goals (in alignment with the
institutional mission). Toward that end, applications should propose the nature and anticipated
sources of support needed to develop innovative proposals that contribute to ISUs distinction.
Approximately $5,000,000 over a five-year period has been allocated for UP-2-ISU initiative, at
least some of which can be considered base funding (i.e., recurring support rather than one-time
resources). It is anticipated that approximately $1,000,000 will be awarded in the first year in
support of 5-7 initiatives. Proposals from individual academic units [category (1) above] may
apply for up to $250,000 for a five-year period while collaborative proposals [category (2)
above] may apply for up to $1,000,000 of support for five years. There may be an opportunity
for a second round of new initiative proposals following an assessment of this initial round and
the nature of what emerges, but none is planned at this time.
To acknowledge their activities in support of strengthening ISUs distinctive identity, a program,
project, or collaboration receiving support under this initiative shall be designated an UP
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Program of Innovation & Strength to facilitate their ability to leverage institutional support for
external resources). This designation shall continue through the length of the Unbounded
Possibilities initiative (unless support is withdrawn based on project reports—see below).
Awardees will be required to submit annual progress reports that are linked directly to the action
and assessment plan included in their application. Continuation of recognition and funding is
contingent upon satisfactory progress toward meeting benchmarks/outcomes.
Selection Process
Concept Paper Phase
Following a period of campus engagement and idea development (January through March), fourpage, single-spaced (maximum) concept papers with 12-point font and one-inch margins are due
on March 31 that are expected to provide a vision for an idea and a sense for the need and doability of the initiative. The desired submission should include these sections:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Overview
Rationale (as it contributes to a societal need(s) & aligns with ISU
vision/mission/strategic plan)
Discussion of Planned Collaboration
Estimated Total Costs (over 5 years with rough estimates for how it would be expended
in broad categories - e.g., personnel, equipment, etc.)
Conclusion
A separate 1 page appendix for how up to $4,000 in seed money would be used over the summer
to develop a full proposal is also expected (e.g., visits to other institutions with known excellence
in the proposal area, bringing consultants to campus, etc.). Stipends for participants on proposal
development teams will not be supported.
Concept paper presentations will occur in April and will be open to the community. The reviews
will be done by a Faculty Senate appointed committee, the Deans Council, and the Unbounded
Possibilities Committee, with recommendations for invitations for full proposals made to the
Provost and President. Selection of those invited to submit full proposals will be made by 5/2.
Full Proposal Phase
Full proposals are due on September 19. Submissions may be no more than eight pages, singlespaced (12 point font with one-inch margins) including all charts, tables and other supporting
material, although a supplemental reference list of no more than two pages may be included with
the submission. Submissions should address the five criteria described above.
Reviews of proposals will occur in October and include both an internal and external process.
Internal review teams will include a Faculty Senate appointed committee, a panel of Caleb Mills
and Theodore Dreiser Award winners, the Dean’s Council, and the Unbounded Possibilities
Committee. An external panel of 3-4 persons with respected experience leading/managing
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development initiatives such as these will also be identified and invited to campus for an open
community presentation by proposal teams. Their recommendations will be incorporated into
what is advanced to the Provost and President for initiative selection by mid-November.
Timeline for Implementation
Jan. – March, 2011
Campus engagement and concept paper development period
March 31, 2011
Concept Papers due to Office of Sponsored Programs
April, 2011
Concept Paper review period
May 2, 2011
Announcement of concept papers selected for full proposal development
Summer, 2011
Full Proposal development period
Sept. 19, 2011
Full Proposals due
October 2011
Full Proposal review period
November 2011
Announcement of initiative selections
May 31, 2012
Interim Report due for assessing program progress and release of new
funding at start of FY 2012
May 31, 2013
Annual Report due (annually at this point forward) for assessing program
progress and release of next FY funding
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Indiana State University
Unbounded Possibilities (UP)
Routing Form
The electronic version of this routing form should be submitted with concept papers and full proposals to
the Office of Sponsored Programs.
Project Title:
Requested category for funding:
_____ Academic Discipline/Department
_____ Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration
Contact Person:
Department/Unit:
Phone number:
Campus Address:
Email:
This application is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge.
Signature: ____________________________________________________ Date_____________
Co-Director (1) Signature_________________________________________Date_____________
Co-Director (2) Signature_________________________________________Date_____________
Chair and Dean Signatures: I have reviewed and support this application.
Department Chair Signature_______________________________________ Date____________
Co-Director Department Chair Signature_____________________________ Date____________
Dean Signature_________________________________________________ Date____________
Co-Director Dean Signature_______________________________________ Date____________
Note: Please add signature lines as needed to reflect all of the departments/units involved in delivering
the program.
Proposal # DP__________ (assigned by OSP)
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