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Vision 2026 Faculty Innovators

The Provost's Office has launched the Vision 2026 Faculty Innovators initiative to encourage new faculty-driven projects that advance the four pillars of the strategic plan: data, water, democracy and careers. The initiative helps faculty members drive from idea to fruition with staged check-ins that test and reward the projects across five stages. Rewards and project support escalate over the course of the phases.

Phase Four: Feasibility Test

The fourth phase proves that William & Mary can launch the project at a world-class level. Faculty innovators outline in roughly 15 pages (with appendices) how the project is within the reach of the university now or will be in the future. Rewards are distributed after proposals advance to the next stage.

Deadline

Late Fall 2023

Rewards
  • Support for approved expenses for Phase 5

 

A five-column table outlining the phase requirements, goals and deadlines in brief.

Phase 1: Open Call

Phase 2: Concept Build-Out Phase 3: Desirability Phase 4: Feasibility Phase 5: Viability

Identify Faculty Innovators and proposed initiatives

Develop concept with support provided for initial data gathering

Develop the proposed initiative with support on desirability in the program's target market

Develop the proposed initiative with support on feasibility at W&M

Develop the proposed initiative with support on viability at W&M

Proposals sketch the concept in relation to the university's mission and Vision 2026 university-wide initiatives (Data, Water, Democracy & Careers)

Advancing proposals demonstrate the potential to achieve desirability, feasibility and viability Advancing proposals demonstrate sufficient market demand necessary to potential feasibility and viability Advancing proposals demonstrate feasibility to successfully operate at a high-level within the university context Advancing proposals demonstrate viability as a business plan for implementation

Submissions by March 17

Submissions by April 28 Summer 2023 Fall 2023 Winter 2023
One-column table outlining the phases of the Vision 2026 Faculty Innovators program.
(Closed) Phase Three: Market Desirability

The third phase tests the market desirability and demand for the project with salient and convincing data. Faculty innovators outline in roughly 10 pages (with appendices) the assumptions and data that support market confidence for W&M to further invest. Rewards are distributed after proposals advance to the next stage.

Deadline

Summer 2023

Rewards
  • Support for approved expenses for Phase 4
(Closed) Phase Two: Build-Out

The second phase tests assumptions and initial data to foster confidence to invest in the idea. Faculty innovators outline in roughly five pages (with any additional appendices) how the project has the potential to achieve desirability, feasibility and viability. Rewards are distributed after proposals advance to the next stage. Contact [[ksswan, Scott Swan]] for additional assistance.

Deadline

April 28, 2023

Rewards
  • $100 recognition stipend for submission 
  • Support for approved expenses for Phase 3
  • Personal recognition from the W&M President and/or Provost
(Closed) Phase One: Open Call for Proposals

The first phase identifies innovators and initiatives. Faculty innovators outline their project idea in one page, identifying its relation to Vision 2026's key initiatives and detailing roughly how the project might develop. Contact [[ksswan, Scott Swan]] for additional assistance.

Phase 1 Worksheet (pdf)  Proposal Example (PDF)

Deadline

March 17, 2023

Rewards
  • $50 recognition stipend for submission
  • Citation as Vision 2026 Faculty Innovator
Phase Five: Viability Test

The fifth and final phase builds the case that the initiative makes economic sense for William & Mary.  Faculty innovators build a business model in roughly 20 pages (with appendices) with assumptions and believable data that foster confidence in W&M to invest further. Rewards are distributed after proposals advance.

Deadline

Winter 2023

Rewards
  • Announcement and press release highlighting successful Vision 2026 Innovators
  • Award dinner and celebration