Faculty Initiative Fund
The AY25 Faculty Initiative Fund (FIF) Request for Proposals (RFP) is now closed.
History and Background of the FIF
The Faculty Initiative Fund (FIF) was created as part of the 2017-2019 UNAC CBA
15.10 Faculty Initiative Fund
The University will allocate $1 million between FY18 and FY20 for the Faculty Initiative
Fund. In each year of the Agreement, UNAC members may apply to the Statewide Academic
Committee (SAC) for funds to support initiatives including innovative research, creative
activity or performance, or other scholarly endeavors. Faculty Initiative Funds may
also be used as seed money toward the procurement of external grants and contracts.
Decisions by the SAC are at the sole discretion of the University and not subject
to the dispute resolution process under Article 7. United Academics will be notified
by the University of award recipients and the amounts awarded to each.
Awarded in FY19 and FY20 at $500k each in a process overseen by the Faculty Alliance and the VPASR
FY19: 8 awards with no proposal request limit
FY20: 16 awards over 3 tiers (<$10,000, $10,000- $50,000 and $50,000-$100,000)
The award was discontinued in FY21 at the end of the CBA
The FIF was re-established by the Board and awarded in FY22 and FY23 at $300k each year as part of the NRF distribution:
Faculty Initiative Fund: Promote inter-university collaboration in program development,
scholarly endeavors and student engagement with the goal of reducing the cost to degree
and promoting internship opportunities for students.
FY22: 16 awards over 3 tiers (<$10,000, $10,000- $50,000 and $50,000-$100,000)
FY23: 21 awards: Tier 1: 6-month $30k projects, Tier 2: mini or seed projects, $10k or less
FY25: 17 awards: Tier I: 6-month $30k projects, Tier 2: mini or seed projects, $10k or less