/ Strategic Planning/Big Ideas: Request for Proposals

Proposal Template

Please use this outline to create the proposal—due May 31, 2024—to your member of the Executive Council for evaluation based on response to the questions and prompts below. You may be asked for additional information after submitting your draft proposal, or suggestions might be made for improving and revising the proposal.

Download the template PDF.Big Ideas Evaluation Process

1. Project Leadership

Please list the faculty and/or staff members involved in creating this proposal.

2. Big Idea

Please describe this project as best you can at this time, addressing as many of the following elements as possible.

Project title
Project description and key elements (250 words or less)
How does this project take advantage of current institutional strengths as shown in our Draft Strategic Themes?
Does (or could) this project involve more than one school or college within Lewis & Clark and/or does it involve multiple academic departments?
In what areas will this make Lewis & Clark a leader—or transform our existing leadership? And how will this help differentiate us from our peers?
How will this project strengthen student outcomes and experiences?
How will this project help us meet enrollment and retention goals?

3. Impact: Why do we need this project at Lewis & Clark?

How will this project impact our campus community?
How will this project impact the local community or region?
How will this project help solve thorny societal or global issues?
Why does the world need this project now? What’s the urgency?

4. Implementation and Sustainability

How long will it take for you to make a visible impact on Lewis & Clark? And locally or globally?
How will this project be sustainable for the next three to five years?
Will this project continue beyond three to five years? What additional impact will it have?

5. Resources/Philanthropy

What funding—internal and external—if any, have you already received toward this project (or one closely related)?
How does this project leverage existing resources on campus?
What additional resources do you need to fulfill the project you describe? If possible, please include cost estimates.
Do you have any donors in mind for this project?
If you receive philanthropic funding, how would you communicate progress over time to the donor(s)?

Thank you for joining us in this important effort.