Preliminary proposals are now being accepted for FY2025 P3 initiatives to support the University of Iowa 2022-2027 Strategic Plan. Faculty and staff can submit a proposal for a one- to three-year project that would start July 1, 2024. Preliminary proposals must be submitted by Nov. 6.

Up to $15 million in non-recurring funds will be distributed from the UI Strategic Initiatives Fund (P3) to support implementation of the strategic plan in FY2025. A two-stage competitive application process will be used to select projects from the campuswide call for proposals. Any remaining funds may be used to support other strategic plan initiatives, such as education infrastructure, or implementation of additional strategic plan initiatives throughout the year.

Individuals who plan to submit a preliminary proposal are encouraged to discuss their proposal with the applicable collegiate deans or central unit leaders beforehand. All proposals should demonstrate the direct connection of the initiative to the strategic plan. Information sessions on constructing a competitive preliminary proposal are scheduled for Sept. 28 and Oct. 3. 

The Strategic Plan Action and Resource Committee (SPARC)—the team responsible for implementing the strategic plan—will review the preliminary proposals. Funneling proposals through SPARC and its workgroups allows for increased coordination of P3 projects with the strategic plan. Members of SPARC also will be eligible to use the process to request P3 funding. Proposals submitted by a member of a SPARC workgroup will be assigned to a separate SPARC workgroup for review. After discussion of the preliminary proposals, SPARC will submit recommendations to the executive vice president and provost for evaluation.

Project leads of selected proposals will be notified by Dec. 13 if they are invited to submit a full application. Full applications will be due by Feb. 28, 2024.

The P3 Program provides resources that are essential for the implementation of the strategic plan. By investing in the priority areas of the strategic plan, P3 will help UI progress toward its goal of being a destination university—the first choice for students, faculty, and staff. Therefore, preliminary proposals are expected to illustrate how proposed projects positively affect and align with the 2022-2027 Strategic Plan.

Projects should demonstrate the following criteria:

• Institutional-level high impact (i.e., a high return on investment) across more than one strategic priority area (excellence in teaching and learning, innovative research and creative discovery, welcoming and inclusive environment, holistic well-being and success, and/or transformative societal impact). Projects should specifically align with one or more strategic plan goals, objectives, and strategies and have the potential to make measurable (or significant) progress toward one or more overarching metric;
• How project activities are outside of scope, or unable to be supported, through the current budget model (project activities should extend beyond core functions or operations related to the central missions of teaching, research, and service);
• The potential for longevity beyond the funding period, whether the project is able to leverage additional funds (i.e., grants, philanthropy, and/or other strategies) or to continue project activities by making them a regular part of institutional operations; and
• Cross-campus collaborations, including interdisciplinary, cross-unit activities that build on existing strengths and/or areas of opportunity for growth and distinction.

The preliminary proposal must be completed via an InfoReady form and include:

• Project title
• Project lead (include name, title, and college/unit)
• List of project collaborators (include names, titles, and colleges/units)
• Budget information
• Summary of project purpose including how it meets the above criteria
• Assessment plan that includes intended benchmarks and expected outcomes

Please visit the P3 Program website for more information and to view a list of previously P3-funded projects.

In March 2020, nearly $1 billion in funding from the university’s 50-year partnership with ENGIE North America and Meridiam to operate the utility system was placed in an endowment. Earnings from the endowment will allow the university to invest about $15 million per fiscal year via grants dedicated to supporting the UI’s strategic plan priorities of excellence in teaching and learning, innovative research and creative discovery, welcoming and inclusive environment, holistic well-being and success, and transformative societal impact.