Fall 96 Technology Fee
Request for Proposals

Background: During Spring semester of 1996, the CSM administration discussed the potential of assessing a technology fee upon all students each semester beginning in the Fall of 1996 with the Associated Students of Colorado School of Mines (ASCSM). Although initially rejected, a counter-proposal developed by student government was ultimately approved and a fee was subsequently approved by the Board of Trustees in May, 1996. As part of the agreement and to address technology needs, matching funds have been budgeted by the institution. Technology fee revenues and matching funds are to be administered through the Technology Fee Committee, which was established in the guidelines to solicit, review, and fund proposals. The attached guidelines contain background and information about the technology fee with which you should become familiar.

Eligibility: Proposals will be accepted from any academic program, department, or division; the Computing Center, the Library, and any official CSM Student Organization including recognized student chapters of professional societies and organizations. Only proposals meeting the criteria outlined in the Technology Fee Guidelines document will be considered for funding.

Format and Content: Proposals should be limited to no more than five pages (double-spaced, 10 point or larger font) plus the Technology Fee Proposal Worksheet. Supplementary materials (product information, computing lab plans/maps/design, etc.) may be submitted as an addendum. Use the completed worksheet as the cover of your proposal. Proposals submitted without a completed worksheet will not be considered. Proposal narratives must use the following format: Section 1) Proposal Summary, 2) Summary of past activity and report on use of previous technology fee awards, 3) Description of who will benefit from the expenditures (undergraduates/graduates in what option, level, etc.) and why, 4) How students will benefit (access to new software, better resources, new methods, etc.), 5) Summary explaining why this project is important, 6) Budget Narrative including discussion on how you plan to maintain and support resources acquired from award funds in the future. Be sure to identify matching fund requests and discuss plans you may have for leveraging this grant to attract future funding from other sources.

Proposal Submission and Deadline: Technology Fee Proposals will be evaluated and funded once during each Fall and Spring semester. Proposals for Fall semester consideration are due in the Computing Center main office (GC232) by 5:00pm, Monday, November 25. In order to expedite review, eleven copies of the proposal are to be submitted (two sided preferred). Electronic submission is not yet available. Proposals for Spring Semester consideration (final RFP available by December 6) will be accepted in the Computing Center main office until 5:00pm, Monday, January 20, 1997.

Guidelines and Comments:

• The primary uses of technology fee and matching funds are expected to be for capital and resource acquisition. Although initial operating funds may be requested, ongoing needs (of all types) are expected to increasingly come from other sources.
• Total project budgets (maintenance, upgrades, software, operating costs, etc.) should be included so the committee can best evaluate plans. However, provision of future-year budget information is informational only. Proposals that identify multi-year funding requests must be resubmitted for consideration each year.
• Proposals that seek standard/mainstream resources that will be supportable by existing or planned support-staff resources are encouraged.
• Partial awards or funding may be offered.
• Use of technology fee funds to match a committed grant (from a foundation or NSF, for example) that requires a matching source is appropriate so long as the full proposal meets the guidelines for expenditure of technology fee funds. Technology fee awards will not be made to match planned or pending proposals, however.
• Contact Derek Wilson (dwilson@mines, x3986) with RFP / worksheet questions.