Please Note:  Please be sure to follow the new format and content guidelines.  Last year, the technology fee committee asked the administration to consider options to "accelerate" the technology fee award process so that students see quicker results from currently assessed fees and to address other timing issues.  With the support of the administration, the process is being modified so that institutional matching funds will be expended first (during the latter part of the summer) for Fall semester implementation and student technology fee revenues will be committed in mid- to late Fall semester for Spring semester implementation.  To meet this schedule, proposals for Fall semester implementation (after July 1) will be due in late March so commitments can be announced prior to the end of Spring semester.  Proposals for Spring semester implementation will be considered during the Fall semester.  This timing will also reduce the urgency currently associated with appointing the committee at the very beginning of the Fall semester.

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, 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 to solicit, review, and fund proposals. The attached guidelines contain background and information about the technology fee with which you should be familiar.

Eligibility: Proposals are 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 can 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, which is new for Fall, 1998 award consideration: Section 1) Proposal Summary; 2) Executive summary of the department's or organization's computing and/or technology strategy; 3) Explanation of the importance of this request and how it fits within the strategy of the department or organization,  4) Specific educational and other benefits that will accrue to students; 5) Summary explaining why existing and/or central resources cannot be used to meet need, 6) Budget Narrative including a) an explicit description of support requirements and sources for support, b) an outline of matching funds to be applied, plans you have for leveraging this grant to attract other funding, or an explanation about why matching funds are not available, and c) a description of the consequences if the proposal is not funded.  As an appendix, you may provide quotes, technical information, and other relevant information.  As part of the appendix, please provide a summary of past technology fee proposals and report on the use of previous technology fee awards.

Proposal Submission and Deadline: Technology Fee Proposals will be evaluated and funded once during each Fall and Spring semester. 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 Fall Semester 1998 consideration will be accepted in the Computing Center main office (GC 232) until 5:00pm, Tuesday, March 31, 1998.

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.
• Use of technology fee funds to match a committed or recently obtained grant (from a foundation or NSF, for example) that requires a matching source is appropriate as long as the proposal meets the guidelines for expenditure of technology fee funds.  For this situation, reimbursement for recently ordered or purchased resources may be appropriate.  Technology fee awards will not be committed to match planned or pending proposals.  Proposals must be for new or replacement resources. Reimbursement for resources previously ordered or purchased, except as noted above, will not be considered.
• 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.
• Contact Derek Wilson (dwilson@mines, x3986) with RFP / worksheet questions.