Big Ideas Proposal FAQs

In December 2018, Texas State issued the first call for Big Idea proposals to identify compelling inter-disciplinary initiatives where philanthropic investment can significantly advance Texas State’s reputation as a national research university.  Big Ideas selected through the first round included: 1) Materials With Intelligence; 2)Training With AR/VR; 3) Translational Health; 4) Harnessing Big Data; and 5) Innovation & Entrepreneurship.  Over the past year, these Big Ideas have helped spotlight the university’s capabilities in research and discovery and resulted in over $500 thousand in new philanthropic investment, coverage in national media, and proposals for two new university level centers.   

Ideas will be solicited from Texas State faculty and staff.  We welcome input from students, but will ask that any ideas submitted have a faculty or staff sponsor. Visit the Call For Proposals page for more information.

The submission period opens on July 30, 2020 and closes on October 30, 2020.  To preview the Proposal Submission Instructions, click here. The online submission form can be found here. 

No, but you are strongly encouraged to seek the support of your dean and/or department chair before submitting an idea.

We are seeking proposals aligned with one of the Big Ideas in the following areas:

• Seed projects for new lines of research or creative endeavor
• Funding required to advance an existing line of research or creative endeavor
• Resources to support student learning

The following guidelines should be considered in developing proposals:

• Big Ideas projects will not include building renovations or construction of new facilities.
• Big Ideas projects will not fund new permanent faculty or staff positions.
• There is no minimum or maximum project budget amount.  The project budget should be substantiated in the proposal.
• Project budgets may include requests for current use and/or endowed funding.

To preview the questions on the submission form, please click here. 

A dedicated committee will be created with representation from across the university.  Committee members will be asked to review proposals against the following criteria:

• Potential for enhancing the university’s distinction for research and/or academic excellence under one of the Big Ideas;
• Impact on student learning and/or research/creative endeavor aligned with one or more Big Ideas;
• Cross-departmental involvement; and,
• Alignment with the university’s 2017-2023 strategic plan.

No. Big Ideas is a way for the university to develop visionary ideas and identify fundraising campaign priorities. Texas State aims to partner with donors and the community to help advance the university by seeking private funding support for the Big Ideas.  However, projects may also seek funding through grants or contracts from government or private funders.

No. There is no guarantee that ideas will receive funding, even if selected as a final campaign idea. However, selected ideas will be featured in front of key university donor audiences and development officers will promote these ideas in donor conversations. University Advancement will also provide hands-on support to the selected ideas in the areas of marketing, communications, budget creation, and presentations.

You can find additional information on the Frequently Asked Questions page and the Big Ideas website or by contacting Nicole Anable, Assistant Director for Campaign Management, by email at nba23@txstate.edu or by phone at (512) 245-4055.  

An Open Forum will be held Friday, September 25, 2020 from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m to provide additional information and respond to questions. 

The submission deadline is October 30, 2020. View the proposal timeline here. 

Yes, you can submit more than one Big Idea.

We anticipate additional opportunities to submit/resubmit Big Ideas on a regular basis during the campaign.