The Chancellor’s Innovation Scholars Program has supported research and practice related to the innovation of higher education in its first six funding cycles. This year, in addition to the innovation of higher education, the program has been expanded to emphasize the creation of robust partnerships with the community, industry and businesses. App State faculty and staff from all disciplines and program areas are eligible for support. The program supports faculty and staff thought leaders who are working creatively and entrepreneurially to:
- Address challenges facing higher education;
- Create lasting institutional change;
- Provide community and societal benefits;
- Establish opportunities that increase student engagement;
- Support community, industry and business partnerships; and
- Promote broad-based sustainability.
The Chancellor's Innovation Scholars Program is intended to complement other innovation initiatives at the university, such as those offered through RIEEE, the Office of Sustainability, the Office of Research and Innovation and others. All projects must engage App State students.
Basic Grant Information
Each interdisciplinary Innovations Scholars team may receive support of up to $10,000. While there is a strong emphasis on projects completed within one year, applications will be considered for a two-year support cycle. Applicants whose grants require an expense of more than $5,000 within one semester are asked to address this in their application. Projects, approaches and results might include, but are not limited to:
- Research that leads to innovative thought across disciplines;
- The development of new classes or teaching strategies;
- Innovative campus events that enable interdisciplinary student learning;
- Student engagement experiences that build community and enable creative solutions;
- Initiatives that address a campus, community or societal challenge;
- Partnerships with town, county, state, national or international partners;
- Innovative programs to contribute to the economic development of our region, including workforce development programs; and/or
- Partnerships with community, business and industry partners in Boone, Hickory and other regions of Western North Carolina.
Projects that support or connect to university strategic initiatives are welcome.
Funding Parameters
These internal grants are intended to provide maximum flexibility in funding to support a wealth of faculty and staff concepts and approaches related to the innovation of higher education and fostering industry, business and community-centered partnerships. Therefore, the funding may be applied specifically to support expenses related to each unique project.
Following are examples of possible use of these funds:
- Purchase of equipment, software, research materials and print/electronic publications.
- Travel directly associated with the project activity.
- One course buy-out per semester to conduct grant-related work.
- Hiring student assistants.
- Summer salary supplement to conduct grant-related work.
Grant funds are not intended as seed money for pure research.
All awarded project teams must submit a final written report on their funded work.
Contact Information
For questions about this program or the application process, please contact Sonya Long in the Office of Academic Affairs (longsm@appstate.edu).
Innovation Appalachian
Bold - Optimistic - Pioneering - Sustainable
App State’s pioneering spirit combines with core values of scholarly excellence, leadership and service to create a peak environment where innovation connects our strategic plan and academic mission for the greater good of our community and world. Our strengths in broad-based sustainability, focusing on economics, the environment and equity, provide trail markers for research, innovation and collaboration. At App State, it’s not enough to change the world…we want to change it for the better. Our academic mission is to prepare students to lead purposeful lives as engaged global citizens who understand their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all.
Our success is found in our response to this question:
How do we engage our academic mission through teaching, learning, service, research, innovation, creativity, and intercampus and intercommunity collaborations in all disciplines to support the understanding and development of economically, environmentally and equitably sound communities?
App State is building upon faculty and staff expertise, student passion and creativity, as well as existing and developing programs to engage our campus and community in innovative thought leadership to create a bright future for our region, state, nation and world.