EBD Strategic Initiative Fund

The Excellence by Design (EBD) Strategic Initiative Fund, sourced by General Revenue dollars, is a one-time award to financially support the implementation of strategic initiatives. 

Eligibility

Units or committees dedicated to advancing the goals and strategies of Excellence by Design , that do not currently have adequate funding to achieve their stated goals, can apply for a one-time award provided by the Excellence by Design Strategic Initiative Fund if they meet the following criteria, including:

• Support the FY27 strategic priorities identified by President Tarhule:
  • Improve student retention rates (Goal IA: Champion Student Success)
  • Improve graduation rates (Goal IA: Champion Student Success)
  • Reduce DFW rates (Goal IA: Champion Student Success)
  • Accelerate time to degree completion (Goal IA: Champion Student Success)
  • Improve operational efficiency and cost savings (Goal IIA: Improve Efficiencies Across Campus)
  • Enhance program visibility and prestige (Goal IIIC: Enhance Institutional Recognition)   
• For greatest success, propose ideas that have far-reaching breadth across the university, among departments, colleges, and divisions, and capable of creating campus-wide impact ($50K+ requests are not unreasonable).
• Other internal funding options have been explored. Proposals that can arguably be covered by local operational budgets may not be considered.
• Submitted by currently employed Illinois State faculty or staff.
• Include a completed funding intake form.

Award Stipulations 

• All funds awarded must be spent for the purposes expressly requested and must be returned if not spent in full by June 30, 2027.
• Funds are not guaranteed to be available beyond FY27.
• Comply with accountability and reporting requirements, including:
  • Submission of a final budget detailing expenditures by July 31, 2027
  • Submission of a written report describing outcomes and impact by July 31, 2027
  • Travel-related expenses for Illinois State University faculty and staff will be considered if scalable outcomes can be clearly demonstrated. 
• Funding cannot be used for:
  • Personnel:
    • New hires (faculty, staff, graduate assistants, teaching assistants, student workers)
    • Faculty, staff, and student stipends
      
      
  • Student Scholarships
    • Tuition waivers/reimbursements
    • Awards
    • Study abroad stipends/expenses

Award Review Process

The following steps illustrate how a proposal navigates from concept to a finalized award. Proposals are due May 15, 2026, and will be reviewed with a decision determined in June 2026.

1. Proposal is submitted through the provided Kuali link located on the Strategic Initiative Fund web page.
2. Proposal is reviewed to ensure it meets eligibility/stipulation requirements.
3. Eligible proposals are passed on to EBD Champions and corresponding implementation teams for review and endorsement.
4. Proposals are brought to the appropriate division head (e.g., vice president) for review and initial acceptance.
5. The Strategic Planning Steering Team compiles finalized proposals and accompanying documents for the President’s Cabinet review.
6. The President’s Cabinet reviews and determines which proposals will be funded for FY27.
7. Approved funding will be released at the start of the new fiscal year (July).    

Proposal Submission Process

Illinois State University faculty and staff may submit a proposal through the submission form. Two resources are available for completing the form - walk-through document and a walk-through video.

Recommended Tips for Success

• Review the Eligibility and Award Stipulations (located above) before filling out the submission form.
• Consider proposals that can be “scaled up," both in size and scope, to impact the University as a whole.
• Consider proposals that have cross-divisional and/or transformative impact.
• Do not wait until the last minute to submit your proposal(s).
• Consult with your area's leadership before submitting your proposal(s).

Please submit questions to StrategicPlan@IllinoisState.edu

Submission Form

FY26 Awards

In FY26, submissions were open to the campus community, and proposals were received through the end of October 2025.  The following proposals were approved by the President’s Cabinet:

Advertising and Promotion in Primary Recruitment Markets

(Project Lead – Jeff Mavros, Office of Admissions)
Illinois State University will run a targeted ad campaign to increase visibility among prospective students in key regions. Using existing 15‑ and 30‑second commercials on OTT, Connected TV, and major broadcast programming, the effort aims to expand awareness and drive more visits and applications from Nov. 27, 2025, to Mar. 29, 2026.

Building Process Improvement Capacity

(Project Lead – Jenny Faust, Organizational Performance)
Illinois State University is expanding process‑improvement capacity through a new Organizational Performance Office, Lean/Six Sigma training for 30 staff, and change‑management certification for five leaders. A supporting community of practice will ensure skills are applied to cross‑campus projects, strengthening efficiency and long‑term organizational capability.

Path to AASHE STARS Gold: GHG Tracking & Renewable Energy Feasibility Initiative

(Project Lead – Elisabeth Reed, Office of Sustainability)
Illinois State University will partner with a consultant to develop a centralized greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory to track Scope 1-3 emissions, aligned with the Sustainability Indicator Management & Analysis Platform (SIMAP), the national carbon-accounting tool used by higher education institutions. The inventory will establish baselines, provide transparent dashboards, utilize data to improve efficiency and reduce emissions, support academics through applied learning and research, and strengthen STARS performance with minimal ongoing cost.

Strengthening External Engagement

(Project Lead – Harriett Steinbach, Research and Sponsored Programs)
Illinois State University will partner with the International Town-Gown Association to strengthen town‑gown collaboration with the City of Bloomington and the Town of Normal. Twenty-seven participants from the ISU, Normal, and Bloomington will participate in a specialized cohort training and earn a certificate in Town & Gown Relations. The culminating project will be the design and proposal for a formal town-gown advisory board which could address topics like housing, safety, economic development, and student engagement, and ultimately enhancing ISU’s community partnerships.

Graduate School Peoria Streaming Advertisement

(Project Lead – Alek McMath, Graduate School)
Illinois State University’s Graduate School will launch a streaming‑based advertising campaign targeting working professionals in the Peoria DMA. Using OTT platforms to promote high‑demand programs like nursing, business, and computer science, tied to major regional employers, the Jan–May 2026 effort aims to boost visibility, drive fall 2026 applications, and pilot a scalable, data‑driven recruitment model.

Illinois Wesleyan University Visit Day

(Project Lead – Emma Kopko, Graduate School)
Illinois State University will host an Illinois Wesleyan Visit Day to strengthen a high‑potential graduate recruitment pipeline. The event will showcase ISU’s 100+ graduate programs by creating connections between IWU juniors and seniors, ISU’s graduate coordinators, and current graduate students. The goal of the on-campus event is to establish a partnership between the two institutions and support data‑driven enrollment growth.

Criminal Justice Sciences Student Success Hub

(Project Lead – Jeffrey Walsh, Department of Criminal Justice Sciences)
Illinois State University’s Criminal Justice Sciences department will create an AI‑powered Student Success Hub to provide 24/7 guidance on advising, resources, deadlines, scholarships, and other FAQs. Built on CJS department curated content, the Hub streamlines support, frees staff for high‑impact advising, offers analytics for interventions, and showcases CJS’s commitment to innovation.

Building an infrastructure to support Internationalization: Adoption of Collaboratory

(Project Lead- Matthew Schwab, Office of International Engagement)
Illinois State University will expand the Collaboratory platform to centralize international engagement. Partnering with OIE and CCE, the project will map global activities, highlight faculty leaders, strengthen partnerships, and align community and international work. Funding supports system updates and workshops, including one led by expert Dr. Samba Dieng.

Interdisciplinary STEM for the Public Good: Strengthening Faculty Practice & Student Success

(Project Lead – Ashley Waring-Sparks, Center for Mathematics Science and Technology)
ISU’s CeMaST and Center for Civic Engagement propose a pilot to strengthen faculty ability to integrate civic engagement, community partnerships, and career-connected learning into STEM teaching. The plan includes Civic STEM workshops, a faculty learning community, and networking events, plus participation in the Engagement Scholarship Consortium. The project supports inclusive pedagogy, collaboration, and student success from Dec. 2025–June 2026.

Advancing Physics Pathways: Recruitment, Retention, & Experiential Learning for Student Success

(Project Lead – Mahua Biswas, Department of Physics)
ISU’s Physics Department seeks a one‑time investment to modernize curriculum, upgrade labs, and strengthen recruitment and retention. Plans include outreach, a summer bridge program, a Learning Commons, and new microelectronics, quantum, and photonics modules with AI tools, building a diverse STEM pipeline and aligning with the new College of Engineering.