Frequently Asked Questions
The Big Ideas initiative is an opportunity to source visionary ideas from faculty, staff and students that might not otherwise be considered as we prepare for JMU’s next strategic plan and comprehensive campaign.
Big Ideas will shape the future of James Madison University. If your idea is selected, you will be helping to shape the future of JMU — along with that of your discipline, our students and faculty, higher education and society at large.
Selected Big Ideas will help to inform JMU’s next strategic plan and comprehensive campaign goals.
No. Both our strategic plan and comprehensive campaign will continue to be informed by a variety of factors including existing projects and priorities, new opportunities and needs identified by university leadership, and the evolving needs of the Commonwealth. The Big Ideas Initiative is a way to ensure we cast the widest possible net across campus and capture the most visionary ideas for the future of James Madison University.
To help ensure a high-quality proposal, we recommend you review the scoring rubric and address all criteria found in the proposal template to the best of your ability. Ideas that you are still developing are very much encouraged.
Current JMU faculty and staff members and students can submit a proposal.
To submit a Big Idea proposal, submit the form.
No. The JMU Big Ideas initiative is a way for the university to identify visionary ideas to inform the university’s next strategic plan and campaign fundraising priorities.
There is no guarantee that ideas will receive funding, even if selected as part of the final round. However, by submitting a Big Idea, you will raise awareness for it across campus. In addition, University Advancement will compile submissions that meet the criteria found in the proposal template into a catalog of potential funding opportunities that could be adopted over the life of the next comprehensive fundraising campaign.
March 8, 2024
The scoring and review process will conclude by the end of July 2024.
All selected Big Ideas will be included as key initiatives in the university’s next strategic plan. Additionally, University Advancement will include the idea in a prospectus that will be presented during feasibility interviews, as part of the campaign planning study, to determine viability for our next comprehensive campaign.
Yes.
Submitted proposals will be evaluated by the Big Ideas Working Group based on established criteria found in the proposal template. All submitted Big Idea summaries and scores will be shared with the president and vice presidents who will make the final selection. The highest scored proposals will not necessarily be the ones selected for implementation.
Big Ideas are part of the university’s strategic plan. They represent the strategies the university will use to achieve its long-range vision, which is focused on five emerging future themes.
The names of project leadership and project summaries for all submitted proposals will be shared with vice presidents and President Alger regardless of the score received. Thus, we encourage you to let your supervisor know about your Big Idea prior to submitting the proposal.
No. We encourage submissions of Big Ideas in all levels of development. Workshops are being offered to provide opportunities to work with members of the working group to further flesh out your idea.
Questions can be directed to bigideas@jmu.edu
