About the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund
The Chancellor’s Innovation Fund supports bold ideas that strengthen the student experience, advance institutional priorities, and build systemwide capacity. The Fund invests in projects that test new approaches, scale promising practices, and help the Vermont State Colleges System move forward with purpose.
To make it easier for teams to bring forward creative, student-centered ideas, the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund now uses a rolling submission model.
Funding Priorities
Priority will be given to projects that address the following areas of collaboration between CCV, VTSU, and Shared Services:
- Developing shared strategies to promote timely degree completion and seamless transfer within the system
- Implementing evidence-based, innovative teaching and learning practices while strengthening faculty relationships across both institutions and campuses
- Fostering applied learning, community engagement, and partnerships that benefit students at both institutions
The Funding Process
The application process is intentionally simple and low-barrier. Faculty and staff can reach out at any time with a brief Letter of Intent (LOI), which allows us to stay agile and help innovative ideas advance when the momentum is there. After the LOI is received, a member of the Innovation Fund Committee will schedule a brief conversation to learn more. Applicants whose ideas align well with the Chancellor’s priorities will then be invited to submit a full proposal.
1. Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI)
Email a brief LOI to innovationfund@vsc.edu. Your LOI should be no more than one page and include:
- Project idea
- Problem or opportunity the idea addresses
- Intended impact
This step helps us understand your idea without requiring a full proposal up front.
2. Brief Conversation with an Innovation Fund Committee Member
After receiving your LOI, a committee member will schedule a short conversation to learn more, answer questions, and assess alignment with the Fund’s priorities.
If the idea is promising and aligns with the Fund’s criteria, the team will be invited to submit a full proposal.
3. Full Proposal (By Invitation Only)
Applicants invited forward will complete the formal application and proposed budget. This step keeps the process focused, supporting the development of proposals that strongly align with the Fund’s priorities and criteria.
Decision-Making and Review
Proposals and LOIs are reviewed on a rolling basis. The committee evaluates ideas for:
- Alignment with the priorities noted above
- Feasibility and readiness
- Potential for meaningful, student-centered impact
- Collaboration across institutions
- Sustainability or systemwide learning impact
Applicants will receive timely feedback at each stage.
Projects Funded to Date
Round 1 (2024-25)
Supports for Multilingual Learners
Development of a comprehensive support system for multilingual learners, including assessment tools, curriculum design, and community-building activities to better serve immigrant and refugee students.
Opportunities for Undergraduate Research and Graduate Professional Study (Our GPS)
Creation of a centralized office to support undergraduate research and graduate school preparation, offering paid research opportunities and faculty mentoring.
AI Readiness and Performance Tracking
A credential-based micro-credential system to build AI literacy among faculty, staff, and students, supported by performance-tracking tools and customizable learning pathways.
Making a Difference & Making a Living Conference
A TED-style conference showcasing VTSU alumni and workforce leaders to highlight the value of higher education and strengthen community partnerships.
OER for Science and Allied Health Courses
Creation and adoption of Open Educational Resources (OER) to reduce student costs, supported by faculty stipends and curricular redesign.
Round 2 (2025-26)
Cannabis Studies Workshops and Microcredential Program
Creation of cannabis studies workshops for CCB social equity program applicants and development of microcredentials in cannabis studies, in partnership with the Vermont Cannabis Control Board.
Text-to-Speech Software Expansion
Enterprise-wide implementation of high-quality text-to-speech (TTS) software to enhance accessibility and improve learning for all students. The project will assess the impact of TTS on students and employees, recognizing that many students with disabilities do not formally disclose their needs.
Questions?
Email innovationfund@vsc.edu to begin the conversation.