Read the following information to understand the award criteria, guidelines, and application process. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Christina Kwasniewski.

The Special Project Committee is primarily responsible for special program activities of the Foundation. This includes developing proposal guidelines for projects intended to enhance WSU's academic mission, to improve the quality of its faculty or the level of instruction, and to enrich the learning experiences available to its students. The committee encourages, reviews and recommends funding for programs and projects at WSU for which there are no current funding sources available.

Dollars awarded via the Special Project Committee are initially received as unrestricted gifts. These unrestricted donations come from a variety of sources: alumni, corporations, matching gift companies, and other friends of WSU. The purpose of the program is broad and designed to serve the curricular, professional, and program development priorities of the institution.

The Special Projects Committee members include:

Chair: Ted Fredrickson
George Bolon
Chops Hancock
Steve Heuslein
Dick Record
Tim Missling
Paul Morgan
Jim Meyer
Mike Ericson
Contact Person: Christina Kwasniewski

Special Projects The proposal must present a clear plan describing the purpose of the project and the activities it will accomplish.

Eligibility — Any faculty or staff member of the university community may apply.

Priorities Funds will be awarded according to the following priorities, which encourage the development of quality initiatives. (Note: Priorities are listed in order, with 1 being the highest priority and 4 being the lowest.) 

1. Unique one-time projects that lead to activities, which attract students or other persons to the university so as to enhance the image of WSU.
2. Innovative research and/or curriculum development proposals that lead to new program development and which will have continued financial support from sources other than the Foundation.
3. Applied regional research that leads to scholarly publication and a greater awareness of university service to the region.
4. Travel to a conference or workshop to enhance expertise in a particular discipline or for the presentation of a paper. Travel is not prohibited, but the budget may not permit funding.

• The proposed project should clearly be of benefit to the university.
• The proposed project normally is expected to be completed within a year. In some cases, a logical continuation could follow the report.
• Normally an individual cannot receive more than one award in a year. Everything else being equal, preference will be given to applicants who didn’t receive a grant the previous year.
• Funds awarded must be spent solely for the purposes stated in the application. Changes made to the original special project application request require resubmission of the proposal.
• If funds are not used by the end of the project ending date, then the awardee must request an extension from the Special Projects Committee.
• The Foundation prefers not to fund supplies.
• The Foundation will not fund academic course work toward graduate degrees or for post-graduate work.
• The Foundation prefers not to pay salaries for student assistants. If an exception is made and student salaries are approved, arrangements must be made to pay for the salaries via student help funding. (The Foundation will reimburse the university for any such expenses.)
• The Foundation prefers not to pay honoraria for WSU faculty and/or staff. If an exception is made, payments must be processed through the university’s payroll system.
• The WSU Foundation requests that any publication, display, or presentation of any project funded should include appropriate recognition to the WSU Foundation.
• All property funded by the WSU Foundation must be recorded as part of WSU’s inventory and have a fixed asset sticker applied.
• In case of any patentable product as a result of a Foundation-funded research project:
  1. Any inventions or intellectual properties developed must be disclosed to the Foundation.
  2. The Foundation will be given an opportunity to participate in the patent process.
  3. The Foundation retains the right to claim a fair and proportional benefit from the innovation.

How to Apply:
Step 1:
All applicants must use the most recent version of the Special Project Digital Application
To save and continue work on your application you MUST download the free software Adobe Acrobat Pro.

Download instructions are as follows:
For Mac: Select Applications>WSU Additions>Software Additions> Select Software. Enter your password when prompted
OK>Select Adobe Flash Professional from list-Follow download instructions
For PC: Start>Control Panel>Programs>Get Programs
Select Adobe Acrobat Pro

Step 2:
Apply Now!

Step 3:
Print and save application.

Step 4:
All application forms must be signed by the department chair and college dean (or if more appropriate, the appropriate administrator) to ensure that both timing and optional funding sources were considered. 

Step 5:
Submit your application with signatures to the WSU Foundation Office Somsen 204.

Review Process:
The Special Projects Committee will read and evaluate each proposal on its own merits and its significance to the mission and case statement of the institution.
The amount of funding may vary from year to year.
Applicants will be asked to make an oral presentation before the Special Projects Committee (presentation date noted above).
Considerations may include:
Present institutional priorities
Departmental priorities
Value to the university/region relationship

Award Procedure:
Once the committee has made its recommendations, letters of award or denial will promptly be sent to each applicant.
Awardees will be notified of procedure for disbursement of award monies.
Final Reports:
Financial and project accomplishments are requested. 
All awardees must file a Final Report Form.pdf with the WSU Foundation within 30 days after the project ending date.