Academic Initiatives Monetary (AIM) Fund

The Academic Initiatives Monetary Fund (AIM Fund) reflects a strategic priority to support interdisciplinary teaching, learning, and scholarship at the highest levels of excellence at Mercer University. The AIM Fund will provide initial funding to develop innovative, interdisciplinary, and cross-institutional academic initiatives that have the potential to become national Centers of Excellence for the University. The general criteria for selection of proposals for funding are:

1. The proposed initiative will make a significant contribution to teaching and scholarship at a national level in an emerging field or by addressing an important issue.
2. The proposed initiative will involve a broad range of faculty and foster greater collaboration among departments, schools, or colleges.
3. The proposed initiative will enhance the learning environment for undergraduate, professional, and graduate students.
4. Faculty leadership for the initiative is already largely in place.
5. The initiative shows clear promise of generating the funding (including tuition, grants, and/or endowment) needed to sustain itself on a long-term basis.

AIM Funding is available for three types of developmental projects:

• Feasibility Studies (maximum $35,000 for 1 year)
• Pilot Projects (maximum $200,000 over 2 years, subject to annual renewal)
• Emerging Centers (maximum $600,000 over 3 years, subject to annual renewal).

It is generally expected, although not required, that an Emerging Center request will have been preceded by at least a Feasibility Study. Total AIM funding available for 2010-2011 will be $500,000.

Proposals for funding will be evaluated and progress of projects periodically reviewed by an advisory AIM Fund Committee (AFC). The AFC is composed of ten members: three members appointed by the President, six faculty members appointed by the University’s House of Delegates, and the Senior Vice Provost ex officio. The AFC will rank all proposals and make written recommendations for selected proposals to the Provost. The Provost will recommend proposals to the President, who will make the final decision for funding.