Now Accepting Proposals
[Priority Deadline: April 6, 2023]
Read the full, PDF-version of the Call for Proposals here.
ABOUT THE STUDENT TECHNOLOGY FEE
Since 1996. The UW Student Technology Fee (STF) was created by the Washington State Legislature [RCW 28B.15.051] and the UW Board of Regents in 1996 to provide for and enhance technology resources for students beyond the classroom environment. The STF is student-levied and student-distributed, generating over $4 million in annual revenue which is paid out to over 100 student groups and departments each year.
The STF is used to fund a variety of technology needs, some being one-off proposals and others being regular and renewable “Block” requests. Recent requests have included a Smart Board for the Department of Economics, automated sanitization stations for the Department of Chemical Engineering, and equipment for a Mars Rover built by Husky Robotics. Other departments, including UW Libraries, STLP, The Daily, and UW-IT receive Block Funding totaling over $1 million annually.
The STF Committee is composed of representatives selected by the Associated Students of the University of Washington (ASUW) and the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS). These representatives, or Committee members, are responsible for reviewing proposals, debating their merits, and rendering a decision. The Committee is also supported by several student and professional staff members who conduct day-to-day operations, fiscal oversight, and auditing services.
Contact. For all proposal-related matters, please email stfproposalteam@uw.edu, or, if you have already submitted a proposal via Submittable, you can send a message through the Submittable platform. For all other matters, please email stfexec@uw.edu or schedule a meeting with us using our self-service booking tool here.
WHAT’S NEW
Submittable. New this year, we are now using Submittable, an online grant management platform, to process, track, and provide support to proposals and awards – all in one easy-to-use spot. As an applicant, you can log and submit new proposals, continue working on draft proposals, track your proposal through the review stage, and manage your award afterward. Submittable allows you to communicate with STF staff all in one spot so there’s no more worries about misplaced emails or having to search through inbox looking for information about your award.
> You can now get started by logging into Submittable with your UW NetID. Then, we recommend you check out this quick start guide to orient yourself to using the platform. If you have questions or need support using Submittable, let us know or visit the Submittable Help Forum.
> Proposals submitted in previous years will not be transitioned to using Submittable (except for Block Awards). Continue to use our Legacy Amendment process to submit any changes to your award.
Application. With the transition to using Submittable, we’ve made substantive changes to the application. For those familiar with our old application, this will be an entirely new experience. An overview of the new application and what to expect is provided later in this document and on our website. Additionally, Submittable allows you to invite other members of your project team to collaborate with you on filling out the application and saves as you go so you don’t lose progress.
Support. The STF is dedicated to providing you and your team with support from idea to implementation and beyond. Whether you are just starting your journey to refine your potential project or are ready to implement your project, the STF staff team is available to assist you, answer questions, provide feedback, and work with you to troubleshoot obstacles you face. We want you to be successful and have the best chance to receive funding from the STF, so we’ll work with you during the initial application phase to provide feedback and recommendations on how to revise your application before it reaches the Committee. Furthermore, if you are denied funding, we’ll work closely with you to provide feedback and suggestions on how to change your proposal should you wish to re-apply in the future. You can rest easy knowing that we are here to support you through this process, any time you need.
TIMELINE
Priority Deadline. The priority deadline to submit an STF proposal is Thursday, April 6, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Consideration of proposals submitted after this deadline may be delayed to the following quarter based on the volume of proposals received.
Internal Review. Once submitted, expect internal review by STF staff to take 7 – 14 business days. We’ll be in touch if there are any issues regarding your proposal at this stage.
Committee Review. Once cleared through internal review, applicants may be invited to briefly present their proposal to the Committee. If you are unable to attend a proposal hearing, you may be asked to submit written responses to Committee questions. Proposal hearings will occur on the following days (subject to change):
> Monday, April 17, 2023, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in HUB 303 or via Zoom
> Monday, April 24, 2023, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in HUB 303 or via Zoom
> Monday, May 1, 2023, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in HUB 303 or via Zoom
> Monday, May 8, 2023, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in HUB 303 or via Zoom
> Monday, May 15, 2023, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in HUB 303 or via Zoom
Notification of Decision. After all hearings are completed and the Committee has deliberated and voted, applicants can expect a notification of a decision on their proposal by Friday, May 26, 2023 (subject to change)
Budget Creation. If approved, your STF award budget will typically be created within 14 – 21 business days.
Annual Report. If approved during Spring 2023, your first annual report will likely be due on June 30, 2024.
WHO CAN APPLY FOR STF FUNDS?
A UW department, unit, or other organization or Registered Student Organization with departmental affiliation may apply for STF funding. No other group is eligible for funding. RSOs without departmental affiliation will be denied.
AWARD TYPES
Single Award. Single awards are the most common award type and are sufficient for most project needs. Single awards are non-renewable and non-recurring and are best suited for projects that have a defined one-time purchase of equipment or services.
Block Award. Block awards are renewable and recurring allocations of funds best suited for well-established departments and units with annual, recurring expenses such as subscriptions, regular device replacement, or similar needs. Block awards do not roll-over year-to-year and unspent funds are returned to the STF at the end of the year.
PROPOSAL WORKSHOPS
Learn about the proposal process from our staff and get your questions answered live at one of our Proposal Workshops. You’ll have an opportunity to work with staff to improve and develop your idea into a full proposal. Proposal Workshops will be hosted on the following days:
> To be announced.
POLICIES
Read and review all of our policies here before submitting your proposal.