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MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY

COMPUTER FEE ALLOCATION

COMMITTEE PROPOSAL

Request for FY25 Funds

 

Instructions:

·         Using this form, indicate the type of proposal (#1 below) and answer the following questions as specifically and completely as possible.  Submit form to the appropriate college Dean.

·         Dean’s office shall prioritize the college proposals.

·         Dean’s office submits a cover memo with a prioritized ranking of proposals and the CFAC form for each proposal to [email protected].  Use a file naming convention for the proposals that corresponds to the college’s prioritization, e.g., COAA_CFAC_01.

·         Proposals are due by 5:00 p.m., Friday, March 8th, 2024.

 

Requested by:

Name of department, college or unit here

Facility Location:

Building and room # here

Total Funds Requested:

$ X,XXX

 

  1. Please select the option below that most accurately characterizes this proposal. Please note that a portion of CFAC funds is set aside on an on-going basis to maintain existing campus-wide computing resources and to support new campus-wide technology initiatives. All campus stakeholders are encouraged to identify campus-wide needs, and to submit campus-wide proposals that address these needs. The remaining CFAC funds are used to support departmental proposals. Select ONE of the following.

 

☐   Existing College/Departmental Proposal: Supports the maintenance and enhancement of existing departmental or college computing labs, infrastructure, software and/or other computing resources.

 

☐   Existing Campus-Wide Proposal: Supports the maintenance and enhancement of existing campus-wide computing labs, infrastructure, software and/or other computing resources.

 

☐   New College/Departmental Proposal: Proposes the creation or expansion of departmental or college computing labs, infrastructure, software and/or other computing resources.

 

☐   New Campus-Wide Proposal: Proposes the creation or expansion of campus-wide computing labs, infrastructure, software and/or other computing resources.

 

  1. Provide a single paragraph overview of the proposed use of funds and need.

 

  1. IF PROPOSAL SUPPORTS EXISTING FACILITIES, provide a brief history of the facility and details of its current status with attention to the following issues:
    • What hardware is in the facility? Please report numbers of machines, approximate ages, and condition.
    • What hardware will be replaced if the proposal is funded? Please note that any hardware that was originally purchased using CFAC funds will be considered for reallocation through the secondary CFAC process.
    • What specialized software, if any, is used in the facility? Provide an overview and indicate the approximate yearly costs.
    • What specific student needs does the facility support? Please be specific with regards to numbers of students, courses supported, and overall usage.

 

  1. IF REQUEST PROPOSES A NEW FACILITY OR RESOURCE, provide project details with attention to the following issues:
    • What specific student needs does the facility support? Please be specific with regards to number of students, courses supported, and overall usage. How was this need assessed?
    • How does the proposal address this need? (Note: during the review process, you may be contacted to consider alternatives to your proposed solution.)
    • What space, if any, will be needed in support of this project? Has the use of this space been secured?

 

  1. Explain why the existing global computing labs cannot be used to satisfy the needs in this request.

 

  1. Indicate the time horizon for this proposal. If requesting funding for more than one year, provide a yearly budget as appropriate. Proposals with a time horizon of up to three years will be considered.  Note: Funded multi-year proposals will be expected to provide an annual progress report as well as an end-of-project assessment.

 

  1. Provide a prioritized list of HARDWARE/EQUIPMENT and the estimated cost for each item. Can this request be satisfied by existing systems that would be reallocated from the global computing labs (normally 3-4 years old)?

 

  1. What is the appropriate replacement cycle for this hardware? How will hardware replacement be funded? If the expectation is that CFAC funds will be sought to fund hardware replacement, please be specific about the ongoing needs.  Where appropriate, CFAC decisions will include commitments to fund the next replacement cycle, which will be made explicit in the award announcements.  However, proposals that include plans to cover these costs without additional CFAC funding may be more competitive.

 

  1. List requested SOFTWARE with estimates of initial costs and the continuing yearly costs of maintenance and upgrades. How will annual costs of software be funded? If the expectation is that CFAC funds will be sought on a regular basis, please be specific about the ongoing needs. Where appropriate, CFAC decisions will include commitments to these ongoing costs, which will be made explicit in the award announcements. However, proposals that include plans to cover these annual costs without additional CFAC funding may be more competitive.